Having previously only heard one track by San Francisco duo TWO GALLANTS I was slightly uncertain of what to expect. Said track, ‘Steady Rollin’ appears on this months Uncut CD providing one of the selections undoubted highlights. And what do you know, after a prolonged guitar intro during which singer/guitarist Adam Stephens rips notes from his instrument making it sound more like a cheese-wire strung banjo than a guitar, together they rattle into ‘Steady Rollin’’ and it sounds magnificent.
Stephens’ voice has a harsh edge but is quite captivating in its own right. Early in the song he sings “My lovin’ baby’s a ball and chain” adding later, “I shot my wife today/dropped her body in the Frisco Bay/I had no choice it was the only way/ the debts comin’ and I’m still runnin’” - add drummer Tyson Vogel’s barely restrained growl to the mix and the effect is stunning, immediately and unexpectedly elevating the overall power of the duo’s sound.
But, that’s not all that Vogel contributes. As a drummer his style is somewhat unorthodox to say the least, hunched and manic, hair swinging around his sticks, he sends cymbal crashes and snare snaps spattering across their musical canvas adding a range of layers to accompany Stephens’ rootsy guitar playing. They look very strange too. Stephens in red check shirt and dirty blond hair looks like an intense, hillbilly Chuck Connors while Vogel, appearing from under a dirty grey ‘hoodie’ after a couple songs, resembles nothing less than the body of Rasputin inhabited by the spirit of The Muppet’s Animal!
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Though often long and complex the songs never get boring or overstretched, each a self contained ‘suite’ of moods, adventures, journeys and colours. The songs display an experience and world-weariness that belies the duo’s age (both only 21 I believe) but is beautifully juxtaposed with a youthful fire and angst that draws parallels with Kurt Cobain – particularly on his covers of Meat Puppets songs. Unfortunately, due to the splendidly unaccommodating Merseyrail I had to leave before the end but, I’ve no doubt that they will have received a rapturous and much deserved response from the enthralled crowd.
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