Next up on my musical journey through 2014 was the Southern Fried Music Festival in the fair city of Perth, often referred to as "the gateway to the Highlands". The first gig of the weekend for me was at 14:00 in the The Moncrieff Suite, formerly the Salutation Assembly Rooms, in reputedly the "oldest established hotel in Scotland", the Salutation Hotel on South Street. The 'Sally' began taking bookings for weary travellers back in 1699 and on Saturday was to play host to two cracking gigs, the first of which was Ags Connolly a resident of Finstock in Oxfordshire.
With a mid afternoon kick off, we arrived in good time and took our seats at one of the many linen cloth covered tables set out randomly around the hall. It was a rather surreal experience with folk in shorts, flip flops, sandals and the seats covered in a deep blue velvety fabric contrasting well with the sanded oak flooring of the dance floor, not your usual venue. However, with a dedicated bar at the back of the place we were set to enjoy ourselves and I reckon Ags and his band did too from the way they played their joyous, bountiful set. The threesome stepped up on to the low dais come stage at about 14:00 and set off with a wonderful rendition of track two from the current album How About Now (note: no question mark!). To paint the picture, and sketched out for you looking towards the stage, we had from the left Nico Bruce on upright double bass, Ags Connolly on electrified acoustic guitar and Stuart Nesbit on electric guitar to the right. A simple but extremely potent arrangement, no need for drums, organ, piano, xylophone or what ever else here!
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| Stuart Nesbit |
Ags informed us that Stuart had played the guitar parts on the Dean Owens produced album released in February this year and as such the lead guitar solos were crisp, clean and creative, contributing to the songs magnificently. Check out the sublime solo in She Doesn't Need Anyone Anymore for starters. Dean, formerly the front man of the wonderful but little known Scottish Americana band the Felsons, has done a great job on record and I was to be treated to hearing the songs live for the first time today. The gig was sadly to be a short one, lasting some 45 minutes, but as is often said, good things come in small packages and this was not to be the exception to the rule!
Ags has evolved as a country singer and is now an acolyte of the Ameripolitan musical genre as espoused by the great Dale Watson. In fact, Ags' musical heroes sound like a veritable feast of the greats from the rebellious end of country music, they include David Allan Coe, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings (all three name checked on When Country Was Proud), Robert Earl Keen, Chris Knight, Johnny Cash and Johnny Paycheck to name a few! He has also evolved a great singing voice which stays true to his English roots but nods in recognition of many great American country singers. I would also add that on I'm Not Someone You Want To Know and I Hoped She Wouldn't Be Here he sounds like the wonderful Aboriginal folk/country, dare I say "Aborigipolitan", singer/songwriter Archie Roach! I also have to remind myself that we are listening to an Englishman singing here not some steeped in country music history American singer. However, hearing words like 'pub' and 'pints to sink' act as reminders of Ags' heritage. Gowan yer sel big man, as we say in Glesca!
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| Nico Bruce |
I also wish to mention the sterling work meted out by Nico Bruce on the upright double bass. Apparently Nico and Ags met over the weekend and yet he played like a pro! Actually, Nico is a real pro, having had stints along side Stuart in a Proclaimers line up for a few years, so no slouch there then, eh? The slow playing on the down low number Get Out Of My Mind was a joy to listen to from all three musicians and both Stuart and Nico filled out the song wonderfully. Mr Connolly can also write some roust-a-bout tunes in the train track rhythm of the late, great Johnny Cash, just check out the beat filled number off the album called The Dim And Distant Past (one of only two songs from the album not showcased). Indeed, I urge you all to check out the album which has been described as “One of the best records you are likely to hear this year…so strong is Connolly’s writing, dare I suggest that Ags Connolly is the closest we’ve ever come to an English Willie Nelson? Yes, he’s really that good, and his voice is unique.” (Duncan Warwick, Country Music People - 5/5, Album of the Month). No slouch there either, eh?
I would like to highlight one other song and that is I Saw James Hand which being somewhat autobiographical has the following line in it:
"If I didn't know I was country, then that made up my mind. When I saw James Hand, in London first time."
It hints at the journey Ags travelled from tentative, toe dipper to fully submerged, dripping wet bona fide country singer. At the gig Ags explained that he often gets blank looks when he mentions James Hand, however, there were several in the room who were familiar with him and I for one have enjoyed his work especially the album Mighty Lonesome Man.
Then, after Trusty Companion, Bruce and Stuart left the stage and Ags played out the final two songs solo on his electrified acoustic guitar. It was great to hear the stripped down versions of the work and I didn't think the songs missed the backing accompaniment. It is I think a testament to the strength of the bare bones of Ags' work that the songs worked just as well solo. And so after a short, sharp, stunning, scintillating nine song introduction to the world of Ags Connolly we whooped and hollered our appreciation and I hope that it isn't too long before I am able to sit/stand/stomp/clap and enjoy hearing this man's music again. In the meantime, I have How About Now........
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Ags Connolly
SET LIST
Good Memory For Pain
I Hoped She Wouldn't Be Here
I Saw James Hand
Get Out Of My Mind
When Country Was Proud
I'm Not Someone You Want To Know
Trusty Companion
She Doesn't Need Anyone Anymore
How About Now
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It really was a great show, one of the highlights of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteAgs is back in Scotland playing Aberdeen in October.