Venue:
The Grace, Islington
Date: 25/03/2023
The return of Texan singer, Jarrod Dickenson, with an album of new songs, has taken far too long. The pandemic, a seismic falling-out with his record company, and the subsequent, lengthy court-case, means that it is six years since Ready The Horses. Finally, however, there is a new album, Big Talk, to get stuck into – and it is bloody terrific.
This tour was going to be a ‘full band’ outing but, due to a series of health issues, they are without a drummer. No matter, they have the wonderful David Ford in the band, (who had volunteered to play bass and sing bv’s,) so he is sat at the back of the stage, a bass guitar on his lap, his foot operating a kick-drum, and a microphone strategically placed so that he can add those sweet vocals. The man is a marvel!
J.P Ruggieri fills the support-slot, (doubling-up as the band’s guitar-player,) and fills the small room with his brilliant songs, ably helped by Ford on keyboards, (I know, right?) Jarrod’s band is completed by his wife, the lovely Claire Dickenson, Norn Ireland’s finest, on vocals and anything you can shake. When they’re in full flight, the band make a mighty noise.
We are treated to plenty off the new album and just about everything you’d want from Jarrod’s back-catalogue, including his beautiful duet with his wife, the call and response song, Your Heart Belongs To Me. In fact, the only track missing, for me, is the lost-love song, California. The new album is full of catchy tunes, mixed in with a couple of, (rightly,) angry songs – one about his record deal and one about ‘That Guy’ who turned America inside out in the late unpleasantness. Jarrod says he is fearful the The Guy might come back and he gets a shout from the back of the stage as David Ford declares that Our Guy might be back as well. The audience groans at the collective thought.
Because of an early curfew, Jarrod gives up the ‘encore nonsense’ and proceeds with his ‘noncore,’ (this HAS to catch on,) allowing him to fill the time wasted while he goes off and comes back on with an extra song. There follows a magnificent cover of The Ballad of John & Yoko, with all of them taking a verse each, and we are sent home, happy and fulfilled, at 9.40pm precisely. How civilised?
A lovely night filled with music, songs and laughter. What more d’you want for £17?
The audience:
A great mix of ages made up an audience who, for once, were mainly quiet while the guy they had paid to see was singing, (I know, amazing!) It was a lovely group to be amongst, (solo gig-going can be a lonely business but when my Red Sox sweatshirt prompted a lovely conversation with a couple from Texas, amazed that a Brit had even heard of ‘God’s Game’, let alone been to his favourite ballpark, my evening was made.)
It made me think..
I’m old and the knees have stopped working, so I hate standing gigs. But I had a wall to lean on and was back in my car by 9.45pm. This maybe the way forward.
Jarrod’s song about his grandparents, who were married for 73 years, and who died at the ages of 97 and 100.
Shit I wish I had known this gig was on. I saw him the year before Covid at Cambridge Folk Festival where for me he stole the show.
His cover of Seven Spanish Horses was just unbelievably good and his wife’s harmony vocals just terrific.