Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) and Grant Lee-Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo) have been on the road together over the past few months and following on from their show at the Union Chapel in London last autumn; they turned up at the Portland Arms in Cambridge this week.
Leeds the night before, Paris the next day, Celtic Connections in Glasgow coming up, they are certainly putting the miles in, which is particularly impressive for Howe who lives in Tucson Arizona. "You only live in the desert if you want to do nothing" he tells us "but I seem to be working very hard to get home to do nothing at present"
I'm not really convinced Howe's heart was in the show last night (based on the last Giant Sand gig I saw at the Queen Elizabeth Hall a couple of years ago.) He seemed quite happy to have a chat, take questions in a very laconic style that did have everyone in fits of laughter most of the time.
He was most happy with the house lights up, as three or four songs made their way into the audience before Howe called Grant up on to the stage for a couple of duets before he had to leave to catch a train.
That left us in the company of Grant Lee-Phillips and did he shine! Looking exhausted, he took this gig my the scruff of its neck and delivered a blinding performance of songs from Grant Lee Buffalo days, his own solo back catalogue as well as a new song recorded at the end of last year. He took audience requests and got a truly well-deserved ovation at the end. He rewarded us with an encore of 'Bethlehem Steel'
Pete
Grant's Set:
Pale Blue Eyes (with Howe Gelb)
Always Get Lucky With You (with Howe Gelb)
It Ain't the Same Old Cold War Harry
Nightbirds
Mona Lisa
Stars n' Stripes
Calamity Jane
The Hook
Cry Cry
Strangest Thing
Jupiter and Teardrop
Buried Treasure
Denver Station
Walking in the Green Corn
Encore:
Bethlehem Steel
