Over the years #TEAM21 music have seen Andrew Combs go from playing the Green Note in Camden to the O2 Main Stage at C2C, even last year he graced both Buddy’s Good Time Bar and the Main Stage with Marty Stuart. Today it was the Showground Stage on a Saturday morning. Fear not though readers it was not because his stock had plummeted, indeed he would form part of the Loose Records takeover at Buddy’s later that evening – it was more to highlight Texas Frontiers who were sponsoring the stage.
It is not often that an artist takes to the stage and says “You brave souls” to his assembled audience, however this was a man who had probably glanced at the weather forecast for the day and knew what was coming. Eschewing his normal suit for a more casual appearance, Andrew has an array of good songs in his armoury and a thirty minute taster slot would prove to be a veritable breeze.
Things would start with “Adeline”, quite intense lyrics to lay on a Saturday morning crowd set to an electric guitar including sections sung in a falsetto voice. but it immediately captured your attention.
"The consequence of truth and make believe
We'd fight and f*** and then it'd seem
Like nothing ever was wrong"
The lines being reeled off were sheer poetry
Andrew's take on writing a Jimmy Webb style song. "Rose Coloured Blues"detailing the life of a travelling musician. seemed to incorporate all of the required elements to meet the brief, even without the strings, piano and pedal steel of the recorded version. Andrew was quick to add that none of the events in the song had happened to him, he would also lighten the mood with his own vocal interpretation of a pedal steel solo. The intense mood though would swiftly return ith he “The Ship”,
"Far away from the bastard and the bully
Far away from the simple and the silly boy
Of all the poses, of all the roles Is this the one to turn to?"
Having seen Brent Cobb early in the week do his version of their co write “Rainy Day Song" renamed to "Shine On Rainy Day", it was interesting a few days later to contrast and compare. It was an instant reminder of just why Andrew is so good – the characters of the song are so vividly drawn, with Andrew's delivery, they all but appear before you. This three minutes was easily as good as anything across the weekend and was a privilege to observe, even if at times Andrew was having to compete with Morganway’s soundcheck on the Main Stage.
"Anna Please" built around hypnotic repeating guitar lines, was another song that seemed to create it's own little world, with Andrew's accompanying vocals being equally as dreamy at times. Introducing a “Bonafide Country song” it was time for the tune that had graced the Main Stage last year “Too Stoned Too Cry” - undoubtedly another stand out moment.from the morning set.
Closing with his Peeping Tom song, the slow soft “Hazel” which again would see him employ a falsetto delivery at times, This was a reminder of just how good he is, he may have let a few down by not bursting into “E M I L Y” but the rest of us just enjoyed the delights of seeing such a talented troubadour, close up at this time of the morning!