Iv’e just had a birthday. A stupendous day where I coincidentally picked up a new (to me) car, had the day off work to spend with my fantastic wife and went out for a meal. What I thought was going to be a nice steady away family meal at the steakhouse turned out to be a 20 strong gathering.  Eirene (fantastic wife, cited prior) had arranged for a premium collection of some of my favourite people to be present as a surprise. Brilliant. Beer, Rib Eye, good laughs and chips followed by a jaunt to a cocktail ish bar for espresso martini’s (vanilla bar – 6.5/10) followed by a trip to the mighty The Blues Bar, where we randomly caught one of the best bands I’ve seen all year.

Hymn and Her

On the back of our all American gastro feast, we gorged our ears and eyes on an all American audio feast. Country and Blues – but unlike anything I’d heard before. Pin sharp timings and complex rhythmic structures, wacky instruments and a 5 year old who belted out the encore. Most of the gig was delivered by a couple from Philadelphia – Lucy Tight and Wayne Waxing.

The set up, for most of the gig had the bottom of Wayne parked on a stool with a bass drum kick and high hat, alternating between guitar and bango (banjo I think.. but he called it bango) . The neck up department was enhanced by a mouth organ, a cracking set of lungs and a 1940s style gritty sound enhancing bullet mic. Lucy stood, for most of the gig and cracked the gags, topped harmonies and played a crazy looking instrument, that I later learned from Wayne, they called a Lobo. A cigar box and broom handle, a bass string and two guitar strings ran through a variation of 8 floor pedals. Brilliant sounds. Poetic, often funny stories of songs who’s lyrics were intimate and heartfelt. Their golden locked daughter stole the show at the end when she lead a final ditty. A beautiful end to a wonderful birthday.

Hymn and Her are touring the UK for a bit : More info on their website here : you can also have a listen to a few of their musics. Thanks for coming to Harrogate!