Gig Review - Country In The Afternoon Nov 2023 - Half Moon Putney

 

This weekend saw the 9^th Country In The Afternoon at the Half Moon Pub in Putney, South West London, and on each occasion Gavin and Christine Chittick put together a lineup of 4 great acts each day from both the UK and overseas, it’s never the same but generally it sees the atmosphere build - so much so that you forget it is the afternoon and often are reluctant to leave! 

Saturday was opened by Terri Leavey, whose career seems to have started, or been accelerated by a karaoke night at Dixie fields where people discovered her voice, leading to an appearance on stage at Buckle and Boots.  Since her discovery at Dixie Fields, she has been building her brand and recording her own music. But, undoubtedly she has stage presence and anyone who watches her will not be disappointed but in for a good time - we can forgive the covers. There was nothing but positive reviews from her, and the support that she brought with her helped to form the biggest audience for any opening act at Country In The Afternoon so far

 

When we see Christine and Gavin at festivals, they always have their list of artists to check out, and they are always on the hunt…  At Black Deer festival last year they came across Liam Cromby in a songwriters round.  Black deer was Liam’s introduction to the UK Americana scene, and that’s quite a debut!  Liam told us that his songs can take 20 minutes to write – or seven years!  On a visit to Nashville (courtesy of his uncle’s business!) he had a writing session with Kenny Foster – another Country In The Afternoon favourite.  Accompanied on stage by guitarist Alfie and backing singer Shawn, Liam gave us a preview of his forthcoming album.  Liam has a superb voice which had the very full room listening to every word.

It was Raintown who gave us the fact about this being the 9^th CITA, but Gavin who gave us the fact that it was their first London appearance since before Covid.  Lockdown and “life” (a second child) have had an impact on Raintown’s touring, but the enforced break means that they too have an album coming up, and they used the time to continually polish it! Clair and Paul, with Stevie on guitar and Fiona on violin gave us a few of the new songs plus some absolutely foot stomping songs.  Raintown add a Scottish folk edge to country – and they also added that edge to a quite unusual cover.  As they started singing “One Love” you could see the crowd realise they knew it and they joined in, line by line. Originally a hit for Blue in 2002 it was a great version – and a bit of nostalgia!  With that album due out in March next year, it gives us something to look forward to after Christmas – and pre-save/save up for!

In between acts there is a chance to get a drink from the bar while the next band sets up – but also to meet the artists as they all hang around supporting each other, which is a great chance to grab a selfie, a chat, and catch up on the latest gossip!

Headliner Cody Pennington mixes covers with his original music for his touring show, and he obviously had brought quite a crowd to his only London show of this tour.  Opening with his recent singles Cowboy Sitting At The Bar and How About Kentucky the room weas once again singing along.  Cody’s belief is that you need to give the crowd what they want and good time so that they come back – throw in your own songs and they learn those too – its like a cycle.  He certainly gives a good time – and in return the venue gave him an unexpected extra ten minutes on his set!  Along with stand in Christiano Pochesci on pedal steel and his regular bandmates Niran Mistry on bass and Lee Brooks on drums Cody took the opportunity to drop in a medley of Country favourites including  9 to 5, Ring Of Fire, Folsom and the Gambler before a massive singalong to Country Roads.

What an end to day 1 of the 9^th Country In The Afternoon!  The Sunday promised to be a great day too, featuring The Blue Highways , The Handlers Band , Tim Gerard and Emily Faye 

 

What will the tenth show bring? We know it will be on 18-19 May 2024, and we can’t wait to see the line ups!

Silverball Country attended Country In The Afternoon as guests of Cumbrae Promotions

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When Silverball Country met...Cody Pennington

 

Ahead of his very special Country Show in Birmingham, we had the chance to sit down with Cody (after he had ordered Papa Johns because it tastes like it does in the US) to find out a little more about the man behind the show.

Cody is originally from Nashville, but now lives in Birmingham – and we were intrigued about his journey from the home of country music to the 02 Institute in Digbeth.

The story starts with Cody playing “a little bit of music” in his hometown, albeit mostly rock and metal, but as he was under 21 he wasn’t allowed in bars so never made it in that scene.

Deciding that he needed to do something with his life (with some hinting from his Dad) Cody joined the US Air Force as a medical technician.  The Air Force took him to San Antonio Texas, then to Turkey and then to Cambridge UK. 

The story doesn’t stop there!  His military allowed him to switch his shifts to allow him to pursue music on the side, and in 2015 Cody made the decision to leave the military and return to Nashville. 

Gigging in Nashville isn’t the dream often portrayed in films – it was a tough time, until a job came up singing on Cruise Ships which led to him meeting not only Canaan Cox but also his future wife while in Australia. 

Dating a girl from Birmingham, plus his previous time in Cambridge resulted in a move back to the UK and ultimately a wedding and a beautiful (now three) daughter. 

The pursuit of a career in law once again had to give way to the music, which is clearly the real first love.  Thus, the Cody Pennington Country Show was born which has grown from a small crowd at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath to a UK tour, growing crowds and a strong following!

Cody cites John Mayer as an influence on his music, loving the idea of singing with an acoustic guitar, but also rock bands encouraged him to pick up a guitar. 

Morgan Wallen and of course (if you attend a show, you guessed it) Luke Combs have recently been a motivation to perform and write original music. 

Having seen the Cody Pennington Show before, and his philosophy to make it interesting the whole time, we knew that once we went out into the venue we were in for a great night. The Birmingham show was a special show for charity.  Cody has supported NHS charities since his time stationed in the UK with the Air Force and wants to give back by playing a charity gig at least once a year.  With his daughter being born in Birmingham’s Women’s Hospital, supporting a local hospital charity was the obvious choice.

Supported by local band Gasoline and Matches who warmed up the crowd with their own brand of Country Rock, Cody took to the stage with his band to play a mix of his own songs, some older favourites and modern country, blending Dolly Parton with Chris Stapleton, a lot of Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, ending with a showstopping Country Roads.

Cody finds it amazing when a crowd sings his songs back to him – at his recent Manchester gig everyone sang along to his song How About Kentucky. We were taken aback too, given that the crowd didn’t know some of the country classics. Its always an upbeat evening, that have you foot tapping if not dancing away.

Cody’s a great guy, willing to help others and his southern hospitality always shines through. Theres real effort that goes into planning his performance, his set list must be the most professional we’ve seen.   He's also a great musician, playing lead guitar throughout his set the crowd were clearly loving every minute of it.

Cody is backed by a great trio of musicians – Niran Mistry on bass, Holly Carter on pedal steel and Lee Brooks on drums, plus some backing tracks to bring the punchy sound.  We reviewed his last Birmingham show here - review

By the end of the night, through ticket sales and donations over £6,000 had been raised for BirminghamChildren’s Hospital Charity.

Cody will be touring the show again next year, with a promise of bigger venues, but in the near future he will be performing at Nashville Sounds In The Round in Birmingham Symphony Hall, this Thursday and at Country In The Afternoon this Thursday and at the Half Moon Pub in Putney, in November. (Tickets)

Silverball Country were pleased to make a donation to charity for this interview  

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Gig Review - Kezia Gill - O2 Institute Birmingham

Kezia Gill has her name in lights!  The Misfit tour rolled in to the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday night for the seventh of eight nights on the tour. The tour started on her birthday, and the party hasn’t stopped since.

 

Opening for Kezia was Sinead Burgess – an Australian who comes to us via Nashville.  Sinead has been having the time of her life travelling around the UK with the band, and Friday was extra special as it was also release day for her latest single Ain’t Thinking About You.  Sinead’s music and songwriting is very emotive and suits the UK audience, her performance is reminiscent of artists such as Sheryl Crow, whose songs and storytelling always connected well.

 

The stage lights dimmed apart from the bright green neon sign proclaiming Kezia’s name.  The Misfit Tour opened – of course – with the title song.  Full of energy Kezia was a shimmering star in the green whirl of the stage.  Even though it’s a new album, the packed room were word perfect for every song.

 

Kezia doesn’t just share her music; she loves to bring you into her world.  You have to love the honesty that comes out when Kezia introduces her songs.  All the fans will forever be grateful to the Jack Daniels night in Oxford and the songs it produced.  Whilst we wish we could hear the “horrendous ones”, in Kezia’s words we will settle for what we got.  This story was the setting for Kezia to perform solo – “just me and you” as she puts it. 

Kezia says, “it wouldn’t be a Kezia Gill tour without a little cry”, but as she is a party girl at heart, she compressed them all into a little segment.  Kezia suggested that “You will cry during, but you’ll have has a good time” works just as well for describing her shows and for a Tinder profile!

Kezia blends country, with a bit of blues, some rock and some fabulous traditional storytelling, with some of her songs being very personal – House On The Hill describing that one place she loves the most, despite visiting fabulous locations there’s nothing better than putting your slippers on at home, and we heard a superb segue of Price of Loving You into the song for her father Local Man’s Star.

The setlist was mainly the new album, but some songs had to be included – Country Song (written in Nashville about Nashville) and Thirties both drawing an excited reaction from the crowd, for whom these are firm favourites.  At times a brief story is all it takes to guess what’s coming!

Kezia is a very warm, personable performer.  Her acknowledgements of not just the band (Luke Thomas, Luke Barrett, Phil Donnelly, Cristiano Pochesci) but her wider team (Sound Engineer Ian Clarke, Manager Donna Zanetti, opening artist Sinead) are heartfelt and always end up with her “Best friend, Husband and Tour Manager Lloydy”.

Every show must come to an end, but no fake encores for Kezia.  She announced her last song, forgoing the pantomime of leaving the stage only to come back on.  Although she now has quite a back catalogue to choose from, there could only be one song as the finale for the Whisky Drinking Woman - who was born a Misfit.

Silverball Country attended the Misfit Tour as guests of ZimagineD Artist Management

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Single Review - Falling Through The Cracks - Donna Marie Songs

 

A press release hit our inbox recently from an artist we know quite well – or at least we thought we did!  The release included all sorts of facts about Donna Marie:

• She has been performing professionally since she was 13
• She has competed several marathons and Ironman triathlons and is a triathlon & running endurance coach.
• She released Electronic Dance Music whilst at University
• She can’t read music

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Possibly the most surprising fact about Donna though, is something she told us when we met up after a performance of A Country Night In Nashville – “I’m very shy” she told us.  This is despite her taking centre stage for a few songs as part of the show, as well as appearing on the Paddock Stage at Buckle and Boots this year as part of the songs and Stories Collective.

What we did already know about Donna is that she is an accomplished singer/songwriter with a fabulous voice, something she has proven time and again not just by being on stage but in her previous releases which we have always been thrilled to receive.

If you haven’t come across Donna before, she is probably best known for her part in A Country Night In Nashville playing keyboard and guitar, providing backing vocals and performing solos as part of the show’s band Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes.  She also became part of the Songs and Stories collective during lockdown, doing a weekly livestream with Sarah Yeo and Tennesse Twin, which is partly where her new single Falling Through The Cracks was polished (having been written in 2017)

With one of the weekly themes being “Time” Donna decided to finish this early song that had never been recorded – and then decided to record it!  Being used to remote recording, Donna was able to do most of the work in her bedroom studio, importing the drums from Germany and the pedal steel from Sweden!

The song itself is about the passage of time – how life goes by when you’re caring about other people, but remembering that you still have hopes and dreams of your own.  Carried by Donna’s clear, pure voice it shows fabulous writing skills as it tells us the story of two lives – suggesting some the style of the greatest songs of the sixties but with a modern country feel, cemented by the instrumentation, especially the drum line and the pedal steel!

Triathlons, EDM and shyness aside, you can easily see why Donna has been a professional musician since she was young, and will continue to be so – whether on a theatre stage, a festival stage or in a recording (bedroom) studio!

Falling Through The Cracks - the new single from Donna Marie Songs - is available to download and stream from Friday 21 July

You can catch Donna at the West Country Music Festival in August and on her EP “Time” later this year.  

You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and on her website.  You can check out our review of A Country Night In Nashville here.

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Gig Review - Cody Pennington Country Show - O2 Academy Birmingham

 

It was a slightly different kind of gig for us on Friday night in Birmingham – the Cody Pennington Country Show.  Different in that it was a mostly a show of big Country Music hits performed by Cody and his band, interspersed with some of his original material.  Not really a “covers show”, more a tribute to Country music.

In a show of two halves, Cody Pennington opened for Cody Pennington with some big crowd pleasing songs to get everyone singing along in the first half of the show, kicking off with Luke Combs’ smash hit Beer Never Broke My Heart which really got the show going. The whole of the sell out audience were certainly up for a party, singing along to pretty much every song, including favourites Wagon Wheel and the set ending The Gambler.

In truth the set list was Luke Combs heavy – Cody wasn’t shy about wanting to open for Luke on his next UK tour and he even asked the crowd to tag Luke in their photos and videos to persuade him that Cody would be ideal for this!  The crowd roared their approval of the songs and also the idea - Luke may get a surprise when he checks his social media! 

After around 45 minutes the band took a short break, partly for Cody to change into a T shirt as it was – in Cody’s words – “a hot sweaty gig”! Academy 2 is not the largest of the rooms at Birmingham’s Academy and as Cody’s popularity grows he will almost certainly return to a larger room or larger venue.  The heat allowed Cody to show his humbler side, as he turned his fan round to cool down his pedal steel player - he also made a point of thanking the venue staff and especially the bouncer at the front who was handing out water in front of the stage

In the show’s second half Cody showed off those vocal, musical and showmanship skills including – not easily done by a male vocalist – Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and Shania Twain’s Man! I Feel Like a Woman! complete with a bum wiggle – to the crowd’s amazement and enjoyment.

As we looked around the crowd we didn’t see any familiar faces, so this was a crowd of Brummies out for a good night.  There were some glittery cowboy hats, some boots, plenty of plaid shirts, but when Cody belted out the big hits, the crowd were right there singing along, and when he dropped in his own singles – Downtown, Cowboy Sitting at The Bar, they still sang it back to him.

 

If you haven’t come across Cody Pennington yet, Cody is a “unicorn” - he is actually from Nashville!  He told us a fascinating story of how he first met Chris Stapleton when working in CVS in Nashville.  On checking a customer’s ID, he noted the name was C Stapleton.  That was it – that was the story!  It was a great intro to performing a Chris Stapleton song though! 

Cody is now UK based, taking the Nashville sound around the country with his show.  Cody plays electric guitar throughout the show, accompanied by Holly Carter on pedal steel, plus his drummer and bassist. Cody does use some reverb on his mic and a small amount of backing tracks to allow a banjo sound plus piano when he sang Walking In Memphis.  The microphone effect brings a big sound to a small venue – while other acts offer us the feel of a Nashville Honky Tonk, Cody and his band are without doubt bringing us the US Stadium sound, even in Birmingham on a Friday night.

The Cody Pennington Country Show delivers exactly what it says on the tin – some of the biggest hits of modern country performed as they should be.  For many, this is the only way they will hear the likes of Luke Combs songs performed live.  People will come out for covers, and they will love the originals.  UK festivals would do well to get Cody on their line ups – before Luke Combs steals him away!

The Cody Pennington Country Show is touring the UK throughout the year, with four shows in Scotland in November.  Tickets are limited for many dates – see CodyPennington.com for details.

If you can’t make it to a show, check out Cody’s music on Spotify, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

Silverball Country attended The Country Show as guests of Cody Pennington

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Single Review - Cowboy Sitting at the Bar - Cody Pennington

It is clear that shows where you can hear “all the hits” from current and past Nashville performers are very popular in the UK – as we discussed when we recently reviewed One Night In Nashville.  For many, this may be the only chance to hear the songs that you hear on the Radio performed live, albeit not by the original artists.  UK Based Nashville artist Cody Pennington is about to embark on a UK tour where he will be performing such songs with his band, but Cody is absolutely not just a covers artist, he writes and records his own music and this week sees the release of his latest single which he even produced himself!

This ain’t the first bar I came to tonight

Its just the closest to the last

Cowboy Sitting At The Bar is a recognisable story to anyone familiar with the Country music genre – a heartbroken cowboy who turns to drink to try and ease the pain.  Most of us can relate to that!  The approach that Cody has taken is to put the lyrics against a quite upbeat, happy production.  The song writing is first rate, the words and emotion so recognisable and the contrast with the music and tempo give a different dimension, conjuring up the cowboy sat in the corner of the bar while around him people are having a good time. 

I’m searching for healing in a bottle of Jim Beam

The pedal steel helps to set the tone and describes the heartache as only pedal steel can before the guitar takes us on to the forced jollity of the uptempo chorus reflecting the fact that, although drinking away troubles, the story is set in a bar full of other people

This place feels like a second home

A place you can sit at the bar on your own

You’ve got enough cash you’ll never really feel like you’re alone

It is rare to find a song where the words and music almost contradict each other but come together in such a well thought out way.  The performance itself is also spot on – a little tiredness in the vocal, and real country sound overall so that you almost see as well as hear our storyteller and his weariness and heartache.

Cody Pennington may be performing other people’s songs in his stage show, but he writes as well as they do, and if he performs their songs as well as he does his own, then the shows will be a really great night out!

Cowboy Sitting at the Bar, the new single from Cody Pennington is available to download and stream from Friday 21 April

For more details and tickets for his UK tour go to CodyPennington.com

Find and follow Cody on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and sitting in the corner of a bar drunk on whisky and you…

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Single Review - Better Than That - Jessica Lynn

Unusually for a song from Jessica Lynn the pace and feel of her new song Better Than That are set by the pedal steel (rather than the usual guitar driven tune), which provides the opening to this almost ballad.

I say almost as it isn’t quite a slow song and isn’t quite a love song. Its about a very familiar love triangle – him, her - “the one”, and the third party - our storyteller who knows you Better Than That and is more likely to actually be “the one”.  She’s the one you come to, the one you talk to, the one who knows you and certainly the one who thinks that you’d be better off with her!

She knows this man "Better than that", hoping he will see what is in front in of him, the person who has always been there. 

Is there a touch of the green eyed monster, is she hoping he will see, so she can be that one.  The other girl brings him down, but we don't know anything else about that relationship. 

If you’re hanging in there for the one, this song will relate and hopefully spur you on. 

The feminist within me says, don't open that door at 2am, stop being the fool, maybe, just maybe, that will make him think twice.

Photo - Scott Vincent

The whole band is present on the backing, and the country roots are certainly evident.  It is a great mix of the stripped back songs that Jessica has released recently and that haunting steel sound.

The pace of the song reflects the feelings involved, and shows that Jessica can not only swap between genres but also between heartfelt storytelling and her well known stage rocking style!

It is a catchy little tune that will have you singing along, perhaps even a sway or a little dancing too, especially the opening. 

 

A great piece of song writing, Better Than That is a co-write with Clay Mills who has a distinguished pedigree, having written for artists including Darius Rucker, Trisha Yearwood, and Little Big Town.

 

Jessica and the Band will be in the UK for their long awaited return, starting in London on 9 May, moving on to Southampton, Birmingham, Derby, Swansea and more through the month.  Full details on the website - tour dates

Better Than That, the new single from Jessica Lynn is available to download or stream from Friday 4 October.  Find and follow Jessica on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify

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Single Review - Sounds Good In A Bar - Katy Hurt

 

Katy Hurt’s new song – Sounds Good In A Bar – is so real it just jumps out and grabs you, by the ears and by the heart!

Real, in that the vocal, the instrumentation are exactly what you expect from a Country song (and that steel, oh that steel!)

Real in that the pace and tone absolutely transport you to a bar at night, perhaps close to closing time when the staff are cleaning up and reflecting on the night and on how they got there

Real in that the story of working in a bar, or a diner, or a gas station while pursuing your dream is absolutely spot on.

Katy has based this new track on her own experiences of working odd jobs – and the writing can only have come from genuine experiences.  There is a wistfulness to the words and the performance that not only captures the dreaming and wishing that all performers feel while waiting for their big break but also captures the late-night bar feeling.  Anyone who has worked behind a bar will recognise their own life in this song, anyone who has tried to make it in the industry will recognise the “If I could just”

If I could just get the crowd singing along

With that one line you can sense the longing, just one step to getting out of this bar, just one step to your dreams, just one step to success.

It isn’t a dance along song, it won’t have you out of your seat, but Sounds Good In A Bar will have you singing along from the heart, drinks (served by the dreaming bartender) waved in the air and it might even make you think about your own dreams.

 

Another drink please bartender, another step, another dream.

 

Sounds Good In A Bar, the new single from Katy Hurt is available to download and stream from Friday 8 October

Find and follow Katy on Facebook, Instagram, her website and on Spotify

You can also see Katy on her current Face to Face tour

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