Drew Holcomb

Sunday 4th September. The Borderline. Drew Holcomb. It’s that most un rock and roll of nights as we head off to the Borderline to see the fine Mr Holcomb who produced one of the best albums of last year Medicine.

In what seems to be a bit of trend, ala Phil Cook and Gandalf Murphy, it’s an early start with two sets tonight and I am not complaining. No room for the band on this tour and so it’s just Drew and an acoustic guitar. We agreed last night that performing solo acoustic must be the hardest thing for any musician. You’re out there on your own without any security blanket of a band living and dying on the back of just your songs and yourself.

The good news for us is that Holcomb is a confident, experienced artist who has the songs, the self-deprecating humour and stories between songs to keep the audience engaged throughout.

He’s here supporting the last album and also a new live at the Ryman release. The bulk of the two sets draws from ‘Medicine’ but there’s room for multiple requests one of which ‘Rooftops’ he has to resort to googling his own lyrics. It all adds to the show and crowd are swept along helping out with words as required.

Holcomb’s voice is one his strengths and it sits somewhere between early Ryan Adams, Neil Diamond and Loudon Wainwright.

Highlights for me include ‘Shine like lightning’ and ‘here we go’ performed without amp or microphone at the front of the stage. A great show and it will be good to see him back with the band.

Keep on rockin y’all.