3 August – It seems a long time since I went to see a band without knowing, or at least having listened to a reasonable amount, of their music but that’s the case tonight with Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and The True Loves. I don’t know anything they play tonight other than the opener, Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades, reworked as a Stax classic, but I’m tempted along by an appearance on Later, and good reviews. Eli is obviously influenced by 60s American soul music but seeks to be inspired by it rather than merely recreate it. If he wants to turn every show in to a soulful sweaty dance party then he succeeds tonight. He and his seven piece band fill the stage at The Brudenell on what must be the hottest night of the year and perspiration is in plentiful supply, on and off stage. Within minutes the whole place is dancing and doesn’t stop until the show ends.
As ever, good to see Bob at a show.
4 August – The Jayhawks, playing at Manchester’s Academy 2, represent another tradition of American music. They have a chiming, tuneful, yearning sound that seems to descend directly from Gram Parsons’ Cosmic American Music. They play a set based, unsurprisingly, on their two classic albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass, but including songs from their new album Mockingbird Time, their first with both Mark Olson and Gary Louris since 1995. For a band that had no commercial success in the UK it is amazing to see such a large audience that know every nuance of every song. An excellent evening out.
Set List: Wichita; Two Angels; Real Light; Red’s Song; Nothing Left to Borrow; Closer to Your Side; Two Hearts; Settled Down Like Rain; Take Me With You (When You Go); She Walks In So Many Ways; Blue; Pray For Me; I’d Run Away; Miss Williams’ Guitar; Black Eyed Susan; Bad Time; Waiting for the Sun; Up Above My Head.
Encore: Over My Shoulder; Tampa To Tulsa; Sister Cry; High Water Blues.
Posted by Stephen Towler 
The More You Ignore Me 