Good Advice From Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse To The Tuesday Night Music Club - Don’t Let The Bastards Drag You Down
Anglo Americans Beaux Gris Gris (pronounced \ˈbō\ \ˈgrē-(ˌ)grē\ )& The Apocalypse returned to the Tuesday Night Music Club following a very well received debut appearance in 2018.
This extremely entertaining collective is a New Orleans inspired, American blues folk soul band created by Louisiana born and raised musician Greta Valenti (Well Hung Heart) and UK British Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, Robin Davey (The Hoax, DVL, Well Hung Heart). Joined by Mark Barrett on drums (The Hoax), Irish-American singer-songwriter Ali Coyle on bass, Emma Jonson an award-winning singer songwriter from Birmingham, U.K. on keyboards and Stephen Mildwater on Keyboards and guitar.
Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse took it’s first breath in 2017 when Robin Davey informed Greta that he wanted to start a blues project. Greta was happy to entertain this project just as long as it was in a Louisiana style.
With the exception of one new song and three well chosen covers, the two one hour sets in the main was drawn from the band’s debut album Love & Murder. The excellent Heart Breaker was perfect to immediately whet the appetite and present Greta’s vocal range to the Tuesday night audience. Bright red dress and blue hair, Greta Valenti is certainly the centre of attention but partner Robin Davey with red fedora, leather jacket and tweed trousers was not going to go unnoticed.
Love & Murder was indeed the source for the first four numbers with Cyclone, Thrill Me and Baby Baby following Heart Breaker in quick succession. Cyclone has a happy fairground Louisiana reggae vibe, if there is such a thing but very addictive nonetheless. Thrill Me leads in with a nice bass line from Ali Coyle and Ali enjoying a vocal part as well. Greta’s vocal really shines throughout Baby Baby and was certainly one of the stand out numbers on the night with Emma Jonson complimenting the vocal with some beautiful keyboards.
The first set is brought to a close with the rocky Have Mercy and Robin Davey testing his new wireless system by going walkabout with his ????.
The Tuesday Night Music Club is somewhat unique as it has three house rules; no idle chit chat during a performance as this is disrespectful to both artist and audience, make full use of the cheap bar and spend some hard earned cash at the merch desk. The audience certainly heeded to all three and certainly took advantage of Love & Murder which was now available on red vinyl.
The second set got straight back into the groove with Robin leading us into Louisiana Good Ride, another from the debut release. When My Baby Was Rich followed and this was classic blues in a Louisiana style.
Feeling confident at this stage, as they should, Greta decided to risk falling on her sword and take a chance with a new song Watching The World Fall Down. A topical song in view of the political climate either side of the Atlantic. No blood shed as the new song went down a treat.
Next up one of the chosen covers, Make It Wit Chu by Queens Of The Stone Age may well have been written for this band. Greta at ease with the Josh Homme vocals and considering Robin Davey formed half of the Hoax’s rhythm section on bass, he is a very impressive lead guitarist.
Another song which captures the current political climate is the anthem like Don’t Let The Bastards Drag You Down which encouraged a little audience participation.
A very different band in many ways which cannot be pigeon holed signed off with another cover, again a very interesting choice that sat comfortably with this band, 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Up.
Don Toliver
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