Back to one of our favourite venues, Taylor John's in Coventry. I missed some of Phosphorescent's set, came in on a heartfelt cover of 'To Love Somebody.' He ended on that layered voice scenario again – the twist tonight being his use of the upright piano to the side of the stage – a few chords hammered out on that to further thicken the sonic brew – before being twisted into savage distortion, the quavering purity of his multi-tracked voice wrenched off again into splintered soundscapes. Went down a storm...
And then – the Akron Family. It's always interesting to catch a group for another night (or more, if you're lucky) to measure the gradations and changes in their set. Same start again – a gentle rural roll in with the drummer, Dana Janssen, playing a keyboard suspended from his neck, giving a sudden rush of Edgar Winter memories (one for the old folks), culminating in the a cappella section supported by fingersnaps from the audience – who responded throughout the night with less reserve than the previous evening in Nottingham. Which made a crucial difference to the way the music developed. Something to feed off, there was more of an edge, more of a reaching out... But Taylor John's is a small, intimate space which gives a different vibe... Similar shape to the night before but given different twists and turns. They were joined for a while by Phosphorescent and some other guy (from the road crew?) - doing a rather wonderful version of the old blues 'I know my rider.' Then it just went into meltdown – Murray had brought some small instruments with him – rattles, bells, shakers and a small drum – and on the nod from the stage distributed them roundabout. (I seem to remember joining in with a stick with bells on, giving out some mean syncopated triplets). Party time in heaven. Surfing across the added rhythms spattering from the audience they played tough, much rockier. The kids' song about the bears got the same treatment as last night – whimsy followed by a long ambient section over repeating chords...(which made me aware of how they incorporate electronics into their expanded instrumental arsenal) before it really cranked up and out... guitarist Miles Seaton out in the audience – everyone going wild. An old r and b standard thrashed out by Seth Olinsky, getting some serious gravel in his voice – 'Turn on your lovelight.' Indeed... this band really need that audience feedback to take them to a different level, I think, and by God they turned on my lovelight. If they were great last night, tonight they transcended great... the buzz off people leaving was palpable. Taylor John's does it again...
Also: my apologies to Sara – the girl I spilt Red Stripe over when I came back from the bar at one point and tripped over a bag of stuff hidden by the vending table. Mea culpa again – she was much more graceful in her response than the drenching in lager demanded.
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