From The Eye, South Coast
Entertainment guide
Monday 23rd June at the
Cellar – Red Dirt
Red Dirt are Russell Middleton -
lead vocals / guitar and Ian Turner - double bass.
For a pair of "miserable
bastards from Devon" (a quote that won't get me into any
trouble as they said it themselves!) they sure pulled a crowd and
kept everyone entertained.
The Landlord, Steve requested a
review of this duo as he really likes what they do - they are the
only group playing all their own material to have appeared more than
once at The Cellars.
It has to be said that I almost
didn't make it to this gig after a hard weekend of partying and was
about 15 minutes (fashionably) late. But having heard what these
guys were doing I wished I'd been there from the start. Still, maybe
they'll send me a free cd when they read this!
So, to the music. Predominantly
folk rock in style but with clear underlying jazz influences,
particularly from, the double bass player. Each song was discernibly
different from the last which, unfortunately, often isn't the case
with bands playing their own material.
Russell,
the hairy hippy guitarist didn't just strum his way through every
number - there were some catchy riffs yes, but there was a fair
amount of finger picking too, melodiously melancholic. He even put
down the guitar a couple of times.
Once in favour of a kazoo and then
again for a comedy song (that they'd try and have you believe was
for all you lovers of ceramics!) featuring just the double bass and
vocals.
To
watch Ian slap out a funky solo on the double bass makes you wonder
why anyone ever bothers with an electric bass.
The instrument itself may look as
though it's been involved in a road accident but it certainly
doesn't sound any the worse for it. Vocally they work well together.
Russell's voice is no doubt smoke
damaged but expressive none the less and he uses his full range
backed harmoniously by Ian.
All in all a funny old mixture of
folk and rock done acoustically, in a modern and jazzy way. Or, to
put it another way, it's "music to drink beer to". Funnily
enough they met in a pub and have been playing together as Red Dirt
for two years, although they have over forty years of musical
experience between the two of them.
Lyrically, Red Dirt are inspired by
a group called Gang of Four. I've never heard of them but intend to
check them out now.
Russell sings about everything from
the political to the absurd. From America and it's attitude to
dropping bombs, to songs about caterpillars, rhododendron's and
daytime TV!
At times real and insightful, and
at others cynical and obscure in the way that you get from having
spent many a stoned hour contemplating life and love. These guys are
also capable of a couple of happy songs.
Literally, one each set! I really
can't say anything bad about this duo. They are entertaining,
thought provoking and amusing between numbers as they clearly don't
take themselves too seriously, Ian knows his place (as a bass player
that's one step up from a drummer) and got the drinks in when
Russell did a solo guitar song.
A varied set means I will
definitely go and see them again without being bored so if you fancy
something different to the usual electric four piece rock covers pub
band then go and support a venue that consistently offers good live
music on a Monday night and see Red Dirt at The Cellars at Eastney
on Monday 1st September.
Kit.
"Railing against the establishment - RED DIRT aim a bold and
piercing statement at the corrupt, tainted, and violent.
"RED DIRT have combined folk jazz and songwriting to significant
effect on this debut album...
"The first rate production places the focus on the wisdom
and power of the lyrics."
Musician (the musicians union
magazine)
"I thought the album was brilliant - I really enjoyed it"
Chris Jaeger - Routes music/speaking volumes
