10 August 2010 (gig)
19 August 2010
Waylaid by the ash cloud a couple of months ago, proof you can't keep a good man down, Wayne 'The Train' Hancock storms onto the stage at the Luminaire, Kilburn. Backed by just upright bass and guitar (think Elvis, Scotty and Bill or Hank and the drifting cowboys ).
They're off to a flyer with the rockabilly classic 'Hoy Hoy Hoy'. Numbers such as 'A Town blues', 'Cow Cow Boogie' 'Happy Birthday Julie' and 'Miller,Jack and Mad Dog' come thick and fast. 'Miller,Jack and Mad Dog' is particularly good, a sad tale of kids just turned 21 crashing their car whilst jacked up on Miller, Jack and Mad Dog!
Although the instrumentation may be sparse, the sound is big and fat , with the Double Bass essentially providing the rhythm and young Wyatt Maxwell providing the lightning fast rockabilly guitar runs. Strangely, one of the highlights of the night is a duet with just bass and guitar on 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. This happened while Wayne left the stage for a minute ( as he said,"to have a reefer break" )
Halfway through the set they are joined on stage by British pedal steel maestro B.J Cole, Now the band really starts cooking on three burners.
Wayne Hancock certainly cuts a charismatic figure with his cartoonish facial gestures and his wild almost childlike acoustic guitar strumming with his thumb. They close their set with the honky tonk classic 'Drinking Wine Spodie-Odie' and his own 'Tulsa', the band and crowd shouting the letters of Tulsa in unison.
Overall a fantastic night by a fantastic band. Oh, and always remember to obey Miller, Jack and Mad Dog law, don't go driving while you're high.
