Ray's Gigs

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Saturday 19 March 2022.

Friday 18 March 2022 THE DEAD SOUTH live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Canadian folk & bluegrass act play a sold out London show. The band describe themselves as "Mumford and Sons' Evil Twins", a nod to their dark and often violent interpretation of the "aesthetic of old western pioneers, with a gritty punk ethos". --------------- First up there are two support acts... ROB HERON & THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set. Six piece swing and blues from Newcastle, UK. THE HOOTEN HALLERS arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 40 mins set. American blues/ rock n roll trio from Missouri, who featured a cool sax player. THE DEAD SOUTH arrived on stage at 9.15pm for their 95 mins set. The venue is rammed solid, by the time the headliners come on stage. Pretty amazing how they can sell out this venue, but constant touring certainly helps. This Friday night drinking crowd are certainly up for a good ole "honky tonk hoedown" tonight. Their backdrop is three arched stained windows, as if we are in a Southern church. The four members are all in a line at the front of the stage. Their clothing style of ordinary white shirts, black trousers, black braces and the flat-brimmed hat is mimicked by some their fans here tonight. Their odd clothing style – referred to by the band itself as "their distinctive hillbilly cum pioneer look" as well, considering them "fun, modern-day hillbillies who marry an incredible stage presence with their distinct country twang that includes banjos, mandolins, a cello, guitars, whistles, finger snapping and occasionally some head banging. Their is no drum kit as the banjo player plays a kick drum. Everything ticked along nicely, although songs sound samey sometimes. A cover version encore of "You Are My Sunshine" ended an enjoyable show.