The Lucky Strikes
Album: The Exile And The Sea
Label: Harbour Songs
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.theluckystrikes.co.uk

I found out last week that Eastbourne Pier has a reported 2.3 million visitors a year. Southend's (up to the end of August had about 161 thousand). If you extrapolate that number (ignoring any seasonal adjustment) it means that Eastbourne Pier is 8-9 times more popular than the one on the northern side of the Thames Estuary. However, Southend's is longer, has a train and, most importantly, has had a song written about by Essex's finest - The Lucky Strikes.

The Exile and the Sea is the band's third release, and like it's predecessors The Chronicles Of Solomon Quick and Gabriel, Forgive My 22 Sins is a concept album this time telling stories of their home. The "Beast" in The Beast Burned Down is the afore mentioned pier and tells of it's near destruction in 2005 (for us with slightly longer memories will recall the similar events of nearly thirty years earlier).

The energy of The Lucky Strikes is comparable with other Essex luminaries such as Dr Feelgood and The Kursal Flyers and whilst they are comfortable playing in a pub they are no pub rockers. Their sound comes as much from banjo, fiddle and accordian as guitar, bass and drums; just have a listen to the singable, danceable ode to patricide The Devil Knows Yourself.

The Exile and the Sea is roots music at it's very best.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes