After securing a fantastic line-up earlier in the year for
‘Stagfest’ gigs at this pub are always a lively affair and it’s fast becoming
one of the places to be for seeking out emerging talent. Paul Tierney aka the Lonely Tourist is a
regular support fixture to many who’ve performed there and has played in almost
every available venue/square foot that you can throw down a loop pedal across
the city, including a fantastic slot at the 02 Academy warming up for, well; a
shambolic, Babyshambles gig late last year.
Put simply to the uninitiated we’re watching Johnny Cash with the
broadest Scottish accent heard since a pair of bespectacled brothers last
tormented the airwaves, strumming acoustic and mandolin at a speed falling just
short of wild, telling sharp-witted tales of talent squandering (‘Rattling
Around’, ‘Send In The Clowns’) and prolific boozing (‘Ten Green’, ‘Last Glass’.)
With a shy demeanour and a packed out room it’s a situation
that you’d imagine would be uncomfortable for the self-deprecating singer, who
all too often depicts himself as bereft of talent and support, but he seems to
take it all in his stride. There’s a
tight band behind him for the first half of the gig its great fun from the
off. “The jukebox gets more money than
me for standing singing songs” Tierney triumphantly cries on ‘Watch For The
Sharks’ in it’s desperate lyrics versus bouncy melody Smiths-ness. Slowing down soon after and the lyrical
ingenuity knows no bounds as Mr Tourist takes us through life in the eyes of an
insect (‘Fly On Your Window’) before concluding quietly “please put up with me
and don’t try to kill me.”
‘Clydebank 360 Feedback’ charts the life of a downtrodden,
reluctant call centre supervisor dedicated by Tierney to anyone who hates their
boss which predictably brings a hearty cheer.
Simple acoustic melodies with the emphasis on humour and cheerful
despair(!) are the orders of the day but it actually never comes across as
overly indulgent or grossly negative. On
‘Rattling Around’ a stomping ode to relentless gigging, there’s further regret
and disappointment but always with a rye smile and a perfect metaphor; “I’ve added
up the change in life’s guitar case, two buttons, a Euro and eighty nine
pence. It’s good to know I’m doing this for
fun, cos someone’s making it, well I make none.” Great stuff.
“Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Paul Tierney Paul Tierney” is perhaps one of
the most unlikely choruses you might ever hear for our finale. This isn’t some egotistical self-homage but
all part of what is the Lonely Tourist’s most lyrically brilliant piece of work
yet; ‘The Ballad Of Paul Tierney.’
Picked up by BBC6 Music the tune tracks the tragically short-lived
football career of the singer’s namesake whilst cleverly linking their fortunes
of hope, promise and supposed failure within their respective careers. The
entire crowd bellows it back arms aloft to unexpectedly bring the singer back
on for one more. It’s another
superlative performance from one of Bristol ’s
best songwriters, charming and converting all before him.
Best Track: Click on link below
Lonely Tourist - 'The Ballad of Paul Tierney'
Buy Albums here:
'Shouting At Weather'
'I Live Where You Are'
'Sir I Am A Good Man'
Kindly published by Bristol 24-7
http://www.bristol247.com/2014/03/25/review-lonely-tourist-at-stag-hounds-bristol-47756/
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