My last post was a tad downbeat about music futures in Nottingham and indeed in general as the outlook for touring acts looked grim and the fundamentals still pretty much the same. Since Rod Picott I have been lucky enough to see Darden Smith and Jeffrey Foucault play the Running Horse and both solo acts.
For a full overseas band to play they either have to be so famous the tour pays for itself or like these little known but high quality acts they supported financially by their government. The Canadian government has long supported their artists of all persuasions more than we do in the UK.
Indeed I not sure a similar scale couple of UK based acts could afford to tour the venues these guys playing so that shows how lucky we were last night to even see a band.
What we got were two class acts. Sarah Jane Scouten has been nominated for a string of awards back in Canadee-i-o although now based in Dumfreis area of Scotland and the set was a bit rocky to start with possibly due to a lack of gigging post Covid that affecting everyone now.
When concentrating on more traditional singer songwriting territory the material seemed to not engage the audience so well but suddenly the gig turned around with a storming song about illicit desires for a guitarist done in a traditional country style that seemed to suit both voice and guitar playing more than the previous songs. I was reminded of Laura Cantrell’s take on Kitty Wells.
SJS then played an ace in the hole by playing an as yet unrecorded Belgian Arts Centre commissioned song about a World War One nurse from Canada.
Deeply researched and combatant about the stupidity of war..with echoes of Masters of War it was not only beautifully written but delivered in fine style. Then having got us all listening she delivered another bunch of songs including one co-written with ex Be Good Tanya Samantha Parton called ‘Wilder when I was with you’ which again a top draw item. Impressive and more to come it seems.
https://www.sarahjanescouten.com/
The other half of the Canadian sandwich was a fine second course. I and a dear friend both been to a good few americana acts but even we were impressed by the sheer effortless skill of the dudes on stage. It was as good a performance as I seen by any touring americana act in Nottingham and that saying something and includes witnessing the likes of Tom Russell, Slaid Cleaves and even Fred Eaglesmith here in our currently slightly fucked up city…Del you think Manitoba shit try living here…..
This guy is the real deal and I can safely add to my list of americana writers above and more. Great set honed over 20 years of playing shitholes and palaces. Shit on his boots working-class short stories which rang true in a way some contemporaries like The Delines do not…a classy act but do I get feeling Vlautin lives the life..no way…
If Vlautin more Henry James then Barber is a Manitoba D.H. Lawrence. Lovely short stories for playing in cars as Steve Earle called them. Songs about people you felt if not real should be like Louise and Pete and Lucy fucking in Room 203. The palette of songs spot on thanks to superb backing and three very good musicians especially impressed by the guitarists. 20 years has not only refined a great stage presence but honed delivery to a fine art. Seemlessly mixing road tales with songs we were entertained by a very good outfit for a good hour and a half and they deserved the warm applause. I recommend you try and see them on this spin round but Im sure they’ll be back.
I am now filing alongside other Canuck faves like Kathleen Edwards, Jim Bryson, Ron Sexsmith and Suzie Ungerleider…oh and Fred Eaglesmith, Willie P. Bennet and the sadly recently departed Ian Tyson.
Oh and why Canadee-I-O?
ask that guy from Duluth or better still ask..
This is a thoughtful and accurate review Shaun. It gave me great pleasure to read it. Thank you for taking the time to write it. A dear friend.