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The Toy Hearts/Pip Mountjoy

Venue: Greatful Freds
Town: Formby
Date: April 4th
Website: https://www.thetoyhearts.com

Tonight saw the triumphant return of the wonderful Toy Hearts to a packed Grateful Fred's, following their sold-out appearance here in September 2011[that show is widely considered to be one of the best that Grateful Fred's has put on]. Thus, expectations were running high and we weren't disappointed as the band played a storming set of bluegrass, western swing, gypsy jazz and even blues numbers.

For the uninitiated, The Toy Hearts are one of the hottest live acts around . The core of the band is the Johnson family, sisters Hannah and Sophia and their dad Stewart. They are all brilliant musicians, Stewart plays banjo, dobro and steel guitar; Sophia plays electric and acoustic guitar and sings ;Hannah plays mandolin and is lead singer. On their current tour they have been joined by ace double bass player Al Gare, who is on loan from Imelda May's band.

Before the eagerly anticipated return of the 'Hearts to the Grateful Fred's stage we had a set from the GF house band, who play their own unique blend of Tex-Mex and Celtic music [Tox-Mex] . Of their short set, particular highlights were Tox-Mex versions of the 1960 Jim Reeves country hit "He'll Have to Go" and Freddy Fender's 1975 Tex-Mex hit " Before the Next Teardrop Falls".

Next up, and continuing Grateful Fred's policy of featuring the best in up-and-coming new talent, was singer-songwriter Pip Mountjoy from Richmond, North Yorkshire. Pip is an excellent songwriter with a lovely voice and she performed several of her own songs from her debut EP "Louisiana". She also played a gothic version of James Vincent McMorrow's "Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree".

Following Pip's well-received set, The Toy Hearts took to the stage for their first set. Their shows are currently in two halves .The first half is primarily an acoustic bluegrass set which features songs [mainly] from their ace 2010 album "Femme Fatale" .The second half is an electric western swing set, with songs from their soon-to-be released new album "Whiskey".

From the "Femme Fatale" album [a real favourite of mine and highly recommended] they played "Good For Me ", "Femme Fatale", "Carolina", "Tequila and High Heels" and, best of all, "The Captain", a great song about being in a bluegrass band, which was released as a download single. Coincidentally, this song was played on the Bob Harris Country Music programme on BBC Radio 2 on the very day that the 'Hearts played at Grateful Fred's last September. The first set was completed by a song from the new album ["Pass the Jack"] and a couple from their second album, including the gypsy jazz tribute "Montpelier Street".

For the second set, Stewart put aside his banjo and dobro and took up his triple -necked steel guitar .Likewise, Sophia switched from acoustic to electric guitar and the band launched into their western swing set, beginning with Bob Wills' "I Hear You Talking". The blistering electric set continued with a rockabilly "Big Fool" [Ronnie South] ; Wayne Hancock's " Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" [featuring some great steel playing by Stewart] ; two Hank Williams songs " Since My Sweet Love Ain't Around" and "Your Cheatin'Heart" and another Bob Wills song "Ridin' On Down".

Adding to the eclectic mix was a great version of Patsy Cline's hit "Walking After Midnight" which was beautifully sung by Hannah and a blues number "Me and My Gin " [originally performed by Bessie Smith, then Dinah Washington] .This version featured a wonderful guitar solo by Sophia. The set was completed by an original song from "Whiskey" [Stutter Blues] and a cover of King of the Hillbilly Piano Players Moon Mullican's "Lonesome Hearted Blues".

This was another wonderful performance by The Toy Hearts .As one member of the audience said "I could have listened to them all night long". The good news is that The Toy Hearts are coming back to Formby in July as part of the Formby Live Festival. I can't wait !

Peter Cowley
pics for illustration only