Star rating – 7/10
Ahab are
usually a five piece UK Americana band, with soaring four part harmonies giving
away their London busking roots. For this tour, and the first time I have seen
them live, they are without a couple of
band members – their guitarist and co-founder Callum Adamson having just had
his appendix out had a sick note, and they decided to give their drummer a rest
too to create a more pared down threesome.
And what harmonies
they create. Each of the three members present was equally confident on lead vocals,
with three sumptuous voices that wrap around each other beautifully. It was a
great night, full of fun and beautiful songs, with a small but very appreciative
and devoted crowd to hear them. My personal favourites were one of their
singles Wish You, the toe tapping Run Me Down, with its particularly beautiful
vocals; and the lovely, catchy
heartbreak tune Joanna.
They also
covered the word of mouth country favourite, the Old Crow Medicine Show’s
fantastic Wagon Wheel. This song is an
oft covered catchy love song involving trains and Carolina. It has a great back
story too, including being co-written by Bob Dylan – sort of. Check it out.
They
performed a few new songs included Neighbours,
complete with a bit of mouth organ action. Rosebud
made a lovely end to the night, with an encore in the middle of the audience,
busking style, of My Father’s Eyes.
Their temporary format had a slightly improvised feel to it, but that was no
bad thing. This was a wonderful taste of a great emerging band, with warm
personalities and an infectious love of their music. They are definitely worth checking
out with their full complement of members.
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