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| The Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 2010 |
I’ll admit upfront that I’m a groupie. If I was a newspaper writer I would have to confess my conflict of interest and disclose that this was the ninth time I’ve seen the group (for pictures of their most recent Sundown show go here). I’ve seen them more times than I’ve ever seen a musical act with the exception of Bob Dylan, who I’ve seen around 30 times, so his record isn’t likely in jeopardy. I was in good company at the sold out Bijou Theater as most of the audience seemed to know every lyric.
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| Black Cadillacs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 2010 |
The show opened with the Black Cadillacs, a local group who I also happen to have seen twice before, though both times they only played abbreviated sets of Bob Dylan music. Tonight they played what I assumed was original material and they proved to be a good opener for the Guv’nahs. I feel they’ve grown as a band since the first time I’ve heard them. If my memory is correct, this is the first time they’ve had a keyboard player and the organ was a good addition to their sound. They suffered a bit from vocals that could have been more out front in the mix. With some work on the tightness of their sound and some honing of their song-writing skills, this could be a band with a bright future.
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| Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, Septemer 24, 2010 |
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| Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 2010 |
The Dirty Guv’nahs took the stage by storm from the beginning, opening with “Brown Little Bird,” and showing the results of months of hard touring with a muscular, yet crisp performance throughout the night. Some of the songs appear to have evolved on the road, including a slightly different intro to “Lovely Bones,” which was a highlight. As they did at their last Bijou performance, friends stepped onto the stage to add their talents to the mix, including a female vocalist, who could have been higher in the mix. Also joining them onstage for several songs – particularly songs off their most recent effort Youth Is In Our Blood
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| Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Guest Vocalist |
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| Dirty Guv’nahs with extra vocals and saxaphone, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee |
To say that this band has gotten better doesn’t begin to cover their transformation. From a fun band with a good rock-and-roll sound, they have evolved into extremely competent musicians with a solid stage presence. The writing of James Trimble (lead vocals) and Michael Jenkins (guitar) has always been exceptional, but now pushes beyond anything they had achieved in their early work. While songs like “Blue Rose Stroll” remain crowd favorites, and justifiably so, the newer songs such as Baby We Were Young
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| Cozmo with the Dirty Guv’nahs – He played his sunglasses off – literally! |
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| James Trimble and the Hoskin boys: Aaron and Justin |
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| Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 2010 |
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| Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 2010 |
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| Dirty Guv’nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 2010 |
I’ll end with their video for “We’ll be the Light.” After you hear it, you’ll want to follow this link to buy their latest CD Youth Is In Our Blood. Happy listening.
