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Support
band Grand Drive may be relative newcomers to the alt-country scene
(six years) compared to The Jayhawks (17 years), but in terms of
live presence they more than matched their elders.
| "When
Gary Louris swapped his semi-acoustic for a flying V, you almost
willed him to try and rock out - but of course he didn't..." |
The
South London four-piece impressed the early Empire punters with
some beautifully sweet Americana from their recent long-player See
The Morning In.
Frontman Danny Wilson's self-deprecating banter clearly struck a
chord with the crowd, something The Jayhawks would have done well
to replicate.
If Grand Drive add a few more standout tracks to their already impressive
repertoire, they'll be a real treat on the live circuit - something
The Jayhawks definitely weren't based on this performance.
tastiest thing
What
should have been a mere apéritif to The JayHawks' main course
of rootsy, country bar-blues was, unfortunately, the tastiest thing
on offer all evening.
From the moment Gary Louris and Co. took to the stage, mumbled a
short welcome and launched into Life Floats By, it was plain
that their performance would be anything but charismatic.
The Shepherd's Bush Empire is a fantastically intimate venue, but
The Jayhawks seemed a world away.
 Gary
Louris never truly engaged with the crowd, even when they sang along
to What Led Me to this Town.
And half-way through the set when he swapped his semi-acoustic guitar
for a flying V, you almost willed him to at least try and rock out
- but of course he didn't.
impeccable
That's
not to say The Jayhawks were anything less than professional, in
fact their musicianship on the night was impeccable.
They belted out numbers from their latest release (Bold Ones
Definite) including Stumbling Through The Dark, Save It For
A Rainy Day, All The Right Reasons and Tailspin.
And also treated their faithful fans to classics such
as Two Hearts and Take Me With You (When You Go), showing,
musically at least, why they have such a loyal following.
It was just unfortunate that what should have been a great Americana
thanksgiving turned about to be such a paltry affair.
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through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!