In in my Review of Dawes earlier this week I mentioned that my only regret was that the venue lacked character; well this wasn't a complaint that could be levelled at the Castle Hotel, Manchester. It was so intimate that the Deep Dark Woods' keyboard player, Geoff Hilhorst was unable to fit on the stage and had to sit to one side. Don't be misled by the word 'Hotel': this a pub, and if it hadn't been for the stifling heat, you could almost have closed your eyes and been in a bar in rural Canada. The small space was crammed with roots music enthusiasts, some of whom had travelled wide to see this band on their first tour here. Remarkably though, a few people at the front found room to dance, and almost everyone seemed to be moving their bodies in sympathy with the music by the end of the set.
Deep Dark Woods was formed in 2005, but their blend of bluegrass, country, blues, folk and rock sounds as if it was conceived eons ago, or at least at the time of The Band. They've released four albums, each a positive progression; Winter Hours from 2009 gained them recognition, but it was their most recent 2011 The Place I Left Behind that brought them to my attention. It's fair to say that lead singer and guitarist Ryan Boldt is not a great conversationalist on stage, being most comfortable reminding us that the band is from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. Equally, there was no light show, or wild onstage antics: the atmosphere came solely from the music.
Paradoxically, whilst the experience as a whole was uplifting, the music and more specifically the lyrics are melancholy: they sing of alienation, isolation and failed relationships. Their sad ballads can have serious subject matter, even murder, but they're also deeply imbued with a sense of nostalgia. Their drummer Lucas Goetz explained:
"To me roots music is what it sounds like: the roots of music (North American music). . . . I like to think that our band draws on themes that are common in these styles, and that we borrow some elements of the music. Those musical traditions are favourites of mine"
The glorious, rich harmonies and upbeat melodies explain why the emotional effect is far from depressing, and the slurred organ and piano sounds are fundamental to its character. Ryan Boldt's tenor voice is idiomatic, yet blends beautifully with the other band members.
The other, unexpected magic of this gig was the spontaneity. I had a conversation with a friendly roots music enthusiast whilst waiting for the show to start, and he explained that improvisation is one of the qualities he most enjoys. It also happens to be a skill many Western classical musicians rarely practice, except perhaps in the early music field. Towards the end of the gig, DDW indulged in some extended jams, and it was at this moment when the audience most came to life, and I was able to get lost in the music; this was that moment of magic. Music is fundamentally linked to place, and the zeitgeist in rural Canada tends to be relaxed, helping to give rise to this freedom in interpretation and laid back style. I've only passed through Saskatchewan, but every year I spend time in neighbouring Manitoba en route to see polar bears at Hudson Bay. Sometimes the train stops at almost inconceivably isolated settlements, off the road network, where dogs and snow mobiles seem to outnumber people. DDW's songs of prairie winters relate intimately to this experience, and gave the songs a particular significance to me.
The evening started with two support acts, both from closer parts to Manchester: James Kelly's set was notable for his virtuoso, almost flamenco guitar playing, accompanied by folk style singing. It had a bluesy feel, whilst his kick pedal added depth; there were greater energy in the performance than you expected when he walked onto stage alone with his acoustic guitar. He was followed by the 5 piece Walton Hesse, who played in an alt-country style, although they also cite Wilco as an influence, audible in their experimental side. Far from sounding fake, they set the mood for The DDWs, and were fun to watch. They explained that this was their first show after a period of rest, and I certainly hope that I can catch them again in Manchester, as long as I'm not away exploring Canada.
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