Two superb musicians. Two excellent singer songwriters. Two distinctive voices. Two of the nicest guys on the folk scene. One of the most virtuosic guitarists around and one truly great songwriter. We've seen these two many times before, solo, in all sorts of other line-ups, together on stage as members of a band, but never before as a duo. The tickets were purchased months ago and we'd been looking forward to this one ever since.
The night opened with Kris performing a couple of solo numbers, explaining that he and Boo had got together so recently that they hadn't had time to write enough material for the whole show. But it's never a hardship to listen to this man. Then Boo emerged, provided backing vocals and guitar for another couple of Kris numbers, and delivered some solo material of his own. Plus a lot of laughs. Mr Hewerdine was on fine funny form with Kris a perfect foil for his dry wit.
In the second half they gave us the new songs that have gone onto their Last Man Standing EP, with each taking turns to deliver the lead vocal. All immediately likeable and I was delighted to hear Five Past Two in the Afternoon was going to be on the disc, a song that I loved when I first heard it at Kris' gig in February. The one about having an unproductive day, that felt like it was describing my life.
Throw in a few of Boo's classic songs and great guitar solos from Kris and it all added up to one of the best gigs of the year so far. The packed house had been whipped into a fine frenzy by the end and raised the volume for the encore. Mr Drever gave us his version of Boo's evocative Harvest Gypsies, then Mr H had the audience joining in on Sweet Honey in the Rock, an excellent up tempo number to round off the night.
Looked like the CD sales went well too, and I'm looking forward to playing the EP, and Boo's latest solo album. (We've already got pretty much everything else that was on sale - confirmed fans, us.) I'd love anyone reading this to have a chance to experience the duo live, but there are only two more nights of the tour to go, and they seem to be selling out everywhere. Deservedly so.
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