21 July 2016 (gig)
06 August 2016
This turns out to be is both an exhilarating and thoroughly dispiriting evening, the latter we can come to later. The White Buffalo is moving onwards and upwards. The Sons of Anarchy (plenty of t-shirts on show tonight) connections have been useful, and of course there is a certain amount of spin involved here but the latest album is well worth shouting about and has got people to take an interest beyond the tv stuff.
Up first was a three piece led by Juanita Stein of the Howling Bells who played some nice country based songs, in a nice way and she has a nice voice. There isn’t a great deal to latch on to so the songs just passed by pleasantly.
In total contrast, The White Buffalo’s (Jake Smith) set was engaging from the outset. Americana is as good a pigeonhole as any to stick him in, though his take on it is a bit more rough and tumble, which is welcome seeing as it’s starting to go a bit stale. Picking choice cuts from his back-catalogue and latest album The White Buffalo retains the essential components, then adds his own ingredients. He rocks out, then there’s jangling Hillbilly with Every Night Every Day, contrasting with the darker hues of The Whistler and Damned.
With no airs or graces band saunter on stage to a rapturous welcome and quite modestly set about laying waste to the venue with Dark Days from the new album. And it’s done with what appears to be complete ease, in the way only a natural and experienced performer can. That said there’s not a lot of movement on stage, though he’s amiable enough, few words are said even when goaded for ‘one more song’ halfway through the set.
His band are pretty much the perfect foil; there’s almost something improvisational about them at times, again that’s experience. Highlights, hard to fault as the set hangs together almost perfectly from start to finish and merrily blends old with new. The latter are clearly more familiar and Home is in Your Arms, Chico and I Got You – without Audra Mae but no less moving – are highlights. While it’s obviously Come Join the Murder which attracts the biggest cheer of the night and created something of a singalong.
It’s a shame that said singalong was accompanied by incessant chatter, if not full blown shouted conversations. The sad fact is that The White Buffalo is accompanied by talking for the duration of his set, an increasing problem at concerts. Also the lighting seemed to be more about showing off the technical skills of the engineer rather than complementing the performance.
Those irritations aside it’s a superb performance, and on current trajectory, possibly the last time he’ll be seen at a venue like this. Keep your ticket stubs safe!
