That these are strange, unsettling times seems an under-statement. We’ve been trying to recover from the draconian Irish budget only for a lengthy cold snap (which we’re told will be worse than last year’s biggest cold snap since 1963) to hi-jack our worries. With images of the local refuse cart skating across the ice at the bottom of our drive like a giant Torvill & Dean still haunting us, W&H are a tad apprehensive about whether we’ll make the 70 mile drive to the city in one piece.
In the end, the Gods smile on us and the ice melts away for a couple of days. Long enough, at least, for us to make the round trip and be rewarded with a wonderful intimate pre-festive soiree at Cork’s relaxed and pleasant Roundy Rooms.
Gearing up to release their debut single early in 2011, DAVID HOPE & THE HENCHMEN are all set for great things. Although firmly rooted in the Country-Roots tradition, their sound is accessible and thought-provoking and more than a match for any home-grown Roots outfit I’ve heard in ages. They’re one man down tonight (personal issues have forced drummer Kevin Jones to remain in his native Kilkenny) but even without his percussive nous, they put on a fine, convincing show.
They treat us to a generous, two-part set, mixing and matching well-chosen covers – a languid, redemptive version of Dylan’s ‘I Shall Be Released’, a vividly-realised take of Springsteen’s ‘Atlantic City’ – with an enviable slew of original songs which sound like the very epitome of strength in depth.
The steely, outlaw blues of ‘Living by the Gun’ sets the tone and quickens the pulse, while the naggingly catchy ‘Henchmen Street’ regales us with tales of random Scandinavians and arcane house parties in Acton. Pedal steel maestro David Murphy switches very effectively to harmonica for the glorious slow groove of the Delta-blues style ‘On that Train’, while ‘Chasing Time’ – which is a great showcase for David Hope’s magnificent gravel and moonshine voice – features some vivid lyrics (“on the Eastern line where the waters froze”) which sound like they could have been written with the current great cold in mind.
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Eoin Jordan’s potent, bouzouki-fuelled hoe-down ‘Broomfield Bound’ brings the first set to a rousing conclusion, while the second set showcases the songs from the forthcoming single. Of these, ‘Cloak & Daggers’ concerns the blind alleys our current powers that be seem intent on sending us down (Eoin tells us it had an alternate title, but this is a family site, so let’s not go there), while the eminently hooky ‘Hell or High Water’ sounds like it will be happy to make itself at home on the radio in the coming months.
The defiant ‘These Days’ (“it’s just insanity, there’s no humanity here”) sends us out into the night loaded up on positivity. Its’ anthemic plea to keeping on keeping on provides the perfect full stop to an immensely enjoyable gig. For W&H it’s a great way to say goodbye to 2010. It’s been a turbulent year and there are always problems ahead, but while there are great bands like David Hope & The Henchmen doing their thing, there’s still a reason to believe.
David Hope & The Henchmen on Myspace
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