Jon Palmer Acoustic Band
Album: Working For The Gangmaster
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 7
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jon-Palmer-Acoustic-Band/177270892366836

Cast your mind back to an advert promoting a dodgy Irish cider a few years back. Ignore the product, but think more about the social gathering and the Steve Earle/Sharon Shannon soundtrack, both the gathering and the sound are evoked by the Jon Palmer Acoustic Band.

There is something about the sound of the band that makes you think that they are really suited to large social gatherings and outdoor festivals, but the lyrics also show that there's a lot more to them than that, something that's more than hinted at in the title "Working For The Gangmaster"

As well as leading the band, Jon Palmer composes the original songs on the album, including the title track and "Gallow Tree" a modern take on a very traditional theme. It also emphasises the wonderful juxtaposition between the light, almost jaunty music and the more political, darker nature of the words.

Similarly when they do reach for a cover version or traditional song it also meets that easy to sing-a-long to, darker than you think lyric, have you ever really listened to the words of "Oh Susanna"? You really should, The Jon Palmer Acoustic Band certainly know how to deliver it.

This is described as a five track ep, but with two additional tracks, one live, one a demo, I think it's more of a mini album, but really that's just semantics, ultimately the real test of an album is does it entertain? The answer to that is an unqualified yes. Based on this they are also a band that I'd like to catch live, hopefully with a number of like minded souls because I think there's plenty of scope for a beer and a community singing of the chorus.

Neil King