poppedmusic

Left Lane Cruiser

Lepub, Newport, October 18th

Words: Jimmy Gallagher

The small music venue is the fundamental component, vital for music itself to exist as an art form. Without them there may be no exposure to music in its purest form and therefore no potential to influence future musicians or to satisfy would be listeners and consumers.
In every Town and City, globally, the small music venue also serves as a cultural community centre and this is certainly the case for Newport’s Lepub. Like so many others in today’s society, Lepub faces the inevitable threat of closure but not through lack of popularity but instead because of the noise.
The fickle council’s ultimatum to sound proof the roof or else has been a catalyst for a resoundingly successful two month fundraising campaign, bringing the wider music community together for a common goal. To save Lepub.
On the 18th October the celebration culminated in welcoming Left Lane Cruiser to town ably supported by an array of poets, authors and bands.
It was quite a coup to secure the acclaimed country blues outfit from Fort Wayne, Indianna on their last night in the U.K before they took their European tour over the channel the following morning.
The show kicked off at 3pm with The Abstract Man setting the scene for the afternoon with an intimate performance. Cardiff’s Zaru Johnson’s spoken word and author Daniel Tyke offered some compelling word smithery before Joe Kelly took to the stage with his acoustic country. Also from Cardiff, Quiet Marauder delighted and humoured the gathering numbers with their collection of parody songs tackling the important issues of ‘eggs’ and ‘moustaches’.

As darkness fell, Lepub began to swell. The line up for the nights show proved irresistible as steadily the hoards, by sheer weight of numbers creaked the upstairs floor boards. ‘John Mouse’s’ post modern, political punk was reminiscent of a Welsh version of The Fall before Henry’s Funeral shoe who happen to be on Alive records, the same as the headline act, impressed immensely.
Things really began to stir when the hugely popular, Psycho-Billy punks The Sick Livers thrust the momentum into overdrive. The leader, Ginge’s charismatic presence was reliably buoyed by the bands raw Rocket From The Crypt style heavy punk.
It was well past 11pm when Left Lane Cruiser came to the stage. Recently rejuvenated as a 3 piece, Left Lane Cruiser are a well established band in the blues country community but the most recent of their studio recordings have opened the doors to audiences from other genres and in other Nations.
2013’s Rock Them Back to Hell was widely praised in the British music press and their latest album All That You Can Eat seems to be securing an ever growing and appreciative fan base this side of the pond.

The band admit to be freshly inspired by bassist Joe’s addition to the original 2 members. The whiskey fuelled three man frenzy of blues driven rock n roll noise unleashed a barrage of no holds barred, Hillgrass Bluebilly on Newport.
Make no mistake, this was momentous and historic. The noise from just 3 men was unquantifiable, as if it were designed to give the finger to the same council who inadvertently created the nights inception.

Fredrick “Joe” Evans iv, must have hands made of the same steel that laid in his grasp for the entirety of the show. His slide guitar was ragged solidly as he gave no quarter to restraint or inevitable fatigue.
The band’s influences stem from The North Mississippi Hill Country and Blues movement. They are proud of their roots and love what they do. Joe’s wide eyed grimace was a permanent fixture, grasping his almost vertical bass with infectious enthusiasm.
Some of those in the crowd had some idea of what to expect but not to this level of intensity. Those who didn’t were in disbelief by the rollicking pace and deafening riffs they continued to kick out. When one finished a louder, faster tune would follow, this was rock n roll country grown on a farm in hell.

There was time and plenty of it for a rabidly wild rendition of Dire Straits ‘Money for Nothing’ which would have had Mark Knopfler himself foaming at the mouth. The magnum opus was the unveiling of the ‘Skate-tar’, a ingeniously primitive invention fashioned from a skate board and strings which was made by Joe to mimic a lap steel.
The show rocked and rolled its way up to 1am as the newly converted bounced and balled all the way to its conclusion. Left Lane Cruiser release a new album in March and are set to return to this corner of South Wales with a reputation that exceeds itself.
This night was a confirmation of why the small venue is king why it should be preserved.
Long may it continue.