It’s getting so that Curse Of Lono’s popularity has to push them into larger venues in the very near future. Over a short course they have captured the attention of Bob Harris (who awarded them the AMAUK’s Emerging Act Of The Year award back in January), released three albums and regularly sell out their UK shows. Tonight was no exception with the audience packed like sardines in the tunnel like confines of The Blue Arrow. An added bonus was the presence of the enigmatic John Murry as the support act but there was much more to his presence than just singing some songs before the main act as he and Curse Of Lono seem to have bonded somewhat and each helped out the other’s set. Continue reading “Curse Of Lono + John Murry, The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, 12th October 2019”
Tag: John Murry
Static Roots Festival, Zentrum Altenberg, Oberhausen, Germany, 12-13th July 2019
It’s festival season for sure as hordes of music fans pack both wellies and sun cream as they head off for a weekend of unbridled fun. Be it the massive set up at Glastonbury or the rootsier confines of Maverick there’s plenty to choose from but for sheer unadulterated Americana joy then one need look no further than this unassuming spot in Germany’s Ruhr district, the small, post industrial town of Oberhausen, home to Static Roots. Now in its fourth year, Static Roots has grown from an initial invite only event to being sold out for the first time with several hundred fans gathered together in a converted zinc factory to see and hear 13 acts, most of them surely familiar to readers of AUK. There’s no corporate funding, no kowtowing to fashion, the line up purely a reflection of the festival’s director’s musical tastes which are somewhat impeccable. Continue reading “Static Roots Festival, Zentrum Altenberg, Oberhausen, Germany, 12-13th July 2019”
John Murry + Benjamin Folke Thomas + Steve Grozier, Broadcast, Glasgow, 16th September 2018
John Murry seems to be on his own (smaller) version of Dylan’s never ending tour as he and his band resumed a UK tour which kicked off back in June and then had a short break. Murry was joined on the road once again by his new buddy Benjamin Folke Thomas (the pair seem to have really clicked according to some of their social media posts) who was the main support and who then joined the latter half of Murry’s set on guitar and good vibes. Continue reading “John Murry + Benjamin Folke Thomas + Steve Grozier, Broadcast, Glasgow, 16th September 2018”
John Murry brings decay to a town near you
John Murry’s UK tour still has a handful of dates left. Bringing songs from this year’s superb album ‘A Short History Of Decay’, as well as a brace of older material, Murry’s work is dark and stark. Following on from 2012’s album acclaimed work ‘The Graceless Age’, this new work sees Murry open up a little more with tales of addiction and grief, of pain and despair, but also of redemption and new beginnings. There’s a brooding, Nick Cave style swagger, the despair of Mark Linkous, and it feels, as Murry looks, like it could all break down at any minute. It’s that fragility that makes it so appealing. It’s taut and balancing on the edge of something devastating. Continue reading “John Murry brings decay to a town near you”
John Murry + Benjamin Folke Thomas, The Lexington, London, 26th June 2018
“I’ve been trying this positive self-help bullshit, but it isn’t working. I know what I am.” John Murry is in darkly laconic mood tonight. But that’s not particularly unexpected – and while it’s perhaps unfair to accuse his audience of ghoulish satisfaction at the darkness he’s experienced first hand – it’s still the case that it’s Murry’s appetite for self-destruction that’s part of the draw. Continue reading “John Murry + Benjamin Folke Thomas, The Lexington, London, 26th June 2018”
John Murry + Lucas & King, St Mary’s Church, Guildford, 22nd July 2017
Upon arriving at the cobbled graveyard front entrance of St Mary’s church (with the support act having already begun) I could see looking at me in the shadows, by the corner of his tour van, the top-hatted and dark coated, pale thin features of John Murry. Sadistically I felt like requesting that he walk to the church’s rear side where a crowd of backpacked American students were investigating, selfie-ing & photo bombing. The gothic haunted vision of Murry would no doubt have provided them with the exact image they possibly sought. Their biggest surprise however would’ve been finding out this Dickensian non-ghost was actually from their very own shores. Continue reading “John Murry + Lucas & King, St Mary’s Church, Guildford, 22nd July 2017”
John Murry “A Short History Of Decay” (TV Records, 2017)
It’s been five years since John Murry appeared set to build on the accolades garnered by his album, The Graceless Age, a sublime record which took the raw material of his unsettled life (and near death from an overdose) and turned it into art. It was not to be however as events conspired and he ended up, as he saw it, in exile in Ireland with only occasional forays into the limelight. A man haunted by his past and somewhat rudderless, he was still capable of turning in fine songs and remained a compelling live performer but The Graceless Age owed much to Murry’s co-producer, Tim Mooney, and Mooney’s sudden death as the album was released was just one hammer blow to Murry’s newfound stability. On A Short History Of Decay he appears to have found a replacement of sorts to Mooney in the form of Michael Timmins of The Cowboy Junkies, a fan of Murry’s but also a man able to corral his wayward genius. Continue reading “John Murry “A Short History Of Decay” (TV Records, 2017)”
The past is never dead. It’s not even past – an interview with John Murry
John Murry’s 2012 album The Graceless Age was hailed by MOJO magazine with a 5 out of 5 rating, UNCUT called it a “masterpiece”, both magazines included it in their Top 10 albums of the year; American Songwriter put it in their Top 5 of the year and The Guardian included it in their best of the year as well. Written and recorded in the wake of a heroin addiction the album was candid in its depiction of his struggles and near death encounter, the grim tales delivered with an almost suffocating beauty concocted by Murry and his producer, Tim Mooney. On stage Murry seemed at times to be reliving the events described, his performances raw, an exorcism of sorts. The sudden death of his mentor Mooney and a marital breakup derailed whatever momentum was being achieved and although he has continued to perform and has recorded several EPs, many were wondering if he would ever record another album. At times Murry himself seemed to regard the album as a millstone around his neck. Continue reading “The past is never dead. It’s not even past – an interview with John Murry”
John Murry announces more UK dates – September
John Murry is having a little galavant around the UK next month which you would have thought is enough to let him put his feet up for the rest of the year but no – he’s back a couple of months after with more dates, kicking things off in Southampton on September 12th and winding his way up and down the country before ending up in Durham on 23rd. He’s also released a rather fine trailer for the documentary “A Short History of Decay” which you can watch below. Continue reading “John Murry announces more UK dates – September”
John Murry announces new album, UK summer dates
John Murry’s new album “A Short History of Decay” is out in July and he’s announced a handful of gigs/festival dates around the UK to promote it, one of which is tonight if you’re lively. The album was recorded in Toronto and produced by Michael Timmins of The Cowboy Junkies, also featuring Peter Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) on drums and Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers, Gord Downie, Lee Harvey Osmond) on bass along with Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues, Elvis Costello). The album’s release date of 14th July was chosen because it is Bastille Day, and because of the French connections to the book “A Short History Of Decay” where John took the title from. There’ll be a new single released on the same day too called “Under a Darker Moon.” Here’s those dates and the track listing for the album. Continue reading “John Murry announces new album, UK summer dates”