Ok..I'm lucky enough to see so many shows, that it's a rare occurrence when one hits me so hard, it compels me to write about it the next morning....
At last, I got to see Sheffield, England’s Richard Hawley last night at the Abbey Pub. It was his first time playing Chicago as a headlining act..after spending the 90’s as a “guitarist for hire”, playing with everyone from Robbie Williams, Beth Orton, Pulp, and more. On his records, I've quite liked the transcendence between indie, rockabilly, 50’s rock, and all-out cocktail lounge crooning. In a live setting, though? Forget it…I simply couldn’t get enough of it. It all comes together perfectly, and it reminded me of exactly why I love music so. He looks like Elvis Costello, and sounds sort of like Elvis Presley did early in his career. Watching the show, sipping a few pints of Guinness, I suddenly felt the urge to slow dance with a girl. Hell, if I were a girl, no doubt I would have been swooning. Screw that. I WAS indeed weak-kneed during most of the gig! And it’s the sort of music that spans so many sounds and eras, I’m seriously thinking of buying his new record for my mother as a Xmas present. I implore you to get yourself a copy of his latest two albums, “Lady’s Bridge”, and “Coles Corner”. Below, I’ve pasted up some videos to check him out…
"Tonight The Streets Are Ours" -first single off newest album "Lady's Bridge"
"Serious" - another one from "Lady's Bridge"
performing "Valentine" on Jools Holland in the UK
