12 November 2015 (gig)
16 November 2015
If Frankie Lee felt any resentment about being so obviously cast as support to Joe Pug by whoever wrote the concert timings pinned on the door of the venue – Frankie Lee size 9 font, Joe Pug size 40 – he didn’t show it.
A few nerves are natural, this is his first ever concert in the UK, in a small atmospheric church, very close to an audience not really here to see him. So it is somewhat fortuitous that an early technical problem allows him to crack a joke and break the ice.
Culled from his fine album American Dreamer, and stripped down to acoustic guitar and harmonica, the songs take on a starker, more melancholic hue, in turn bringing Lee’s slightly nasal delivery to the fore. He has a fine understated voice that occasionally drifts towards Dylan, but then Don Mclean comes to mind during High and Dry. This could suggest he’s still finding his way but that would be a disservice to Lee’s versatility, especially while he’s got songs as good as Horses. In the ever growing Americana/folk genre there’s more than enough tonight - and in his album – to suggest that there is something very special to come.
Joe Pug needs no introduction and leads in his three piece and proceeds to give a cracking performance of American folk and Country music, boosted sterling musicianship and storytelling, as Pug is a natural raconteur. Seriously if the music ever falls flat he has career as a humourist. A tale of strange encounter in Sweden – too rude to relate here – and the rare attempt at a love song, the brilliant acoustic Pair of Shadows. Pug readily admits he doesn’t do the love song that much, and the material does tend to be on the gloomy side. Though you’d hardly get that impression of him as his stage manner is so life affirming.
The latest album is well covered but the set is pulled together from all his albums, with particular highlights being Deep Dark Wells, Speak Plainly Diana, which includes a spontaneous singalong, and Hymn 101 which he performs in the church aisle without amps, and id very affecting. For the encore he’s joined by Frankie Lee for The Great Despiser.
This, frankly, odd venue was pretty much the perfect setting for these two complementing artists out to have, and give, a good time. Shame on the sign writer.
Photo courtesy of Julia Grant.
