‘Leonard’s Bar’ is the centrepiece of Pete Gow’s 2022 album ‘Leo’, which took shape during the first lockdown of the 2020 pandemic. This resulted in Gow being unable to collaborate with his band in the studio, meaning that decision-making took place in isolation without ideas being bounced about, tested and then discarded if they didn’t work. The change in working practice gave Gow’s producer and right-hand man, Joe Bennett, greater creative freedom. It also opened the door for the brass section to take a central role in shaping the record’s sound, something that had only been tentatively considered during the pre-production stage.
In April 2022, on the eve of the launch of his new album, Gow assembled a three-piece horn section and string quartet, collectively known as the Siren Soul Orchestra, together with Joe Bennett (keyboards), Fin Kenney (drums) and Tristan Tipping (bass) to preview his new songs. On 10th April 2022, at the Playground Theatre in West London, Gow, resplendent in a white suit, took to the stage to perform his new album. Joe Bennett played a major role in how the song turned out, as Gow says, “Fin and I recorded our respective parts and then left Joe to the rest. It’s not simply that he is capable of playing all these instruments; he is quite brilliant at them. Once this stuff gets transcribed and given to the members of the Siren Soul Orchestra for the live concerts, everyone is amazed by just how crazy good all these parts are.”
‘Leonard’s Bar’ offers a poignant portrayal of a reformed criminal who, despite his best efforts to leave the past behind, is reluctantly compelled to undertake one final job. The bar itself is a gathering place for individuals burdened by their histories and personal struggles. The main protagonist of the song is a melange of real and imaginary characters. Gow says that, “The earliest genesis of Leonard, as a character for a song I can recall, was a guy who served me in a bar in Baltimore, who had ‘This’ and ‘That’ tattooed on the knuckles of each hand. That’s the first reference in my notebooks I can find of someone who could go on to become that character.” In addition, Gow’s partner’s brother who at the time was in the midst of a divorce “also fed into some of the colour we get in Leo’s life in the second verse of the song”.
The brass and strings coupled with the lyrics about this tragic anti-hero, who’s a victim of circumstance, give this seven and a half minute epic its emotional depth, as well as a cinematic, Springsteenesque feel. It’s an unheralded classic which deserves more listens.
Great song from a brilliant album. I got a signed copy as a 50th birthday present. Love the Case Hardin records too especially Colours Simple.