Wednesday, October 5, 2011

I don't think he likes us

Review of the show: Last Train to Nashville - A Tribute to Johnny Cash

“The show rocked, plain, prosaic and simple.

Johnny Cash
The same, sadly, cannot be said about the opening act, Long Time Citizen, who, with their attempt at coat-tail-riding by “Featuring Trinity of We Set Sail”, come off as rather limp. The frontman’s voice is dull and unpleasant, the lack of drums leaves the sound hollow and stage presence hovers in the vicinity of zero, despite the enigmatic bass-player. “This is a hillbilly song,” they proudly declare and launch into “Who Is Gonna Bang My Drum” – it might pass here, but in the real South they would be laughed off stage. They butcher “Ring of Fire”, make a mockery of the country-standard “Ghost Riders In The Sky” and I’m about to get sour at the whole tribute affair when Sixgun Gospel take the stage.”

- Max Barashenkov, Mahala.co.za
Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. Frank EllisOctober 5, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    I Couldn't disagree more. Calling Greg Donnelly's voice dull and unpleasant is very odd indeed. Would Barashenkov say the same of vocalists like Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen or other respected and similarly styled vocalists? Also, yes sure, I believe that just about any foreign band, regardless of their ability would be laughed off the stage in the "real south" (as apposed to the what, Barashnekov?), as the good ol' boys probably fear most things foreign. To then infer that the vocalist of Six Gun Gospel would somehow fair better were she judged by peers (a church gospel band in rural Alabama?), is absurd. As to the question of stage presence: Should they be juggling fire as well as playing their instruments and singing? I take it Barashenkov has never been to a shoegaze concert, where the band is likely to stare at their effect pedals from behind a curtain of greasy hair for two hours while hardly moving. My point is, where is the point of reference? As for the accusation of 'coat-tail riding', that's just mudslinging and rather fatuous. - Frank Ellis

    ReplyDelete
  2. hammerOctober 10, 2011 at 5:55 AM

    Thanks for the comments, Frank. I guess that what mahala gets for sending a kid to do a grown-up's job.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)