There’s always something to be grumbly, opposed to and misanthropic about. While this may seem bleak for humanity in general, it’s great news for blues’ musicians who wish to sing about more than love and drunkenness. Long queues at the supermarket? There’s a tune right there. The council has rerouted your favourite bus a 15 minute walk away from your house? Get out the guitar. The possibilities are endless, unfortunately.
Distilling the essence of disgruntlement into song, however, is a special kind of talent, particularly if a songwriter is to avoid hitting the same downbeat note. It requires spinning a sense of joy and satisfaction from subject matter that is often resolutely unromantic, such as the weather, rogue landlords and the HS2 rail network.
Step forward Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra. A combination of offbeat, quirky lyrics and wonderfully tight and inventive musicianship raises their new album Talk About The Weather firmly out of the humdrum. Heron’s smokey, expressive vocals and keen sense of dynamics inject a sense of continuity into a varied repertoire of upbeat ragtime and swing numbers, country songs and a mambo. There is a real sense of fun and occasion that runs throughout the album.
Drinking Coffee Rag tells the sorry tale of one man’s descent into coffee addiction, while Junk On The Radio bemoans the vacuousness of modern media. Hey Mr Landlord and High-Speed Train tackle some of the more pressing political and social issues of our time. Penny Drop Mambo evidences the group’s flair for a broad variety of musical styles and Heron showcases his talent as a straight up crooner on I’m Feeling Blue, a simple, sparse song about love and loneliness. Sometimes the meaning of the blues is just that straightforward.
Review by: Rachel Devine
Live Dates
June
20 – Unthank, nr. Penrith, Upfront Gallery
21 – Douglas, Isle of Man, Villa Marina, BIG WHEEL BLUES FESTIVAL
27 – Cardiff, The Moon Club, GLASNOST FESTIVAL
28 – Manchester, GRILLSTOCK FESTIVAL
29 – Newcastle upon Tyne, Robert Stephenson’s Boiler Shop, EAT! FESTIVAL
July
06 – Newcastle upon Tyne, OUSEBURN FESTIVAL
11 – Newcastle upon Tyne, The Cluny, Album Launch
18 – Retford, Notts. St. John’s Hall
19 – Salisbury, LARMER TREE FESTIVAL
21 – Cardiff, St. David’s Hall (Level 3 Lounge), WELSH PROMS, NB. Afternoon show, 1pm
21 – Liverpool, The Caledonia, LIVERPOOL AMERICANA FESTIVAL
22 – Edinburgh, Palazzo Spiegeltent, George Square, EDINBURGH JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
25 – Châteauneuf-du-Faou, France, FEST JAZZ
28 – Worth Matravers, nr. Swanage, The Square & Compass
August
08 – London, Green Note
09 – Charlbury, Oxfordshire, WILDERNESS FESTIVAL
10 – Winchester, BOOMTOWN FAIR
11 – Broadstairs, Kent, The Pavilion, BROADSTAIRS FOLK WEEK
15 – Scholar Green, Cheshire, JUST SO FESTIVAL
17 – Newcastle upon Tyne, The Cumberland Arms, All Dayer
September
04 – Stroud, The Prince Albert
05 – London, The Harrison Bar, King’s Cross
06 – Lewes, The Old Post Office
07 – Downend, Isle of Wight, BESTIVAL
23 – Edinburgh, Leith Folk Club @ The Victoria Park House Hotel
26 – Preston, Ashlar House, Swingaroo Vintage Dancehall
27 – Middlesbrough, MIDDLESBROUGH LIVE
28 – Newcastle upon Tyne, Hoult’s Yard
Talk About the Weather released 7th July via Tea Pad Recordings
http://www.teapadorchestra.co.uk/
photo credit: Spurious Nonsense Art Photography