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The Ashtray Hearts - The Musician, Leicester - 15th July 2003
On a hot sweaty night in Leicester, the Ashtray Hearts, a six piece band from Minneapolis (the tour economics don’t bear thinking about) finally take the stage at 10pm. It’s been a long wait, through a frankly wretched support act (think Peter & Gordon, only with less attitude), and the audience are more than ready for them. Looking like a bunch of college dropouts, they are (allegedly) having a tour beard-growing competition, at which, to be honest, they’re miserable failures. But that’s OK, because they are rampant successes at pretty much everything else. Undoubtedly the best new band I have seen for ages, their music is languidly gorgeous, with a unique presence and feel. Their album, Old Numbers, is outstanding but doesn’t do justice to their live performance, which takes the music to a whole new level. It draws you in, with plaintive, desperate vocals spread across wide open spaces that are sparsely filled with exquisitely judged guitar work from Steve Yernberg, beautifully subtle accordion from Brad Augustine, in fact pretty ace work from the whole band. Co-lead singer Aaron Schmidt has something of a thousand yard stare, and clutches a bottle of Bud at his side throughout the first set, whether for reassurance or to crack over the heads of any recalcitrant audience members is not clear. Although they’re a multi-instrument playing six piece, they’re fervent believers in less is more, never using two notes when one would do, not bothered about showing off their chops. Songs of loss, songs of regret, songs of bittersweet acceptance flow across the room. But don’t get the idea that this is the Leonard Cohen band, it’s not. Its inspiring, uplifting, mesmeric music, that draws you in and wraps itself around you. Most of the album gets an airing, with “Spain”, “The one you’re closest to” and “Trestle” being standouts, plus enough extra songs to make a good start on a second, which frankly can’t come soon enough for me. To (mis)coin a phrase, see them early, see them often.
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