Saturday night was Newcastle’s turn for this year’s Golden Guitar winners for Best Alternative Country Album, Lachlan Bryan & The Wilde’s Black Coffee album launch at the Great Northern Hotel.
The Great Northern was one of Newcastle’s favourite live music venues, the venue struggled through 2013 with a lack of direction, which saw a lot of punters give it a miss.
Now with new management on board, this beautiful old pub is back with a vengeance, they have a load of fantastic gigs coming up, and I have a feeling the new management will have the Great Northern back as one of Newcastle’s premier live music venues in no time at all. Check out their web site for upcoming gigs www.thegreatnorthern.com.au
The night got off to a shaky start, with the first of the two opening acts going AWOL, that was quickly turned around with Nick Connors from the White Walkers putting his hand up and filling in with a couple of great solo tunes, then country songstress Aleyce Simmons, who was there as a backup singer for the main act, hit the stage to close the opening set with a few of her songs including Believe the title track off her new album, just brilliant, what an absolute bonus that was.
The White Walkers hit the stage for the second set with a great show as always, these boys are in big demand at the moment as an opening act for touring bands, I have no doubt it won’t be long before the boys are headlining shows themselves.
Then the headliners, Lachlan Bryan the Wildes, I’m a big fan of theBlack Coffee album but this the first opportunity I’ve had to see this alternate Country outfit live and man I wasn’t left disappointed. These guys are hot. Not a sole there on the night was left in any doubt as to why they were recipients of a Golden Guitar this year; this band is well worth catching live.
The album was played almost in its entirety on the night, with a good mix of some of Lachlan’s older tunes and a couple great covers. Highlights for me were 309, Deathwish Country, Forty Days and Nights, Black Coffee and a great cover of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues.
The band itself is full of talent with Lachlan Bryan on vocal and guitar, the talented Michael Cole on lead, a great rhythm section with Shaun Ryan, Bass and Mat Duniam, Drums and the very talented and georous Aleyce Simmons guesting on backing vocals for the night.
As I’ve already said I am a fan of the album ‘Black Coffee’ whether or not you’re into alternate Country I would highly recommend giving this album a listen.
It’s chock a block full of well written material and to top it all off one hell of a list of guest artist including Aussie music icon Bill Chambers, Texan Pedal Steel Maestro Tommy Detamore, Rod McCormack’s Banjo, Zo Rinkel and the very talented Melody Pool.
You can sample all the tracks from the album on Lachlan’s Web page www.lachlanbryan.com .
Lachlan Bryan the Wildes, have a few great gigs coming up over the next couple of months with shows at:
- The Velvet Room (Thornbury, Melbourne, Vic) FRI – Feb 28, 2014
- Commercial Hotel (Koroit, VIC) SAT – Mar 01, 2014
- CMC Rocks the Hunter (Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW) FRI – Mar 14, 2014
- The Gumball (Dashville, Hunter Valley, NSW) SAT – Apr 12, 2014
