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Greenback at the Louisiana - 30th July 2008 |
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Review by David Thompson |
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When guitarist Alastair Sneddon
announces that their 'very poorly' singer would now take the stage,
the audience mentally prepares itself for half an hour of coughing,
wheezing and endless apologies from Greenback's temporarily
bronchially-challenged singer Mandi Baigent. We are ill prepared
therefore for the ensuing silky smooth performance of a powerful and
deeply melodic vocalist who knows how to ring out the last drops of
soul from every line. |
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The band peddle a
convincing brand of 'funky jazz', their self penned
songs blending seamlessly with covers such a Amy
Winehouse's 'Stronger Than Me' – the sort of foot
tappingly pleasant music that one could while away a
summer's evening drinking Mojitos to. But the band seem
to change up a gear when they wheel out a very
accomplished and driven version of Texas's 'Halo',
Sneddon ditching the acid jazz noodling in favour of
some chunky chords poured over a solid 4/4 rhythm
section.
Time, alas, waits for no
band and it isn't long before the promoter demands a
finale to proceedings to get his other two acts on
before the curfew. A shame as the majority of the
audience are here to see this recently formed band make
their debut on the Bristol circuit. Fortunately,
Greenback have been holding their ace up their sleeve
and with a flurry of country licks the band launch into
their own 'Long Way Down', an achingly catchy country
blues song that sees the boys in the band step up to the
mic to add some bar room brawn to Baigent's belting
vocal. It's the sort of track that would have Bob Harris
at full whisper before you could say Nashville.
ck still seem to be
seeking their true direction, they are making a bloody
good noise doing it.
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Greenback Profile |
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