Water Tower Bucket Boys & The Koan Brothers.
Prince Albert, Brighton.

So it was on a chilly, wet, drab late summers Thursday evening in Brighton that the almost full venue was treated to a high octane musical evening that has rarely been matched, even at this venue that has been putting on gigs for longer than even I can remember! Many of the assemblage knew that the Bucket Boys were an excellent live band, having seen them at their Brighton debut at the ‘Geese’ in August last year. However I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for such an incendiary set as this.

They were really well supported by local ‘Americana’ band, the excellent ‘Koan Brothers’ who played a tremendous set of their own original songs. Many of these songs such as 900 miles, the almost sinister sounding Wreckers and the epic Australia are of a really high quality. They are all excellent musicians, with the band being made up of Steve Reeve on guitar and backing vocals, Nick Streeter, drums and backing vocals, Ed Jones on bass and with Dave Underwood on guitar, harmonica and powerful expressive vocals that lifts them above many other bands in the ‘American Roots’ genre. All in all a tremendous band with some superb songs.

The WTBB duly arrived on stage, by which time the venue was beginning to feel like a sauna with the tightly closed windows running in condensation! There were a variety of tempos, with several old songs such as the Louvins Cash on the barrelhead, the traditional Sweet chariot, and a brilliant version of The Roving gambler, as well as the little known Carter Brothers highly entertaining Gimme a chaw of tobacco! There were songs from their excellent new album ‘Sole Kitchen’ including Fromage, the brilliant Crooked road and instrumentals including Tea and crumpets and the humourous Blackbird pickin’ at a squirrel.

Most gigs have something memorable about them but this one, including the Koan Brothers, I’m pretty sure will be remembered in its entirety for a very long time! A truly great live band that also makes excellent albums. What more could roots music fans want!

Mike Morrison, American Roots UK - Go to Mike's website for full review of the gig.

Song Playing: The Coolabah Tree/Australia featuring Susie Moate on violin