WORDS AND IMAGES BY BILLY SEAGRAVE
The Dead South Bring a rip-roaring night of exceptional foot stomping Bluegrass, back to a sold-out Albert Hall in Manchester.
Once again, The Dead South bring their Twin Tangler tour back into Manchester.
As the main support act emerged on stage, the venue was already pretty much full, The Hooten Hallers, a trio who delivered a masterclass in Rhythm and Blues. The Columbia, Missouri trio The Hooten Haller’s are a high-energy blues-rock band. The myriad of influences in their music incorporates elements of rhythm & blues, rock’n’roll, honky tonk, jazz, soul, and punk with a thematic penchant for the strange and the unexplained. The Haller’s take the listener on a seamless ride from unapologetically raucous blues on the lap steel and bass sax, to a sweet three-part harmony country ballad, to a romping dance number. John Randall’s demonically tinged vocals and manic guitar, and Andy Rehm’s screaming falsetto vocals and steady, pounding drumbeat keep the band focused on their unique blend of deep blues and country punk. Kellie Everett brings the power with the deep rumble of her baritone and bass saxophones. When The Hooten Hallers come to town, you know it’s going to be a party.
The last time I had the pleasure of Seeing tonight’s host was ironically the last band before we all went into lock down with Covid, so 2 years later and the band are once again on a march across the pond selling out show after show. Quite simply they are a guilty secret that people stumble across and get immersed into the rather uplifting power of Bluegrass.
From the opening strains of “Act of approach”, have the crowd instantly engaged and in fine voice, “Recap”, keeps the momentum driving forward, the band is made up of Nate Hilts, Scott Pringle, Danny Kenyon, and Colton Crawford. The combination of Guitar, Cello and Mandolin and Banjo, is so superbly blended and intertwined. One minute you’re swaying from side to side the next you’re bouncing around the venue as all inhibitions have been left at the door.
“Black Lung ”, “That Bastard son”, are so powerful and see the band giving it their all. Already well over an hour has gone and as the unmistakable rhythm of the cello starts to throw out the beginning of “In hell I’ll be in good company”, the crowd are all in unison whistling at full tilt and dancing along to where it all began for the band. If you had to come for one song you could not pick a better one to stumble across.
As the band exit the stage to the crowd begging for more the band reassembled on stage and set about giving us a version of “You are my sunshine”, and finally completing the set with a raucous rendition of “Banjo odyssey”.
It’s not often you leave a venue and you’re already trying to find out where and when you can catch the band live again. I also have no doubt that the band are going to go on to bigger and better things.
SET LIST
1/ ACT OF APPROACH
2/ DIAMOND RING
3/ EVERYMAN NEEDS A CHEW
4/ RECAP
5/ THE DEAD MANS ISLE
6/ BOOTS
7/ SNAKE MAN PT 1
8/ SNAKE MAN PT 2
9/ BLACK LUNG
10/ THE BASTARD SON
11/ THE GOOD LORD
12/ SMOOTCHIN IN THE DITCH
13/ BROKEN COWBOY
14/ THE DEAD SOUTH
15/ DEEP WHEN THE RIVERS HIGH
16/ IN HELL ILL BE IN GOOD COMPANY
17/ HONEY YOU
18/ YOU ARE MY SINSHINE
19/ BANJO ODYSSEY
FOLLOW THE DEAD SOUTH
FOLLOW THE HOOTEN HALLERS
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
