National Debt is a band formed by Ronnie Smith & Michael Messer in 2002. They started playing ‘just for fun’ in local pubs and over the past four years National Debt has gained quite a following. The music is Rockin’ Roots Country Blues, but with a twist of London in its soul!
In 2006, after four years playing together, Ronnie & Michael decided to record an album. They recruited London based musician & recording engineer, Chris Clarke, to play bass and press the record button. Michael’s long time musical partner, Ed Genis, played some guitar and roots-rocker Cheyne Pride sung the backing vocals. Ronnie Smith is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter and Michael Messer plays Dobro, lap steel and slide guitar. The album ‘From the Horse’s Mouth’ was released in May 2007.
'From the Horse's Mouth' has been very well received and is currently garnering some excellent reviews & radio airplays.
Mark Lamarr was the first person to pick up on the album. Soon after its release Mark played 'Oozlin' Daddy Blues' on his late night BBC Radio 2 show, commenting that 'From the Horse's Mouth' is "......a great album"
REVIEW QUOTES:
I spend most of my spare hours listening to Hank Williams, Bob Wills, the Stanley Brothers, the Carters and other founding fathers of the Celtic Americana folk idiom and rueing the passing of the "traditional" music era. Occasionally, a band turns up that performs bluegrass, western swing or skiffle music like it was played in the good old homespun days.
Imagine my joy recently when one of those rare occasions came along with this cd.
Ron Smith will be no stranger to the musicians who frequent Tin Pan Alley or Denmark St. Pity he didn't start recording albums like this 20 years ago, or did he?
On this collection, Ron, playing rhythm guitar and carrying the lead vocals, is joined by the brilliant Dobro and slide guitar player, Michael Messer, Chris Clarke is on upright bass, Ed Genis features on several tracks with some clever cross picking on guitar and Cheyne Pride helps with backing vocals. Eleven tracks,a mixture of traditional tunes, well known golden oldies by the likes of the Delmore Brothers Oozlin Daddy Blues, Charlie Poole's Leaving Home, based on Frankie and Johnny and Ralph Stanley's Ridin' that Midnight Train, together with some superb songs penned by Ron. Plaintive songs such as Charlie's Tale, Love to Burn, Dead Men's Wages, which is a terrific tune, as well as Lonely Road and Salvation Blues, all published by Bucks Music and one in collaboration with Michael Messer, Turning Blue. All great songs played superbly well.
What I like about the instrumental backing is that it's restrained, which gives it impact to the vocals by Ron Smith. Ron's singing is no imitation of Americana but a genuine mid Atlantic, high sounding centred vocalisation with clear enunciation of the words. It's always tricky trying to pigeon hole music, especially when it draws upon traditional styles from foreign fields, but call it what you will, Country Soul, Rockabilly Blues with a touch of Skiffle and Western Swing, it's simply top draw. I can't wait for vol. 2 but I only hope he adds a few more sleeve notes next time.
Brian Healey MUSIC MAKER magazine. January 2009
Something of a supergroup, if you will, comprising the combined talents of England’s hottest Dobro picker, Michael Messer, singer-songwriter Ronnie Smith and Rockingbirds' bass virtuoso and producer, Chris Clarke. National Debt delivers here a debut album of assured country blues.
Formed for fun five years ago when Messer’s hectic schedule would allow, the band convened last year in Clarke’s north London studio to pull together this set. And while there’s a good crop of covers from the likes of the Delmores, the Stanleys and Charlie Poole, Smith’s own originals in the same style dominate and truly are a remarkable fit. “Love to Burn” for example, could just as easily dwelt in the collection of Harry Smith.
Smith’s vocal at first sounds odd, so much does one expect to hear these songs sung in an American accent. But when you think about it, he’s pitched it about right. He is, after all, British and this album benefits from the earthy honesty of his voice.
The honeyed tones of backing singer Cheyne Pride, however, are only sparingly glimpsed despite the welcome feminine touch they bring to the proceedings. Maybe lay on a duet next time fellas?
4 STAR REVIEW - Gerry Ranson (ROCK’N’REEL magazine JAN/FEB 2008)
...Charlie's Tale is the first of a trio written by vocalist Ron Smith. This is top class folk with added value in the form of Messer's guitar. The second of Smith's trio is Love To Burn and this one is old style country/mountain music. Backing vocal from Cheyne Pride is very good and her voice compliments Smith's extremely well. By now it should be taken for granted that Michael Messer's guitar work is nothing short of superb and the short solo on this is sublime with backing from long time musical partner Ed Genis. Lonely Road is another of Smith's songs and this is brilliantly raw Alt. Country. No matter how good a song is, and believe me, this is a highlight, Michael Messer always manages to lift it with his guitar fills. They turn to the mountains again for Ridin' That Midnight Train. Messer and Genis are standouts here again on this up-tempo classy Americana. This is a very good album by very good musicians. David Blue NET RHYTHMS July 2007
....simple undiluted music with plenty of character.
Steve Harvey ACOUSTIC magazine UK
NEWS UPDATE
National Debt has been out recently playing a run of very successful shows at some of the UK's most respected roots & blues venues, including; The Green Note, The High Barn, What's Cookin', Come Down & Meet the Folks, Windsor Arts Centre, 21 South Street, The Kalamazoo Klub and The Blue Front Blues Room. This has opened the door for more tour dates at great venues. See tour dates on this My Space page.
National Debt are currently booking European & UK tour dates for 2009.
A bit of advance notice - MondayMonday proudly presents Rún and Steven Finn and more at The Wilmington Arms, Clerkenwell on Monday 7th December
Rún collect and arrange old folk songs written in the ancient language of Erin. So far, thanks to Nora from Donegal, they have a nice wee collection of well-known ditties and are now adding to their repertoire with some unusual old forgotten songs from the province of Ulster. Rún are five fantastic lassies who perform four-part vocal arrangements of old Gaelic songs like ’An Cailín Rua’ (the red-haired girl), ’Casadh an tSúgain’ (twisting the hayrope) and ’Bo Na Leath Adhairce’ (the one-horned cow). Rún is the Gaelic word for ’secret, wish or love’ (cf. rune). See http://www.myspace.com/runceol ..
Steven Finn’s ears were filled with the music of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Johnny Cash and old time country music. Aged 15 he began teaching himself the guitar, learning songs like Leadbelly’s ‘Bourgeois Blues’ and Charlie Daniels’ ‘The devil went down to Georgia’. On hearing Bob Dylan songs Finn started to write his own words and in doing so found a lifelong passion for Jazz and Folk Blues, a getaway car he could drive. See http://www.myspace.com/stevenfinn for more details
guess davey arthur has lissened, to your tallent i asked him to, its right up our street..innt it. now i stop as others shall need to leave comments at this amasing music xc
you are the best and every body sould know that .................................................................................................................. best regards yours faithfully bw.. speak soon ..god bless your good spirit ron
Hey Barnstormers! Great Songs! I'm planning a small tour soon through the UK. Hopefully I can check you guys out. Thanks kindly for the friendship. It is an Honor to make your Acquaintance. -Blayne "Strawman"
THE JIM JONES REVUE
