Band show they now have the songs to win it all
The Howlers Staggeringly Good Brewery, Milton, Portsmouth
Given that it’s their 11th gig in just seven days – starting in Glasgow and ending in Portsmouth – The Howlers could be forgiven for being a little frazzled.
They’ve been busy promoting their debut album, What You’ve Got to Lose to Win it All, and if they’re a little ragged, it adds to the charm of tonight’s proceedings.
Given the trio’s history, the title could be their mantra to live by – frontman Adam Young suffered two strokes in quick succession and not long after the band nearly split, only deciding to carry on with a new drummer in tow.
A semi-acoustic affair, it’s not quite the full-force band we’ve seen in the past, but it’s good to see them demonstrating their versatility. The sound is shorn of the mariachi-style brass which punctuates the album and Young is on the acoustic guitar for the duration, so it’s a less inyour-face performance.
Given this is Young’s home turf – bassist Guus Ter Braak, and drummer Tom Triggs live in London – there are several of his family in attendance. It’s a sign of how relaxed this affair is that there’s some good natured back-and-forth between the stage and audience.
When Young introduces Cowboys Don’t Cry, it’s dedicated to his mum, who apparently does cry every time she hears it…
Young’s voice has a quavering vibrato to it that is particularly distinctive tonight.
And at times the band sound like (fittingly) Howl-era Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The songs are still foot-stompingly good – How Long and El Dorado make a fine one-two.
Their self-described ‘desert rock’ is loaded with hooks and after a few more listens you can imagine these songs being sung back at the band during gigs.
The set draws exclusively from the album. It would have perhaps been nice to hear some of their older material, but it’s understandable why they don’t play it here.
Young reveals that there is a chance they could sneak into the lower reaches of the charts this week – no mean feat for this entirely independent act at this stage.
Go check out the album and help them get there.