Quick plays: BIRDS OF CHICAGO, IAN SHERWOOD
Share the post "Quick plays: BIRDS OF CHICAGO, IAN SHERWOOD"
BIRDS OF CHICAGO Love In Wartime
JT Nero (JT & The Clouds frontman Jeremy Lindsay) and Allison Russell (Po’ Girl) first combined their talents on the 2011 JT Nero-branded Mountains/Forests album – an album of Americana that lacked a commercial edge.
They formalised their collaboration as Birds Of Chicago, with a marginally more ‘mainstream’ approach on their self-titled debut in 2013, and since then we’ve had a live album (Live From Space (2014), and Real Midnight (2016), the latter seemingly bypassing the GRTR! review desk.
Love In Wartime is another beguiling set that, this time around, sees JT sharing some of the writing duties with a number of co-writes with Russell and one with bass player Chris Merrill. Blending elements of country, soul, folk, and rock, the focus remains the trade off of JT’s gravelled tones and the sweetness of Russell’s.
And while it takes another couple of strides towards the mainstream – it’s the more reflective numbers that are the most striking – the gently rolling country imbued ‘Try’, the soulful ‘Roisin Starchild’, and the delicate banjo infused ‘Superlover’.
With Paul Simon taking a final bow, it’s the likes of Birds of Chicago that might vie for that gap he’ll leave in the adult popular music marketplace. And once again, they’re playing a number of dates in the UK and Ireland in May. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
IAN SHERWOOD Bring The Light
It’s disconcerting when, for the second time in as many weeks, I’ve failed to register an artist that’s passed through my reviewing before. Once again it was only the previous album’s artwork that rang a bell. Oh well, at least there’s still some connections working in the old grey matter.
But the good news is that the restrains of Bring The Light -the fifth studio album from the oft nominated Canadian folk music awards winner – will hopefully linger longer.
His previous outing – Everywhere To Go (2014) left a legacy of ‘Me Or Your Money’ (a number that would give Sheeran a run for his money), and the bluesy ‘No Water’ in my music library, and Bring The Light looks set to leave a similarly indelible mark.
I don’t quite get the ‘folk’ tag, because Sherwood has more in common with the likes of CSN and Bruce Hornsby – well-crafted soft rock, albeit acoustically-based, songs. The opening four numbers -the wistful ‘Little Birds’, the bluesy stomp ‘Dig That Hole’ (a number that would surely lift Rag’n'Bone back to the top of the charts), the country highway ‘Firefly’, and the mournful ‘I See Red’ that builds to a Coldplay-like crescendo, set the bar at a level that Bring The Light struggles to match thereafter.
But steeped in traditional songwriting values, it’s an album that offers something to a number of generations. And that’s no mean feat. Sherwood will be playing a handful of promotional UK dates in May. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Quick plays: BIRDS OF CHICAGO, IAN SHERWOOD"