Artist:Agnostic Gospel Mountain Choir
Venue:The Luminaire
Town:London
Date:29 Sep 09
Website:http://www.theagnostics.com/
I don't know the minimum number of people required in a choir, but I'm guessing it is more than four; I'm pretty sure that Calgary is not mountainous and this is not what you would immediately think of as "Gospel". As for their religious views; well such things have never bothered me. This is blues, no frills and earthy, basic blues - and damn fine it is too.
The Agnostic Gospel Mountain Choir possesses all the attributes of good blues that I love. Firstly there is the slide guitar; sometimes played by Bob Keelaghen, sometimes played by Judd Palmer and sometimes both. Then there is the harmonica played by Palmer, wailing and lonesome, sometimes frantic, always reaching right into the marrow of your bones. Add to this the drums of Peter Balkwill whose kit has a couple of touches not normally found in those of a regular drummer; a second kick drum mounted on top of his first (angled about 45 degrees), and a GI's helmet in lieu of a cymbal. Vladimir Sobolewski's upright bass is solid throughout.
The Agnostic Gospel Mountain Choir has released three albums over the past six years and they played tracks from all of them including the title tracks of "10,000" and "St Hubert". "Buried Them in Water" and "Oh Sorrow", were the highlights from "Fighting and Onions" and, arguably "Look Up Look Down That Lonesome Road" from the same album was the highlight of their whole set (although a highly charged version of "John the Revelator" ran it a close second). After an hour and a half I was stomped, hollered and shouted out.
This band has been travelling to the UK for gigs and festivals for the past few years and should be back sometime next spring. I fully intend to make one, if not more, of those dates.
The Jacket