A Hawk And A Hacksaw
’Tis a wet and miserable evening in Norwich and the rain that is falling is that horrible mizzle that just soaks everything. I am embarrassed to say that I almost – almost – decided to stay at home, curled up on the sofa with a mug of steaming tea and Only Connect on the telebox rather than braving the weather to venture to NAC. Now that would have been a BIG mistake.
As it is, I arrive late and miss the first half of Phoebe Troup’s set. From the Rocky Mountains of Colorado but now based in Norwich, what I catch of Phoebe’s set is thoroughly enjoyable. Songs like If You Were a Sailor and Come Back Deer Tick have witty, if sometimes melancholic, lyrics that are delivered in a clear, pure voice. Musically, there are hints of bluegrass but this takes its cue from broader folk traditions. I am reminded of early Paul Simon but that may just be a lazy comparison on my part. Whatever, Phoebe’s set is warmly received and I’ll be looking out for more of this.
Before tonight, I knew very little about A Hawk and a Hacksaw. I knew the name and there is a song or two on freebie CDs in the collection but little more than that. I like an interesting band name and this one is interesting enough to pique my curiosity and bring me out tonight. Having begun as a solo vehicle for Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeremy Barnes, this soon became a duo when Heather Trost joined on violin. With Barnes on santur, a form of hammered dulcimer from Iran, accordion and drum, there is an almost psychic connection between the pair as they play. Although mostly instrumental, Barnes also adds the occasional vocal.
AHAAH take the sounds of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Anatolia and Persia to create a music that is somehow close and intimate but also widescreen and cinematic. With songs referencing Slavic folklore witch Baba Yaga and a cat’s night time activities, the music is by turns mournful and joyous, sinister and jubilant but wholly engrossing. Looking around the audience, I am surprised that there is not more dancing but maybe that is down to how engrossing an experience this is. Between songs, there is some light hearted chat about the differences between counties and regions, the joys (or not) of a touring a scattershot touring schedule that takes in the length and breadth of the country with no consideration to days off or distances and what makes a city.
I may have known little about A Hawk and a Hacksaw when I arrived here tonight but I leave with latest album Forest Bathing under my arm, on a mission to find the previous five LPs and determined not to miss the duo next time they are in our fine city.
