From
strident gloomy post-punk Goth to mellow, understated alt-Country and Americana
in the space of 4 days; who’s to say I don’t have diverse musical tastes then?
This one was actually quite the late call; local promoter and gig impresario extraordinaire,
Mr. Ed Dyer, posted on the Tuppenny Facebook feed positively slavering about
tonight’s Thursday Night Music Club hosts, Oxford’s Steady Habits, so I clicked
on the link and found some nice pedal steel and enticing harmonies, just about
enough to entice me away from my sofa and “Professional Masterchef”, at least…!
So,
a quick drive up the hill and into the Tuppenny at 8, whence landlady Linda
advised me things were running a little late, so I took a good viewing pew and
watched the 5-piece Steady Habits soundcheck, chatting with support band main
man Rich “Skiddy” Skidmore before his lot Black Sheep Apprentice followed suit.
As their check finished just after 8.30, they just went straight into their set,
with an ominous “High Noon” ringing bell heralding the barren neo-psych Tex-Mex
flavoured strumalong of opener “Let It Go”, which could’ve easily walked off
Side 1 of Love’s seminal “Forever Changes”. Skiddy, as ever resembling the
Western B movie villain from Central Casting, all black-clad, wearing a Stetson
hat and sinister beard, promised to keep chat to a minimum (“I don’t want to
sound like Kermit the Frog!”), instead concentrating on firing off the likes of
“Re-Awakened To Danger” (a perfect soundtrack for that moment in a Coen
Brothers movie where the protagonist meets his untimely end, most likely over a
woman) and “Solitary Man (a Neil Diamond cover, sounding entirely in place in
this set) from his metaphorical low-slung holster. “Born To Walk Alone” (“despite
my usual happy chirpiness this is quite a miserable song,” quipped Skiddy), was
a parched paean to lost love, thematically typical of the BSA “lone rider” oeuvre,
and whilst newie “A Reason To Smile” was a slightly upbeat yet disjointed (3
verses or 4?) work-in-progress, the cantering “Phoenix” was my highlight of another
fine BSA set of set of dusty and desolate truckstop Americana. And Skiddy
thinks they’re not “Americana”…? Hmmm…!
I
was joined by young Mr. Paul Carter at my table before Steady Habits took the
stage, led on by their cherubic main man, vocalist Sean Duggan. “Good evening,
we’re Steady Habits, all the way from Oxford… as you can tell I’m a born Oxonian,”
deadpanned Connecticut native Duggan in his authentic US drawl, with an early “Half”
setting the tone for their set, a beguiling pedal steel-powered West Coast US
Summery driving number featuring excellent undulating guitar work from former
Greasy Slicks axeman Jack Kendrew. “Hold In Your Breath” was a slower-paced and
understated number with a tumbling harmonic chorus, before Duggan delivered a
solo “Archer Street”, an evocative tribute to small town America, in his clear,
yearning and plaintive voice.
“Garden
State” (“another road song!”) referenced Main Street and Chesapeake and
featured an almost 70’s folky, Fleetwood Mac choral feel, whilst “Stay” was a
chunkier effort, with duelling guitar and pedal steel riffery. All the while,
Duggan was a charming, self-effacing yet charismatic frontman, inviting us all
to the Jericho Tavern for their hometown gig next week (Ed replying, “we’re not
allowed into Oxford – we’re all from Swindon!”) and constantly praising the audience
for their attention. Set closer “Borrowed Time” was my favourite of the set; the
most upbeat number on show tonight, a Gin Blossoms-esque slab of sturdy
backbeat Countrified rock with a smooth choral melody, ending an understated
yet intelligently crafted and meticulously delivered alt-Country set on a high
note.
That
wasn’t it though, as Ed persuaded the band on for an encore, Duggan revisiting his
former fraternal duo Loud Mountain’s catalogue for a more strident finale, then
I swiped the sole list, caught up with a late-arriving Si Hall (playing here
early next year – I’ll be back for that one!) and had a chat with a personably
young Mr. Duggan about Boston and baseball (2 of my favourite subjects!). Home
for 11 after another fine evening up the Tupp!
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