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Show Of Hands

Venue: Lighthouse
Town: Poole
Date: 26th October
Website: http://www.showofhands.co.uk

I don't know why more bands don't come to the Lighthouse in Poole, the acoustics are superb and that goes a long way towards creating a great atmosphere, good humoured banter and a great array of songs, more than helps and that's exactly what we were anticipating when we went off to see Show Of Hands, a band I've had a lot of time for since I wrote one of the first, if not the first ever review of their debut album back in '91 when they were signed to Isis Records.

There most recent album, "Wake The Union", has more of an Americana feel to it than their previous cuts, so it came as no surprise to discover that the support for the evening came from that genre. Matt Gordon and Leonard Podolak, the latter probably better known as a member of the Duhks, were given a warm introduction by Steve Knightly before kicking in a set of mountain music.

Being honest, the set started slowly and it took the audience a little time to warm to the duo, but warm they did as we were taken through different types and mountain music that served to remind us that whilst it's a genre with plenty of songs, the key is to make music that can be easily danced to, though I think few in the audience could dance with the panache of Matt Gordon, although Phil Beer later hinted that his dancing technique suffered a bit at the hand of farm house cider.

It was a hugely entertaining set, we learnt the very basics on ham boning, the slapping of various body parts to both form a type of dance and to create the rhythm for that dance as well as joining in on a number of choruses, an exciting way to open the proceedings. Matt Gordon and Leonard Podolak have got an album out and on this showing, definitely worth seeking out.

Show Of Hands are definitely a trio these days, Miranda Sykes, on the bass is definitely right up there on the frontline with Steve Knightly and Phil Beer, her contribution high up in the mix, but like Phil Beer, she tends to chip in rather than lead the conversation when it comes to the between song banter, that bridges the different parts of the set.

As well as highlighting "Wake The Union", including inviting Matt Gordon and Leonard Podolak back to the stage to join them a couple of times, this was a show that featured two of Show Of Hands defining points, namely their willingness to get their hands dirty delivering political songs with uncomfortable messages and their love of the West Country, with a number of songs, "Country Life" and "Roots" effectively bringing both of those elements together.

In many ways, Show Of Hands political songs can almost be considered more of a rallying for the working man, than a lot of the diatribe coming out of organisations that are supposed to provide justice for the majority. They also do it in an entertaining way and that is the key point.

During the course of the show, the band also paid tribute to the organisers of Wimborne Folk Festival, just up the road, during the set, having originally met as the duo at that Festival, a nice touch.

Show of Hands are rightly acknowledged as being one of the stalwarts of folk, they know how to work a crowd, there's plenty of audience participation and absolute silence when they are performing one of their more poignant numbers. It's a great way to spend and evening and hopefully there'll be many more like it to come.

Words and Pictures Neil King