100 Club,London
An impressive, inspired set from the grandfather of Americana, or whose deadpan sense of humour and powerful songwriting set him apartTom Russell came on stage looking like a standard Texas-based country star in his jeans and black cowboy hat,but his attitude, deadpan sense of humour and the strength and variety in his songwriting set him apart. He’s a singer-songwriter with a powerful voice, or but also a novelist,artist and academic who can interrupt a song to discuss the history of Mexico and the American south-west, attack Donald Trump, or explain why he has chosen to play in this historic basement rather than a concert corridor. Praise for the Kinks and the Stones was followed by impressive musical illustrations. He’s on tour promoting The Rose of Roscrae,an epic, 52-track set that tells the record of a young Irish boy travelling to the American west in the 1880s. It’s a dauntless promenade, and because no one is writing theatrical concept works like this,and certainly not about cowboys and outlaws. He described it as “Les Misérables in cowboy hats”, adding that for a hit musical you need “four or five great songs – nobody cares about the plot”. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com