The Texas Gentlemen

Wednesday 7th February. Bush Hall. The Texas Gentlemen. Flying solo tonight I arrive early at the always excellent venue that is Bush Hall where I catch support act Howard Rose. And they were surprisingly good. Probably not a surprise for those that know them but I’ve seen enough rubbish support acts to know a good one. Rose has a fine voice and there’s some good tunes in there too.
Onto the Texas Gentlemen. A collective of great musicians who have backed anyone and everyone over recent years including Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges and Nikki Lane. Finally last year they locked themselves away for four days and recorded thirty tracks with just eleven making the final cut on the ‘TX Jelly’ record. It’s now their time to shine at the front of the stage.
The set tonight takes a healthy slice from that album, a couple of new tracks and a clutch of covers taking in The Meteors to Patsy Cline via Johnny Kid and the Pirates. They are a five piece tonight led by a twin Nord organ attack, guitar bass and drums. Lead vocals are shared amongst organist Beau Bedford, guitarist Nik Lee and keyboardist Daniel Creamer but it’s the harmonies of the three together that captures their sound perfectly.
If you’re a lover of a seventies country funk honky tonk groove type of thing then the Texas Gentlemen are the band for you. The band are tight both musically and physically on the small stage and they launch into a series of extended jams that build and build into a number of false crescendos before reaching their ultimate climax.
There are shades of Blitzen Trapper in the vocals, Drive by Truckers in the attitude and The Band in their musicality. It’s all over in an hour and highlights for me were the ultra-funky ‘Habbie Doobie’ and then the finale of ‘Shakin all over’.
Looking forward to record two and a longer set next time.
Keep on country funking rockin’ y’all

This band is TIGHT. There was an amazing mix of genres. The addition of Paul Cauthen as a guest was a treat! Every musician in the Gent's band is an artist on his own. The original song, "Dreaming" was a masterpiece waltz, made me want to dance. Their last number "Shakin" was so much fun! Love them.