Wes Finch and the Dirty Band – The Hope and Anchor, Coventry – 3rd May 2008
Review by Paul Villers
Diamonds come from the most unlikely places. Deep down in the rock one must dig, delve and get dirty for that rarest of stones. Very, very occasionally however you just trip over one as if by accident and things begin to look up – multi faceted and catching the light in just the perfect way. Such is this writer’s discovery of the titular Mr. Finch and his dirty band. Deep in the heart of Coventry, around the corner and up the alley at The Hope and Anchor, there was a musical happening this weekend which restored one’s faith in hitting the motherlode of finely crafted, independent and YOUNG Americana influenced music. Under the auspices of the Sid Norris Organisation ( a local arts promotion concern) a number of talents took to the stage. All was good but imagine the surprise when the enthusiastic dancers in the audience supporting the other acts turned out to be the day’s highlight The Dirty Band. A precursor of things to come entertainment wise, obviously.
The thing about rough diamonds is that they need polishing. Not too much but just the requisite amount to make them shine and sparkle. And this is where Wes and the band are at. They can play their instruments alright – accomplished but sufficiently care free to give the tunes the dirty edge. There’s a whole mix in there – the usual acoustic guitar, electric guitars, beautifully brushed drums, a lead guitarist playing bass and a stand in on lead guitar replacing an errant bassist. Add to that the banjo player, the backing vocalist playing djembe and kabbas, the extraordinarily bejewelled Brian Lea on gob iron and the female duettist exuberantly dancing her socks off. What’s not to like? In their tunes they reference plenty of Americana favourites (such as in ‘No Drama’ in which Annie is encouraged once more to ‘take a load off’ – hey, if you’re going to wear your influences on your sleeve you might as well reference the best) even covering The Kings of Leon in a Coventry-stylee - ‘Velvet Snow’ re-written with testosterone replaced by oestrogen. There’s plenty of original material on offer too – “The Pact” for example which deals with every artist’s nightmare about having a soul to sell. There’s more on offer in this nine number strong set too – unfortunately in order to hear it you must make contact with the band to acquire their self produced demo cd or – and here’s the exciting bit – wait a short while for their debut bona fide release.
The Resurrection Men are playing their first gig tomorrow (Wednesday) at The Nursery Tavern in Coventry - SUPPORTING FINCH AND BAND. Free to get in. The Resurrection Men is a new Coventry band and features members of Tenebrous Liar, Invitation To Love, The Treehorns and ex-members of TawT and The Sequins.
Also performing is solo accordion hero Cederick Confugos (ex-TawT).
Hey guys, finally got a change to listen to the album, LOVE IT!!! a birthday present ill keep with me forever. I told matt it has a slot reserved in my car stereo!! Good work, see you all at godiva
I think we are both doing a gig at The Nursery on 25th June, is this right? I've been looking forward to it. It's rare that Elaine is wrong about this kind of thing!
If we are I was wondering if I might beg the use your equipment for our set?
SONIC BOOM Saturday 7th June 2008 Doors 3pm - 2am £7 advance ticket **Early bird ticket £6 @ Tin Angel Record Shop until 20th May ONLY!**
SONIC BOOM - Coventry's festival of electronic & experimental music and arts
"A cavalcade of beeps and bleeps to kick start the festival season"
The event will see theremin generated soundscapes, dub - electronica, Psychedelic Krautrock, Krautjazz, alongside BOWCHIME and laptop concoctions with a sound reactive digital installation.
With DJ scenster Lee Ritchie to keep y'all dancing til 2am! Expect electronica, breaks, beats, hip hop to keep you on your toes.
LINE UP:
Legendary BJ COLE UK pedal steel guitarist with dark electronic musician Myoptik. Black Carrot / Strap The Button / Alexander Thomas / Arran Poole / Ian Upton with more to follow.
Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others! Saturday 10th May 2007 CASTNETS & JESSE SYKES £6 /£8 Door Doors 8pm til 2am
CASTANETS: Castanets is American music drowned then reborn clear-eyed and wet with sea spray. Castanets is murderous nights and the 10 west sunset and crying gulls. Castanets is Raymond Raposa. Castanets is Raymond Raposa alone, walking through the dark and crowded dancefloor, singing bare voiced (rangy, high, cracked and real) with acoustic guitar. Castanets is a four-piece or a five-piece, six-piece, seven-piece, all-of-us-everywhere-piece stomping out electric tombstone chants or something that sounds like Pink Floyd with more heart. Castanets is delta heart, Nashville hands, outer space brain. Castanets is Cathedral (Asthmatic Kitty, 2004)
JESSE SYKES The band that started as a duo of Jesse Sykes and former Whiskeytown band member Phil Wandscher began writing and playing together and later brought on the rest of the Sweet Hereafter, as they are now known. The new album sees Sykes displaying a more weathered vocal style and the band a more produced sound. There are some really upbeat tunes on the album like “You Might Walk Away” and “I Like The Sound”. With the latter bringing to mind a Grace Slick sound and the former with a tipping of the cap to Cat Power.
Cheers for the well wish for our London (or is that Landan) gig - was a great night. Sorry I couldn't make it to the Craven Arms gig the other week - was tied up in the studio (not literally). Hopefully will see you guys very soon.
either... o sorry its me again...i know, i know it can all be a bit much with my picture at the side of the these words.look <- just check it a moe!!!<- <- <- right, we sorted?Erm...yeah either the july gig or the aug one. aug is to far away so july it is then what do you reck? and erm...just 2 letu in2 a secret when i play chess i dont say check mate no no no no i say check maeeeeeeee out. Peace!!!
OxJam @ The Tin This Wed 30 April From 8pm £3 min donation
What a line-up! Al Britten Matt Lakey Garfield Lucy anne Sale Si Hayden Verity Pabla Wes & the dirty band John Wright Richard Hibbs Teresa Stewart Lyndsay & Naomi
