With heavy storms expected, we headed indoors to the comfortable surroundings of Rescue Rooms to await the visit of Devon folk rockers Mad Dog Mcrea...
First up in support we had a set from 5 Hills Out from Derbyshire. The five piece folk musicians are Rebecca Liverman (Alto & Soprano Saxophone, Accordion & Vocals), Chris Clay (Drums & Percussion), Ben Liverman (Guitar & Vocals), Dave Coxon (Bass Guitar & Vocals) and Alex Mills-Bell (Baritone Saxophone, Mandola/Bouzouki) they dropped their debut album Dystopia Bazaar only last month.
They delivered a fantastic energetic set, of punk infused folk with a powerful social message, in the style of bands like The Levellers and Gogol Bordello. The wide range of folk instruments give their sound a unique style especially the infusion of baritone sax.
Thoroughly enjoyable, 5 Hills Out had the crowd jumping and shouting along creating a great atmosphere. Wicker Woman was fantastic, but they saved the best to last with Sunflowers written by Ben following the loss of his mum. A beautiful track which makes you smile as you sing along to the chorus about seeing a lost loved ones face in the sunflowers…. Just beautiful.
After a quick turnaround, we eagerly await the arrival of Mad Dog Mcrea onto the stage.
Mad Dog Mcrea are a folk band from Plymouth, Devon, led by Michael Mathieson (guitar and vocals), Nicki Powell (Violin) and Dan Crimp (flute and whistle). Their music is based on traditional folk, but blends in a mixture of rock, pop, gypsy jazz and bluegrass... And most importantly, a great big dollop of fun !
Releasing their debut album Away with the Fairies in 2002, they followed up with Sophisticated Hat Manoeuvres in 2006 and The Whirling Dervish in 2011. Their latest release, the It’s a Sign EP came out in 2019. Mad Dog Mcrea are well known on the festival circuit and tour regularly.
Many think of folk as boring, but Mad Dog Mcrea are no such thing. Michael has an infectious and fun personality, that just lights up the room, and the music is a real mix. Arriving with no fixed setlist, they went on to deliver almost an hour and three quarters of energetic and raucous folk fun of the highest calibre.
They write some of the best fun folk you could ever want to hear with the likes of Curly Wurly Jig and Damnation Alley about getting involved in a drinking competition with a women in a notorious harbourside street. They also write some incredibly good modern folk, such as the brilliant Sundial. Where Nottingham has its lions where people meet, fall in love, break up... Plymouth has the sundial and the song tells the tale of a young lad meeting the girl of his dreams at the sundial, something many Notts folk can relate to !
Part way through Michael loses a string, and fixes it on stage while the band entertain us with an ad-lib musical interface, as Michael finishes, tunes up and re-joins the song, its flawless !
There is also some classic folk material too, with the likes of Duck Street, Whiskey Moon, and the instrumental Coolie’s Reel which demonstrates their excellent musicianship, as it’s pace increases more and more, resulting in a maelstrom of violin and whistle!
No Mad Dog Mcrea set would be complete without their cover of the classic Richard Thompson track Beeswing. The band leave the stage and leave Michael lit simply with a spot as he and his acoustic deliver a stunning rendition of this track. Widely regarding by many as the best cover of this classic, it’s a story of lost love, falling for a wild spirited woman who doesn’t want to settle down, and foolishly losing her, and remembering the love they had. Its sad and beautiful all in one.
But the fun material comes to the fore when they start taking requests. I ask for, and get Pikey Killed My Goldfish, Michael’s sad (and true) story of winning a goldfish at the fair in Torquay, but a fairground worker bursting the bag with his fag ! Its wild and raucous and ha everyone jumping up and down and singing along.
Unfortunately with a 10pm curfew, we’re running late, but the crowd, the band and Michael are having far too much fun, and someone requests their fun cover of Bear Necessities from their debut Away with the Fairies in 2002. Again, its frivolous, fun and has everyone singing along with enthusiasm. It morphs into their perhaps best known number The Happy Bus which rounds off the set. A crazy wild ride on the Happy Bus!
The venue cut the mics, but Michael steps away and stands on the edge of the stage, and conducts the crowd as we finish the Happy Bus song for him, grinning from ear to ear, loving the show in front of him!
As the band walk off and head to the bar to meet us all, we reflect on what a crazy, fun and exciting time we’ve just experienced.
Don’t be fooled – folk is not boring, and in the hands of Mad Dog Mcrea, it’s a riot!
Mad Dog Mcrea performed at Rescue Rooms on 21st September 2024, with support from 5 Hills Out.
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