Tom Russell (Live Music)

24 October 2008

Tom Russell
St Georges, Bristol
October 18, 2008

Tom Russell is the Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men) of songwriting, or perhaps Cormac McCarthy is the Tom Russell of novel writing. If trying to decide which came first, it was probably Tom Russell.
This was pretty evident in his show at St Georges, where he made many references to the beatnik/folk roots of his career, talking about Ramblin’ Jack Eliot, Utah Phillips, Ian and Sylvia and such.
He always had one foot in country, though, and honoured the presence Bristol country music kingpin and legend Kelvin Henderson, who produced early recordings of Russell and championed him on the bookings circuit.
Tom Russell occupies a territory pretty much all his own: songs of the West, in its various locales and time periods, sung in a big resonant voice that mostly – but not always – called to mind Johnny Cash, with pungent and effective lyrics.
One could criticise Tom Russell for his very derivative melodies; a melodicist he is not, but that’s missing the point. He is a story teller and in the deepest country-folk tradition, he uses traditional melodies to get the job done. And just to seal that deal, he sings so damn well that he could use the same melody for every song and you’d still be enchanted.
He is a veteran performer and he noted at the start, eying the vast space of rather formal St Georges, that it might take a little longer, but we’d get into the groove eventually. And he was right. His deft manner with the guitar, with his singing, his pacing of the show, and his complete confidence in himself and his songs had us in his thrall is short order.
He had at his side guitarist, mandolinist and harmony singer Michael Martin, looking suitably (and subtly) Hispanic and Southwestern and playing beautifully in a style that fused blues, country and mariachi and was perfect for Tom Russell.
Russell talked easily, not too much and not too little, giving his songs a bit of context, bringing intimacy to the cavernous venue, but it was the songs, transporting you to the beautiful and arid plains of the American Southwest that really took you out of St Georges.

Review by Charley.