Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners – review – The Parish, Huddersfield

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners with support from Boss Caine and The John Street Revival Band at The Parish, Huddersfield, 20 October 2022.

Joining forces with The Sinners, Ginger Wildheart has just released his debut album ‘Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners’.

Boss Caine

York’s very own Folk/Americana artist Daniel Lucas better known as Boss Caine opens tonight’s show. Playing stripped-down versions of his cosmic country/folk music. The semi-filled room, with its chattering crowd, pause as Daniel takes to stage with his trusty acoustic guitar. With no frills and no backing band, Caine delivers a sterling performance.

With its shanty vibe Ghosts and Drunks and the balladesque, Truckstop Jukebox (an ode to Gram Parsons) grabs the crowd’s attention. As do the short tales in between from this lyrical master. The sassy Champagne goes down well, pun intended, from his latest album Loved by Trouble, Troubled by Love.

Photo by Alex English

https://bosscainemusic.bandcamp.com/

The John Street Revival Band

Describing themselves on their website as ‘Five pieces of ‘Heartland Rock, raw Americana with infectious hooks and freewheeling melodies’ An Alt-Americana road trip from the UK’. I can’t disagree with that. If you’re looking for their music you’ll find it under the name Field Manuel. The Macclesfield-five open with the sax-infused Same Old and not to be same old, the singer/guitarist Chris Insley stands to the left of the stage.

The poppy bounce of I’ll Be Mine is their current release as The John Street Revival Band. The crowd are enjoying grooving along, think Bruce Springsteen and you’re on the right track. Closing with the soulful country-tinged rocker Home.

Photo by Alex English

https://thejohnstreetrevival.com/

Setlist – Same Old – Long Way Home – I’ll Be Mine – Y’Know Y’Know – I’m Doing Fine – Take A While – Uptight – Home

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners

Photo by Alex English

Continuing the country-rock vibe Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners debut their album, playing all but one of the ten songs.

Excited to see Ginger with his latest band? of course, we are! And the half-empty room is now filled full of eager fans. The Wildhearts might be on an indefinite hiatus but we do love it when Ginger strikes up a new project. This is one of his easiest listening ones, not complicated and a lot of fun!

What I notice of the two frontmen Neil Ivison and Ginger Wildheart, is they take turns on the lead vocals on different songs. Opening with The Road, Ivison leads the events.

You can’t complain that you don’t know the words as they ‘cover’ an impressive five songs of their 16-song set. From all the ‘whoa whoa’s’ on the classic Status Quo cover Dirty Water to the riffing, riffer of Six Years Gone by the Georgia Satellites (you can hear both on their debut album).

Photo by Alex English

Comedy gold

The banter is on cracking good form between Ginger and his audience and also between the dynamic duo of Neil and Ginger, who swap stories through the night, it’s comedy gold. Ivison introduces Walk of Shame, a song about doing all the things you shouldn’t and is taken from The Sinner’s second album.

Asking if we know any bands from Dunfermline. I’m thinking Ginger sounds akin to Spike of the Quireboys on their version of Nazareth’s Broken Down Angel, he pipes up that ‘Spike’ sent him a tape on how to sing it, and quips ‘what is the difference between Spike and Ginger? They both got sacked from The Quireboys!! Haha!

Forming a huddle with Nick Lydon, for their latest single Footprints In The Sand. Ivison takes the lead vocal, on this catchy anthemic, Amercianca rhythmic number.

Encore

Encoring off stage for a quick minute.

Ginger & The Sinners return for the infectious and hilarious Code Of The Road, it should be every tour bus anthem!

It’s like a load has been taken off Ginger watching him perform with his new band tonight. The duelling guitars, camaraderie and big smiles say it all, as they end the set with The Weight by The Band.

Setlist:
The Road
That Smile*
Dirty Water* (Status Quo cover).
Six Years Gone* (Georgia Satellites cover).
Lately, Always*
Wasted Times*
Key of Love
Walk Of Shame
Broken Down Angel (Nazareth cover)
Willin’ (Little Feat cover)
Arms of Love
Not The Staying Kind*
Footprints In The Sand*
Code of The Road*
Breakout*
The Weight (The Band cover)

*On the debut self-titled album ‘Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners’, see our PlanetMosh album review Here

https://www.facebook.com/gingersinners I https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ginger+wildheart+and+the+sinners

For more photos go here https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAbXgR

Words and photo’s by Alex English

About Alex English