Unstoppable Dog
Real party atmosphere at Arlington Arts
Police Dog Hogan at Arlington Arts on Saturday, April 9 Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON
FROM the moment they stepped on stage the sheer energy, enthusiasm and joy of seven-piece Police Dog Hogan connected with and won over the near capacity audience.
They are constantly on the move and their standard of musicianship is superb. With well crafted, clever, often witty lyrics and a great line in repartee they impress and amuse in equal measure.
They create a great fun atmosphere and put a smile on every face with the result that when they ask the audience to join in on choruses they do – in spades!
Opening with the rousing and joyous Hold On from their new album Overground, released in January, their unique blend of Celtic folk and Americana set a real party atmosphere.
They seem to be able to magic songs from the oddest of inspirations, including garden sheds and the experience of being visited by a persistent crow early each day during lockdown.
I loved Here Comes Crow, Shitty White Wine and Kathleen O’Hare, a song reflecting on an unlikely first meeting. The first set finished, with much audience participation, on the wonderful Might As Well Be Love, from the new album, proving that despite frontman James Studholme’s comment about the most feared words at a show being “this is a track from our new album”, we were in safe hands.
Resuming after the interval with a storming version of Coolies Reel, Police Dog Hogan were unstoppable, there were so many highlights, Judgment Day was superb, as was their bluegrass set piece on
Old Guitar. The main set ended with the epic From The Land Of Miracles, again with huge audience participation, before a great two song encore of West Country Boy and Rest My Eyes.
A sensational show.