07 July 2009 (gig)
09 July 2009
I love Rodney Fisher! If there is one person who would deny that statement by the end of his 30 minute Tuesday evening set, they have a heart of stone!
Rodney Fisher and The Rest – 8 in total - file onto the Lexington’s stage in London somewhat gingerly, almost like your school choir did, a mix of 4 guys and 4 girls, looking like they just been selected from the audience and marched on stage. As soon as Rodney strums his first chord, however, any potential doubt evaporates. He opens with the country tinged, heartfelt 'Sun Goes Down’ and we’re immediately captivated. You know you’re in for a special night when the hairs on the back of your neck prickle during the first song. Rodney’s voice is soft but assured, driving the song, and the other 7 around him follow whole-heartedly.
'The Rest’s’ worth becomes starkly evident over the second and third songs, building gradually to an organised, controlled wall of sound washing off the stage and over our faces. We are treated to something more like an orchestra than a band, with Rodney’s guitar accompanied by bass, drums, banjo, violin, trumpet (sometimes two, courtesy of multi talented banjo player, Paul Frith') and two backing vocalists. These girls can sing. Bethan Richards and Louise Hull offer voices more than capable of taking centre stage (www.myspace.com/louisehull if you don’t believe me). This talent is bolstered by how well they know their role within the band, delivering tasty 3 part harmonies with Rodney, sometimes 4 (with that multi talented guy again) in songs such as 'Hold Me Close’, the stand out single for me.
By the fourth song, Rodney Fisher and the Rest have the attention of the room and they utilise it perfectly with 'Alright To Fight’. In this song, Rodneys voice barely raises above a whisper, and the only other sound in the room is that of the till, working sporadically for the Tuesday night drinkers amoung us.
'I just got a Ukelele so it’s kinda token and I have to use it on this song' – Rodney introduces the next song - probably the first time he has said anything more than a modest 'Thank you' into the mic. It’s a new song, he tells us, not that we would ever know, judging by the performance. The quality that oozes throughout the band, sorry, orchestra, is again obvious during this song. Their set is so exposed and everyone is listening so intently that there is no margin for error, but the band rings true, from the effortless beauty of the backing vocals right through the disciplined warmth of the bass to the soulful violin part.
The half hour set comes to a victorious end with two upbeat tracks that have the audience all emulating Rodney’s tapping foot and obvious enjoyment of the sounds that fill the room. The country theme is re-visited with what Rodney describes as a 'Hoedown’, a fast, dancy number carried by drummer Lee Moulds’ bouncing snare rhythms before the final song, pinnicled by a triumphant, trumpet filled outro, only minutely marred by my personal muso need for a perfect cadence at the end to take home with me!
If only Tuesday nights were always this good. Rodney Fisher and the Rest are just what one needs to get through that tedious early part of the week. Don’t worry, the weekend is soon enough, talent is awash in London’s music scene, and life is good.
