Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
In an age when more and more AI generated content is popping up online, it does the heart good to see real musicians onstage doing what they do best. Raw, unfiltered live music can touch and unite in a way that truly nothing else can do and The Damn Truth and Parker Barrow understand this better than most.
Both outfits are imbued with a passion, seemingly channelling some of the best rock music from the past six decades in a deliciously heady brew and their paring for this tour makes perfect sense. From Parker Barrow’s country rock stylings to the psychedelic tinges that imbue The Damn Truth with a kaleidoscopic inner light, there’s something that goes way beyond the ordinary and everyone is invited in. You’re not just coming to a show; you’re spending time with family.
After their triumphant set at this year’s Maid of Stone Festival where they managed to bring Tennessee sun to the drizzling environs of Kent, Parker Barrow proved that good times and even better tunes is a winning combination. Balancing fire and class, the sextet brough a storm of Southern Rock blended with a real heart for playing and reaching out to the midday revellers stood there are rain fell down their faces. Managing the same trick here, those crammed into the sold-out venue by the River Wensum were transported thousands of miles away to the dusty barns and mysterious swamps of America’s South in a glorious storm of guitars, keys, drums and vocals.
Blasting things off with the high energy country rock of ‘Make It’ the glow was instant, lead vocalist Megan Kane wreathed in smiles as the band tore into the number like their very lives depended on it. The connection was instant as even those queuing up for the bar seemed to instantly forget the need for a pint and craned their necks to see the action on stage as the twin guitars of Alex Bender and Will Tipton kicked up a storm.
It’s a thrilling sight and the slinky, snake hipped Gospel rocker ‘Glass Eyes Cryin” sees Kane making the most of whatever inch of stage she can find, a tornado of movement and soul as husband Dylan Turner on drums and bass player Bo Howard bring an irresistible swing.
Full of dynamics, the set can go from the Led Zeppelin meets The Outlaws jam of ‘Good Times Gone Away’, the multifaceted, bottlenecked soaked ‘Throwin’ Stones’ and onto joyful new single ‘The Healer’ with ease. Throughout, the solos by Bender shimmered with a fiery haze and fresh colours dappled on every number as the keys of Eric Safka brought a real honkytonk spirit and class to everything.
By the time that the last notes of ‘Count Your Dollars’ reached their climax there was no doubt that many had found their new favourite band and one to join the headliners in their hearts. There’s certainly something special here and with this mix of compelling storytelling, magnetic performances and good time feel, it looks like Parker Barrow have a truly dazzling future in front of them.
The Damn Truth love the U.K. and it’s a totally mutual feeling, the Canadian quartet seemingly taking up residence over here for large chunks of the year. This arrangement is fine by all those squeezed into the venue and sold-out signs not just for the evening but for several forthcoming dates tell their own story. Like Parker Barrow before them, there’s a genuine warmth coming from the stage and with their way of making every single person there welcome, this is more than just about the music.
The tunes though are almost beyond any form of criticism, the writing so organic that each number feels like an old friend. It’s noticeable that so much of the set sees the audience sing along with every word, smiles etched on faces as they’re lost to the euphoria and even the most recent self-titled, Bob Rock produced, album sees instant classics joining old favourites.
After the usual intro of Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’ heralds the band coming onstage, opening number ‘Be Somebody’ is full of high-powered intent and sky-scraping grooves, the vision of Lee-la Baum, Tom Shemer, PY Letellier and Dave Traina a promise of yet another hour and a half where nothing matters other than to totally lose yourself to the music. There’s an urgency here to connect that’s almost indecent in its intent, that need for communion between artist and audience the lifeblood of all that goes on. No-one resists and it’s at moments like this that you’re reminded why you fell so deeply in love with rock ‘n’ roll in the first place as an urgent ‘Killer Whale’ and the sawblade Rolling Stones of ‘Love Outta Luck’ hit their targets squarely.
Whilst Shemer remains somewhat enigmatic onstage, his focus on peeling out the riffs and solos and Traina is intent of turning his drum kit into firewood, Letellier bounds around the stage with an almost breathless enthusiasm whilst Baum brings the soul of Janis Joplin to full-blooded life and adds her own very modern twist, her voice a thing of distinct and tremulous wonder. The funky ‘Addicted’ and angular power of ‘The Willow’ are almost overwhelming but with the rush of drums and massive groove, fan favourite ‘This is Who We Are Now’ sends things into overdrive. Some bands may embrace this rush of adrenaline and capitalise on it to catch the perceived zeitgeist but with a band as cool as The Damn Truth you feel that whilst everything is carefully crafted, it’s liable to change any moment, the band going with the flow of what feels right with them.
There’s no wildly unpredictable moments that feel dangerous, but this is far from a rote performance and with a heartfelt dedication of ‘If I Don’t Make It Home’ to the audiences this side of the Atlantic it’s plain that there’s a trust here and whatever the band decide to do in the moment is just fine with all gathered there. It’s impossible to be a spectator at a Damn Truth show and the call and response section of ‘Lonely’ threatens to dislodge roof tiles and shake dust from the ceilings beams with its volume. Not adverse to some showmanship either, Traina’s drum solo in ‘Only Love’ and Shemer’s walk around the audience, tearing out the solo of ‘Look Innocent’ show that everyone has their place in the spotlight and the whole is about a sacred communion between everyone both sides of the barrier.
With an encore of U2’s ‘Love Is Blindness’ and a tremendous ‘Devilish Folk’ that starts as an acapella duet for band and audience, the night makes it’s way from visceral experience to lifelong memories.
Real music, real musicians, real soul, this is music to save the world and with The Damn Truth and Parker Barrow firing on all cylinders, this tour can lay easy claim to be one the hottest of the year. Grab a ticket if you can. Magnificent.
Photography by Laurence Harvey
The Damn Truth November UK Tour with special guests Parker Barrow
Tickets available from https://www.thegigcartel.com/Artists-profiles/The-Damn-Truth.htm
