Wednesday 14 January 2015

The Long Pours - Tuesday 13th January, Stag and Hounds

It’s a proper nasty night out with driving sleet in deepest darkest January, what better then than getting yourself down to the local for some fiery driving rock?  Did I mention it’s free?  Yep, fair play to the Stag and Hounds in Old Market for putting on another colossal bill of free local music on for the entire month of January just when we’re all feeling the pinch after Christmas.


Relatively new to the Bristol scene are The Long Pours, a group gaining in popularity for their ability to credibly tackle a multitude of genres from whiskey-fuelled blues and anthemic rock to Pearl Jam ‘Ten’ era grunge stopping off for a slab of country, Americana and the odd well-crafted cringe-free ballad.  What you get as a result therefore is the type of band that you’d take your wife, mistress, folks, kids and rowdy mates to see with the re-assurance that they’d all find something impressive.


This quintet have a clutch of killer tunes that have earned them headline slots around town most notably at The Fleece and Louisiana recently and a reputation for putting on a real show.  Amongst their weaponry are the vocal acrobatics of frontman Ben Fernihough; the bristled singer capable of the soulful serenade one minute and summoning the demons from the bowels of hell the next.  Opener ‘Paperweight’ cruises well, Fernihough’s deep south (Wales) gravelly tones hitting the spot from the off.  Jason Selby brings the 70’s rock god kudos with equally stylish shoes and sideburns, a spit of Jermaine from Flight Of The Conchords, the versatile guitarist works in a seamless tandem with the enigmatic frontman throughout.


Best track is the Soundgarden-like menacer ‘Suddenly Green’ which has them firing on all cylinders, for a moment there I can see the stag’s head bopping above the fireplace.  It begins with ‘Something In The Way’ style off-key strumming before the entry of Mark Harris’ superb yet sinister angular guitar work.  Guy Davies’ (of ‘Fauns’ fame) virtuoso drumming shines throughout, driving the band forward towards an all-out rock assault finale that frankly can’t last long enough.  Next track ‘1, 2 Many’ is a moody affair that would suit a Tarantino soundtrack, more rapid-fire stick work and a joyously over-blown guitar solo that soars over the bar chatter.


Fernihough’s song ‘Ten Feet Tall’ is currently in the semi-final of the UK Song-Writing Contest and it’s not hard to see why as this country-rock belter gathers its melodic pace, in the end climaxing with some terrific Eagles-esque harmonies.  ‘Bloodline’ concludes the 30 minute set and we’ve gone full circle to more grungy goodness.  ‘There’s a fever, it’s in my bloodline’ howls Fernihough with the kind of ball-grabbing passion and power that will have other bands looking on with envy.  In all this is a top set from a band that seems to improve with every listen.


Best Track: Click on link below



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