Sid Griffin vocals, mandolin, harmonica and autoharp
Paul Sandy bass & jug
Carly Frey fiddle
Dick Smith banjo
Neil Robert Herd guitar, sporran and vocals
The Coal Porters
Half Moon, Herne Hill, London Friday 5 December 2008
"Come forward, come forward, everybody come forward" chanted The Coal
Porters before kicking into "Fair Play, Virgina". Tables and chairs
were dragged (or pushed) and the crowd moved closer to the stage. Led
by the writer, broadcaster, journalist, singer, songwriter, producer
and mandolin player, Sid Griffin The Coal Porters play their bluegrass
with an edge. Guitarist Neil Robert Herd alternates with Griffin on
lead vocals, banjo picker Dick Smith and fiddler player Hana Loftus
provide backing vocals when needed, Paul Sandy on doghouse bass
completes the line-up.
On the songs "Final Wild Son" (Jerry Lee Lewis) and "Mr Guthrie" (Woody
Guthrie) we are taken to the beginnings of rock and roll and then
further back to the great depression. This was the second Coal Porters
gig of the day and Griffin's vocal chords are in need of some
help and he calls for (and receives) whisky and hot water. Smith shines
on "The Sound of Life", the cover of Gene Clarks's "Silver Raven" is
sublime and the set closes with a raucous version Guy Clarks' "New Cut
Road" (with Herd singing the part of Ma Bonner worryingly well).
They return for a two song encore; firstly "a traditional sing-along
number from Ireland" - The Undertones' "Teenage Kicks". If there were
ever a song to get people to sing to, this was it. The last song of the
night was worth the admission fee on its own. The Faces' "Ooh, La La"
was played with no amplification at all. They all climbed off the
stage, stood in with the audience or, in Griffin's case,
stood on a table and played "the way your grandparents, or great
grandparents at your age, heard music". This was perfect, absolutely
perfect.
Butterfly Hearts, from the new Coal Porters album, is heard in all its glory on Doing It For The Kids '08: A Compilation for the Yorkhill Children's Foundation. This charity THREE CD set is a worthy addition to any home and the money goes to a terrific cause. For more information go to
www.MySpace.com/yorkhillproject or www.yorkhillchildrensfoundation.org.
The Coal Porters are an acoustic act with attitude and the UK’s most entertaining bluegrass ensemble, one firmly established on both the British and European touring circuits. Their live show is polished yet passionate and second to none. (Read some of the MySpace messages below for proof.) Should the Coal Porters come to a venue nearby check them out if you like cool pickin’, hot vocals and the wittiest stage announcements this side of the Comedy Store.
Their brand NEW ALBUM IS OUT NOW and is entitled Turn The Water On, Boy! Already the album has received rave four star reviews in Mojo, Uncut, The Sunday Times, Maverick and Word magazines with European reviews out soon. Turn The Water On, Boy! features songs by Coal Porters Neil Robert Herd, Sid Griffin and Gemma White as well as a startling cover of ex-Byrd Gene Clark’s classic Silver Raven. And speaking of the legendary Byrds the great Chris Hillman plays mandolin on the second song on the new album, one called Mr. Guthrie in tribute to Woody.
The sound quality of Turn The Water On, Boy! has a lot to do with its being mixed and mastered by Ed Stasium (Ramones, Smithereens, Belinda Carlisle, Jeff Healey Band) at his high tech studio in Colorado USA. Meaning the Coal Porters have finally made the connection between audience-friendly and radio-friendly!
Formed eighteen years ago in Los Angeles the Coal Porters were originally an electric rock group centred around native Kentuckian Sid Griffin, the ex-Long Ryder who wrote the hit single “Looking For Lewis And Clark”. Exchanging a home in Los Angeles for one in London in February 1992 Griffin’s original Coal Porters enjoyed indie chart success in the UK and Europe and toured frequently. But when Griffin produced the comeback album of British folk-rock legends Lindisfarne he found himself inspired by that band’s acoustic instrumentation. Upon completion of Lindisfarne’s Here Comes The Neighborhood album Griffin found himself the proud new owner of a mandolin. With that mandolin the acoustic, bluegrass Coal Porters were born. And bluegrass music received a very real shot in the arm as the band’s roots in punk and rockabilly gave their music an edge and the genre of “alt-bluegrass” was born.
The Coal Porters released The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts in 2001, an acoustic celebration of Byrds, Dylan and Gram Parsons. Rave reviews piled in from America’s Bluegrass News as well as from periodicals from L.A. to London to Lisbon who all agreed: bluegrass was being performed via a fresh approach.
Two exhausting USA tours followed as did an exhilarating October 2004 showcase performance in Sid Griffin’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s prestigious World Of Bluegrass festival. Their album How Dark This Earth Will Shine was released on Prima Records to yet more great reviews and no less than Ricky Skaggs was spotted with a copy.
The Coal Porters were described by one USA bluegrass festival attendee back in 2004 as “a cross between the Clash and Bill Monroe”. The band loved that description as it encapsulated how dedicated they were to updating tradition and how dedicated they are to playing from the heart. Currently performing with Herd, Griffin, banjo virtuoso Dick Smith, Paul Sandy on doghouse bass and our new fiddler Carly Frey, the Coal Porters are here to stay and coming your way!
Hi, It’s DUSK TILL DAWN live music venue in North London. We just checked out your myspace and really like your stuff! If you’d like a slot contact dusktilldawngigs@hotmail.co.uk
Hello, after an unfortunate hiatus, the reasons for which are probably best not gone into here, we finally have some new music on the AUK MySpace site. For your listening pleasure this month we offer Nathan Oliver, Conrad Ford, the irrepressible Todd Snider and the delightful Beccy Owen. Don't forget too, for those of you within striking distance of Leicester, Electric Dustbowl 2 on 19 September.
howdy
reckon you might want to see the wonderful Norton Money and ourselves as we play the Greennote this Thur 9th July
cheers
mark& graham
the henry brothers
Tune in to episode 12 of the Lantern Society Radio Hour, featuring the creme de la creme of the capital's most comely crooners. Stunning live performances beautifully captured for your listening pleasure, at London's Finest Folk Club, The Lantern Society.
And, why not join us for the next Lantern Society - Thursday 18th June.
The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, London. EC1R 3BL
Friday 10pm sharp a clean-shaven Sid Griffin will be leading the Coal Porters to battle at The Forest Gate Hotel, London E7, corner Godwin Road and Tylney Road. So see a clean-shaven, smartly suited Sid & Co. play uptempo modern bluegrass for the hottest hour in town that evening!
Thanks for your friendship, and welcome aboard the Redline ship. Looking forward to sharing the journey ahead with you. Take Care, and thanks again. Peace, Karl
May you know you’re being thought of May you know you are loved May you find the warmth From my good wishes Of love Believe in yourself Never give up You are Precious and Unique You deserve Success And Happiness! ----<--@
Hello The Coal Porters. The new episode of The Lantern Society Radio Hour is now on the air. As recorded at London's Finest Folk Club on 16th april 2009. Click the banner below to subscribe for free at iTunes, or simply use the player to tune in.
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And do come along to the next installment of the Lantern Society at The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, on Thursday 7th May.
Upcoming shows: 15-17 May - Wood Festival, Braziers Park, Oxfordshire. BUY TICKETS
18th May - Spectacle Records Presents: Your New Favourite Bands at Catch Bar, 22 Kingsland Road. Shoreditch, London. HEADLINE SHOW.
