This is for anyone who's ever dated a shit head
What a start! I couldn't beat that. Many country music songs are for those who have dated such folk. And it almost didn't happen.
Hannah Juanita has a beautiful soul with the voice of a nightingale. Her voice just shines through. I love acoustic sets because they are a vocal showcase but also because you can focus more easily on the lyrics: my two favourite things!
Her friend has moved from TN to Oregon and become an overnight convert to the art of twitching, or bird-watching. Hence the title track of the new album, Tennessee Songbird. For those of a certain age, another Songbird will forever be associated with Christine McVie. Hannah says that one reason birds sing in the morning is that they are simply happy to be alive!
Why did this nearly not happen? London traffic and transport, obvs. Even the stars get stuck in traffic. They rode a bus the wrong way before cycling around on Lime bikes wearing cowboy hats. This outrageous behaviour won some yee-haws from the local populace.
English folk sometimes need a little pronunciation guidance and I am thrilled to tell you that it's... drum roll... Hannah. Yeah, it's that easy! And her other name sounds to me like wine-eater, which I suspect (but cannot prove) is apt.
Loose Caboose spoke to me for unknown reasons, although if you know me you might reflect on Hannah's introduction to the song: "If you don't know who your wildest friend is... it could be you!"
9th July was Hannah's first time in London, and obviously therefore her first show in London. I hope they got time to enjoy it, once they had navigated our many travel issues. That certainly is part and parcel of being a Londoner, even as a tourist.
Louisiana Two Step was written by Mose but works brilliantly as a duet. Regular readers know that my favourite style of all is the duet: it stops either party from getting too swept up in their own point of view. For every criticism he makes, she has a comeback. I believe that (lyrically at least) the duet is the only way to balance a narrative.
A few weeks ago I received news that Mose and Hannah had gotten engaged. She was flashing around the engagement ring last night and we learned that it belonged to Mose's great grandmother. It still needs sizing but I sense that family and home are important to both of them.
The final encore was a new song the lovebirds wrote together. A country shuffle called (I think) If I Ever Lost You. They will be doing more stuff together and I think this might just be the perfect combination.
Anyway, there is no example in history of anyone writing a successful song about a perfect day. So be thankful you nearly missed your first London show! [What about Perfect Day by Lou Reed? Ed.]
You can catch up on the latest from Hannah Juanita on her own site and on socials.
Mose Wilson
So, hard to admit, but I was really in town to see Mose. Well, it's not that simple. It never is. A month or two back I was sent the video (see below) of Mose singing his new single, Cause I Got You, by someone at This New Century in Memphis. Later on I found out that Mose was coming over with Hannah, and I grabbed a ticket.
Mose told us that his acoustic guitar was a 17th birthday present from his late grandfather. I love stories like this, whether in or around the music. His dad drove a UPS truck for 40 years, and that reminded me that one reason I love this music is that it reminds me of my home. Southern music from the USA is akin to northern music in England. It is a working class game about simple folk leading simple lives. In the modern world, there is nothing more romantic or soothing than that.
I won't say too much more because you can read it all below, but it was wonderful to meet Mose in person, while noting that it was Hannah who spotted me first in the crowd, and we managed to send a selfie back to TN before midnight!
PAUL DETTMANN
Bryony Dunn
An added bonus of seeing your favourite US stars live is that you also get to discover a British up-and-comer for free and tonight's angel was Bryony Dunn, minus her forest.
Keep an eye on Bryony because she has a couple of singles coming up this summer and a special live show to raise money for her new album. Music is an expensive business, unlike writing, where a pencil and some bog roll can see you through. Her last two songs were absolute screamers but there are plenty of gentle ones too. I really hope she has an enormous future, not least because she is brave enough to wear cowboy boots and a cowboy hat IRL.
