If a week’s a long time in politics, then twelve months is an age in music industry terms and any band worth their salt will surely evolve within that time.
JOHN BLEK & THE RATS seem to be affected by the passing of time far more than most, however. Just under twelve months back, W&H saw the (then recently reconfigured) quartet at De Barra’s playing a storming set, stuffed with hooky, intelligent roots-rock tunes in celebration of their debut single ‘The Tide Will Rise Again.’ Now, a further 12-month cycle has been and gone, the second Rats single is out (‘Old St. Catherine’) and the line-up’s wholly different again.
Not that this is a bad thing at all, for this current Rats incarnation is surely the finest to date. Only drummer Niall Sreenan remains from the Rats circa 2011, with the line-up expanded to incorporate expressive guitarist/ mandolin player Robbie Barron, new bassist Brian Hassey and consummate pedal steel player David Murphy (Monorail/ David Hope). Vocal foil Anna Mitchell, meanwhile, takes to the stage having already turned in a notable support slot featuring a handful of emotive, self-penned tunes including the show-stopping ‘Paradise Is Hell.’
Of course, any band has a head start when they have songs of the calibre of John Blek’s to draw upon. The tall, imposing Cork man is one of the most promising singer/ songwriters I’ve seen in recent years and now it appears he’s finally got the band to do them justice, even if he is labouring under the effects of a heavy cold tonight.
Not that you’d notice, for what we get is an hour’s worth of resonant, high quality roots-flavoured rock and pop played with confidence and verve. New songs like the compelling ‘Ease Your Mind’ and an impressive outing with a Calexico-ish atmosphere and descriptive baritone guitar from Barron (I missed the title) already sound at home rubbing shoulders with the classy, bittersweet likes of ‘Hand On Your Heart’ and the deceptively mellow sway of ‘Rosie.’
|
Blek’s songs will delight anyone who likes a great folk/ roots troubadour, but while his songs sit comfortably inside the (already broad) Americana church, many of them are shot through with a healthy dose of contemporary realism. Diaspora song ‘The Tide Will Rise Again’ is all too easy to relate to in a country where a sizeable percentage of the population has upped sticks for Australia, while the fiery new single ‘Old St. Catherine’ is a cautionary tale of excess, addiction and falling upon hard times. Perhaps best of all is the defiant ‘Trying Times’ which sounds more resonant than ever and finds the band following Blek’s urgent vocal lead by pulling out all the stops.
They end, fittingly, by taking us back to church for the rousing gospel of ‘Lord Don’t Leave Me’ which – as ever – affords band and crowd to indulge in call and response communion. It’s the ideal finale to a charged, professional and highly enjoyable set.
John Blek & The Rats have UK dates ahead and a debut LP in the works due in autumn or thereabouts. Let’s hope this line-up stays together to promote it. They sound only just south of perfection as it is.
John Blek & The Rats on MySpace
|
