![]() Don't remember much about Bonnie, I was there for Leo, my friends were only there for Bonnie so knew nothing of him, and were pleasantly taken from the start, he was very friendly and chatty and humorous between songs, and his playing was of course amazing. Fond memories of Leo opening for Bonnie Raitt back in the mid 80s at a little mountain winery amphitheater around here on a beautiful starlit night, great fun. I was completely mesmerized, a young audiophile's delight, and followed him closely for many years after. It’s a perfect way to end a fun night bringing it down a notch from the raucous White Denim.Love him. Checkout Phil Cooks solo stuff and his excellent new gospelly ‘People are my Drug’). There’s ample opportunity on the electric numbers for both MC and especially Phil to show they really have the licks playing off each other like a folky roots Richards and Wood. That gripe aside there’s room tonight for my favourites ‘Jenny of the Roses’ ‘Jesus shot me in the head’ and the funky ‘Southern Grammar’. There’s a great mix of light and shade switching between electric and acoustic throughout the night but sometimes the constant retuning between songs does break the rhythm and flow of the night. The set tonight is drawn in the main from his last album the excellent ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’ and a bunch of new songs which they are about to record all of which hold up with the reminder of the catalogue. And with this band behind him it all seems so effortless. Despite Mike’s protestations he is a fine songwriter sharing his thoughts about those things that matter, love, life and everything. I have reviewed HGM a few times before and they never fail to impress. Hiss Golden Messenger led by Mike ‘MC’ Taylor hail from Durham, North Carolina and tonight he is joined on stage by arguably the finest incarnation of the band with Brad and Matt driving the rhythm and the multi-talented Phil Cook on lead electric guitar, acoustic, harp and anything else he could probably turn his musical hand to. After a hop skip and a jump across from Hackney and the thundering White Denim we arrive with plenty of time for something a little rootsier. Wednesday 29th August, Islington Assembly Hall London, His Golden Messenger. Next up Ryan Adams and he’s got his work cut out to top tonight. It’s a fitting end to a perfect night for a performer at the top of his game in amongst the crowd with us hardy souls providing backup vocals to him and the band. At the end of the song MC singles me out in the crowd (hey you the guy in the checked shirt) to advise the gathering that they will be reconvening next to me for their final unplugged sing-along ‘Drum’ performed in the round. They’re back on just before curfew to run through a Waylon Jennings cover. It’s difficult to pick a favourite tonight but Southern Grammar and Mahogany Dread do stand out. The songs are punctuated with asides and anecdotes, a pop quiz and almost a Skynyrd tribute. MC reminds me from his mannerisms down to his white telecaster of one of my all time favourite artists Chuck Prophet and thats high praise from me. ![]() Phil Cook really is a talented musician both on the slide guitar and the organ and he provides the perfect accompaniment to Mr Taylor. The songs are transformed from the album with an energy you get from ‘plugging in’ with many extended grooves. What follows is 100 minutes of country rhythm n blues, if there is such a genre, from a tight band with tracks largely culled from their latest album. It’s a nice trick and one of the best openings of a gig I have seen for ages. They walk through the crowd to the stage, playing and harmonising and continue seamlessly with the song while plugging in not missing a beat to crank it up and jam out for a full ten minutes. The audience turn as one to find the band in a corner at the back opening with ‘Brother do you know the Road’ that until this week had no physical album to sit on. The lights dim and we hear a quiet acoustic guitar and voices coming from the back of the hall. Tonight he’s plugged in with a full band with Phil Cook sitting in on guitar and organ. We saw MC Taylor (aka Hiss Golden Messenger) solo acoustic last year and it was a moving, atmospheric set. Its impressive stuff although somewhat disconcerting as he is the spit image of Gary Louris. Support is provided by multi-instrumentalist Phil Cook who has played on recent albums by Matthew E White, Kathleen Edwards and Bon Iver and we catch the last twenty minutes of his set. After a nightmare two hour drive to the ‘bush’ there’s little time for drinks and pleasantries and we’re off the venue.
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