Venue:
Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath
Date: 21/05/2019
First time have been to a seated gig at the Hare and Hounds but it was a welcome change. Stumbled across this gig by accident a couple of weeks ago and glad I did because Peter Case is someone I have wanted to see for a long time since I heard his debut album in 1986. But first Sid Griffin came to the stage – full of funny stories he definitely has a sunny disposition and a decent back catalogue to choose from. However in my opinion he is better suited to the raucous sound of the Long Ryders. His set covered songs from the Ryders, his solo stuff and also Coal Porters. It was okay but nothing in it to elevate it to greatness.
Before the show I had wondered who would headline as Sid Griffin possibly better known over here.
30 seconds into Peter Case’s set all doubts were removed. He was simply brilliant from start to finish.
Many songs from his most recent release Hwy 62 and covers by amongst others Memphis Minnie, Leadbelly, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. An excellent raconteur he also had the audience joining in to a complex singalong complete with handclaps that required attention. A highlight for me was the song Two Angels off his second album Blue Guitar. Apparently it was used in the Zombie series True Love and earned him a decent pay cheque.
He told us the story of a Plimsouls song (his former band) getting 2 million streams and he received a cheque for $13.80. I am sure the numbers are exaggerated but you get the drift.
The set came to an end too soon and his final encore was an unplugged stroll through the audience accompanied by Sid Griffin playing mandolin better than anything in his own set. They have been friends for years snd it shows. A great night.
The audience:
As is customary there was one dickhead in the audience who seemed to think he was more interesting than Peter Case. He wasn’t. He started to really irritate me. Completely out of the blue retropath2 told him to ‘shut the fuck up’. It did the trick.
It made me think..
Apparently Peter Case has played the UK many times before – I never knew. His record label were also unable to get him any product for the merchandise table. I think he needs new management. He is a consummate performer and deserves better promotion than what he is getting.
Indeed an unexpectedly top notch night out. If Sid Griffin were as wonderful as his self-promotion he would be terrific, as it was he had me enjoying his stories more than his songs. His opener, the Byrds song 5D was wonderful to be reminded of, mind.
Case is now a big bear of a man, in a fedora, shades and grey beard, clearly dressing in the dark, with billowing shirt under a crumpled jacket. Armed with just a couple of guitars he just devoured the audience, boisterous anthems of his own and by others. Sort of if Dylan were fun, crossed with the Big Lebowski. And when he moved over to electric piano, boy, was that such a lift, bar room honkytonk blues. Consummate performer indeed.
Nice review @SteveT and good on you @retropath2 shutting that nobhead up.
Big fan of both Sid Griffin and Peter Case, both men were beacons of light, not to forget great music in that soulless decade, the ’80’s.
I will investigate that recent PC album immediately.
Edit: I have that Peter Case album, ordered a live album of his instead.
I have the live album Baron it is very good.
Ordered another studio album I didn’t have and 2 Coal Porter albums while I was at it.
This sounds exactly my sort of thing (no surprise there) but I checked the tour dates only to see that the first night was done here in London and Birmingham was second last. Grrr.
Sounds like a great night. Have never explored Peter Case. Will put it on my list of ‘to do’. All I know is that he was once married to Victoria Williams way back.
And after Peter Case, Victoria Williams married Mark Olson out of the Jayhawks. I saw them do a show together once.
Have never seen Peter Case live, but would like to.
Contraryarticle – if you fancy investigating a Peter Case album, I recommend his sixth record, “Full Service No Waiting”, from 1998. Good stuff.
I know. They were wonderful together. Truly magical. Was very sad when I heard they broke up. Thought it was very shocking how a lot of Jayhawks fans treated her like a Yoko Ono figure because of him leaving them to look after her when she developed MS. It’s not like she chose to become ill. This makes very sad reading. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/mark-olson-i-never-meant-to-kill-her-dog-400621.html Will check out that album. Thanks. @duco01
@Contraryarticle I have the deluxe issue of his debut album on order – when it comes you can gladly have my copy of the original.
That one and his second Blue Guitar (shortened title) are his best but his most recent Hwy62 is also very good.
Thanks @stevet that’ll be much appreciated. Will look forward to exploring.
2007’s Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John is also pretty fine