The Toy Hearts // Arts Centre 08.03.14
What I mistakenly took for rockabilly gals jumping on a bandwagon, turned out to be dedicated musicians with history in both types of music. Country and Western.
On the recommendation of a friend, The Toy Hearts live at the Norwich Arts Centre was this weekend's entertainment. With their photo alone it wasn't difficult to persuade a few others to join me, but what I mistakenly took for a couple of rockabilly gals jumping on the country bandwagon, turned out to be some dedicated musicians with a long history in both types of music. Country and Western.
Support came from Norwich's own Das Fenster & The Alibis, a band who've been around for a relatively short while, but with more than a little experience in the genre (frontman Paul also sings in a Johnny Cash tribute). The local boys had some new material for this evening's set, keeping things low key with back-room double bass and sultry keys. The only thing missing from their dark and swinging set was a haze of cigarette smoke in the air.
On a headline tour of small venues around the UK The Toy Hearts followed. Their press pictures showed two young ladies, a blonde and a brunette, in heels, big vintage hair and guitars, backed by a hirsute chap with a Stetson straight out of Dallas. This could lead the unsuspecting to assume these were dollybirds doing covers of 'Nine To Five' and 'Jolene', posing with their instruments. The reality for this band from the Midlands couldn't be further from the truth. The fella in the mirror shades and cowboy hat was their father, a man who had brought his daughters up with a love of country (what aficionados would probably refer to as 'proper country') and they had not only loved it but learnt to play and write it. After playing small bars in Texas and recording an album - in Nashville no less - these ladies and their pa were the real deal. The first half of their set was more bluegrass influenced, soulful and heartfelt, with the second half getting up more of a swing vibe to leave the evening on a high. It was clear from their performance that each song chosen, whether a cover or original, meant something and was played from the heart. I can't name one of the songs performed though, I only know commercial country and as mentioned before, The Toy Hearts only covered the proper stuff. There were more than a few converts, hanging round the ladies in the bar afterwards, buying albums and getting signatures. Can't say I blame them either.
Lenore
