Deep in the Calderdale Valley, somewhere between Halifax and Burnley is the lovely little town of Hebden Bridge, known for its artists, canal and alternate lifestyles. It also has the fabulous little venue of The Trades Club which is a not for profit organisation, run by its members, and max capacity of approx 200.
On an awful monsoon like night, newcomer and fellow Loose Music artist Vikesh Kapoor takes the stage with acoustic guitar and mouth organ for company.
Supporting his recently released debut album ‘The Ballad of Willy Robbins’, Vikesh announces that it's his first venture into Europe and expresses his appreciation to The Handsome Family for the support slot.
Vikesh's voice is somewhere between an early Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, and he almost resembles that early fresh faced Dylan look. With thumb pick on, he strums away through debut album, the central theme inspired by the sad story of a construction worker who suffers a serious accident then watches his life slowly fall apart.
The songs are engaging and story like, and Vikesh himself is an accomplished finger picker. His chat with the crowd also engages him, especially when he tells the crowd he bought his shirt from a charity shop in the town!
Despite the inclement weather, the temperature inside the venue is almost tropical, and even Brett Sparks, on stage with a couple of fans helping out is struggling and the only thing he has got to mop his brow is a bandana.
Accompanied by wife Rennie and a virtually invisible drummer, they begin the night with ‘My Sisters Tiny Hands’. The 3 minute or so songs zip along with their banter with the crowd which is after virtually every song and sometimes hilarious.....Rennie at one point suggesting how much Brett's family drink at Xmas. This did get me thinking about perceptions we have about bands...I have been buying The Handsome Family releases since Twilight and have read and heard lots of opinions about them, including how odd they were and that they are the Morticia and Gomez Addams of country music. I expected this in their performance, but it couldn't have been further from the truth.
The night slipped past so quickly until Brett's sonorous baritone said its last goodbye and we left to get some fresh air. My only disappointment was that they only played one song, Frogs, from latest album Wilderness however they did get in Far From Every Road, now used as title track to US series True Detective.
All in all, an excellent night at an excellent venue. Both artists vowed to return to Hebden Bridge so fingers crossed its sooner rather than later.
Keith @kjsmith4082
