20 November 2016 (gig)
21 November 2016
It is no easy task to rouse a Basingstoke crowd on a wet and cold Sunday night in November, but The Shires just about managed the impossible with a slick and impressive show. They were given a helping hand by the charismatic support star for this My Universe tour, Canaan Smith. The Nashville singer is US country through and through, despite claiming tonight that he's been influenced by The Beatles and Oasis, and his power of personality gets the evening off to a flying start. There's always a large amount of cheese served up by country singers, but when Smith opens up about his brother dying in a car crash, there is an audible hug from all the women present.
Smith's enthusiasm for his craft is infectious, although the sometimes evangelical patter between songs doesn't always sit comfortably. After all this Hampshire not New Hampshire, so the Anvil crowd doesn't have that American whooping enthusiasm. His performance and style marks for a fascinating contrast to Britain's very own country stars. The Shires might seem like a well marketed machine, programmed to land on Radio 2's UK-dominating playlist, but there is far more to the duo to allow that lazy assessment to stick.
The undoubted star is Ben Earle who's not only the chief writer, but also has a truly outstanding and distinctive voice. Two albums in now, the band are promoting the polished chart-topping album My Universe, which dominates tonight's set-list. Beats To The Rhythm, Not Even Drunk Right Now and the title track itself feel perfect for the larger venues that the band are sure to be heading for over the next few years. Earle performs on guitar and piano through the evening and the gentler moments on keyboards are some of the best, including Naked and the divine Save Me. Older songs like State Lines, Nashville Grey Skies and the anthemic Tonight all sound terrific too.
The contrast between The Shires and their Nashville counterparts is their distinct Britishness. Musically they sometimes veer too close to country-cliche (something they were more guilty of on their debut album) but they have an endearing innocence and seem genuinely delighted to be doing as well as they are. So in awe of their success are they that when they share an anecdote about appearing on the Chris Evans radio show alongside Robbie Williams (before performing a cover of Angels), they can't even bring themselves to say Evans' or Williams' name. Earle inparticular has a charming modesty and when Crissie Rhodes opens up about the death of her father, it is far more heartfelt than toe-curling. It will be interesting to see how a long spell in America will change the band's stage presence; they are set for a big push to crack the States in 2017. For Tonight, this Basingstoke crowd are just glad they still have time to stop off to pay them a visit.
