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Dubl Handi

Venue: Grateful Fred's Cafe Series
Town: Cafe D'Art,Formby
Date: 14/4/14
Website: http://www.dublhandi.bandcamp.com

To paraphrase an old t.v. advert for spherical chocolates wrapped in gold foil, "Grateful Fred, you are really spoiling us", for hot on the heels [or should that be bicycle wheels] of the excellent Peter Mulvey, tonight we had another exceptional act from across the pond- the very wonderful Dubl Handi, all the way from the New York Borough of Brooklyn.

For the uninitiated, Dubl Handi are purveyors of old-time Appalachian music with a rhythmic and dynamic twist. They combine charismatic old-time banjo [Hilary Hawke] with effervescent percussion [Brian Geltner] and sparkling guitar [John].

You may ask "how did they get their name Dubl Handi?". Well, Dubl Handi is the name of a 19th century make of washboard [as played by Brian]. When Brian and Hilary got together as a duo, they played farmers' markets but they didn't have a band name. People started calling them Dubl Handi as that was the name on Brian's washboard. Brian is an incredibly dexterous percussionist and as well as his antique washboard, he also plays suitcase bass drum and snare drum, usually at the same time! Hilary is a fantastic banjo player whose evocative singing sounds as though she has just stepped out of a 1920's field recording. Completing the trio is John, whose guitar adds splashes of colour to the rhythmic nature of the banjo and percussion.

Dubl Handi's influences include Uncle Dave Macon, Ola Belle Reed, Earl Scruggs,Karen Dalton and Roscoe Holcomb but they also write their own songs [often about drinking!] which fit in perfectly with the vintage material.They recently contributed to an album dedicated to the memory of Pete Seeger and tonight they played "Cindy" as a fine tribute to the late, legendary singer. Hank Williams also received the Dubl Handi treatment with a fine version of "Mind Your Own Business", sung by John with a great banjo solo from Hilary. We were also treated to superb covers of such classic songs as "Cumberland Gap",Uncle Dave Macon's "C'mon Buddy",Roscoe Holcomb's "Trouble In Mind", the traditional "New River Train" and "Shout Little Lula",not to mention Ola Belle Reed's mournfully sad "Undone In Sorrow". Fabulous stuff!

Of the band's original songs, we had Hilary's front porch hoedown "Lonely Ghost", complete with bottleneck guitar from John "Sparkles". This sounded so authentic it wouldn't have appeared out of place on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music!

Another favourite of mine was the shuffling, banjo- driven "Fall On My Knees",which was made famous by The Old Crow Medicine Show but Dubl Handi's version was simply enthralling. Hilary showed what a fine bluegrass banjo player she is with Ralph Stanley's "Little Birdie",which also featured some frenetic percussion from Brian.

All too soon Dubl Handi came to the end of their set but left us with a breakneck version of the old plantation song "Shortnin' Bread", which just got faster and faster until it reached lightning speed, much to the delight of the audience.

Thus ended a superbly entertaining and enjoyable evening from a band who skilfully add infectious, toe-tapping rhythms to much loved old-time songs [both traditional and original]. Great stuff ! Let's hope they come back this way again soon.

Peter Cowley