Stornoway, Black Cat Backstage, Washington
This band are the real deal.
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A bitterly cold winter's night greeted Oxford's Stornoway on their first visit to the Nation's Capital. Despite the unseasonably chilly temperatures, the folk pop group swiftly warmed the hearts of the DC crowd assembled to see them play at the intimate Black Cat Backstage.
The opening number, 'The Coldharbour Road', begins with a almost mournful violin solo by Rahul Satija. But the mood quickly changes as the rest of the band hurries onstage, augmented by Adam Briggs (normally playing trumpet but for this song, he appears to be banging on an empty beer keg) and Stornoway's merchandise salesman known only as 'Jared the Zombie', hitting the screen of a poor, antiquated telly with a mallet a little too gaily. (Those familiar with the band's debut album released this spring on 4AD, 'Beachcomber's Windowsill', will recognise and appreciate the band's conscientious detail in recreating the cacophonous clankings present on the recording.) The initial joyfulness sets the stage for the rest of the band's set, full of energy and emotion.
And it's impossible to not be moved by the Oxford band's music, led by principal songwriter, lead singer, and acoustic guitarist Brian Briggs. It is rather interesting to note that Briggs has a doctorate in zoology from Oxford, having specialised in ornithology: the ducks of London were the focus of his dissertation research). This explains a song title like 'Watching Birds' and the subject of 'We Are the Battery Human' - an astute comparison between caged hens and us humans who are shackled to modern conveniences like the internet.
The band's songs generally can be described as beautifully fragile melodies about unrequited love ('Long Distance Lullaby', 'Boats and Trains') and / or winsomely poppy tunes ('I Saw You Blink'). A broken guitar string on one of Briggs's acoustics requires a rerouting of the set list, but the band soldiers on without missing a beat.
What becomes abundantly clear in a little less than an hour are the band's three major assets: the overall tightness of the band as one cohesive unit, the strength and maturity of Briggs's songwriting and Briggs's faultless vocals. Stornoway's ode to an unusual New Zealand pastime, 'Zorbing', appears to be the set closer. That is, until the band returns quickly for a two-song encore of 'The End of the Movie', followed by a rousing rendition of 'We Are the Battery Human'. Both songs are performed completely unmiked and acoustically, further evidence that the band are the real deal. And the Washington audience is more than happy to cheer and stomp their feet for a fine evening of music.
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