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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
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Legendary singer/songwriter Michael Weston King is performing a free concert
at The R.M.A Tavern on Tuesday 28th September.
Michael Weston King played in various bands during the late 70s/ early 80s
Liverpool scene, and recorded two singles and an album for Probe records.
By the mid 80s, inspired by bands such as REM, Green on Red and The
Triffids, he joined forces with the band Gary Hall and the Stormkeepers, and spent
the next 4 years touring Europe (over 250 shows) releasing two albums and two
singles before they split in 1991.
After a period spent performing solo gigs (including touring Europe with
Townes Van Zandt) Michael then formed the "Alt. Country" five piece band, The
Good Sons, who took their name from the Nick Cave album. The band featured
MWK's songs around the Robbie Robertson style guitar of Phil Abram, swirling
Hammond organ, and driving acoustic guitars. In 1995 Glitterhouse released
their debut album "Singing the Glory Down". The album featured a guest
appearance by Townes van Zandt duetting on the song "Riding the Range". A few
months before his death Townes cut his own version of the song with Nashville
bluegrass band The Calvins, released as a 7" vinyl single..
In 1996 The Good Sons, now managed by Nick Cave's manager, released the
album "The Kings Highway", which followed in 1997 with the altogether rockier
"Wines Lines and Valentines"(later re-released by Watermelon Records re-titled
"Angels In The End").
In October 1999, the band was put on hold whilst Michael released his debut
solo album, "God Shaped Hole", a sparse, sombre, very dark album which echoed
his songwriting influences, the likes of Nick Drake, Nick Cave, Woody Guthrie,
Dylan, Neil Young, and, most poignantly, Van Zandt and Phil Ochs. The album
included an Ochs tune "No More Songs", and a tribute to the late T.V.Z, "Lay Me
Down". Michael then embarked on a series of solo tours around Europe as well
as opening slots for Ron Sexmith, Steve Forbert and Nick Cave.
"Like Phil Ochs or van Zandt, King transmutes squalor and self-laceration
into pure gold. God Shaped Hole never once deviates from single-minded, brooding
intensity and never once strikes a false note. A Classic." ("Q" Magazine)
In April 2000 The Good Sons reconvened, and following a tour for Michael
with Chris Hillman (The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers), they recorded
their fourth album, "Happiness", the least country sounding album they ever
made, harking back to the more English pop style of Elvis Costello. The album
also has traces of Daniel Lanois, J J Cale, Neil Young, andTim Hardin.
Michael then undertook a 16 date UK tour with fellow songwriters Jackie Leven
and Andy White, under the name "An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman."
The shows combined songs and stories, impromptu improvisation and much banter.
This successful project led to tours of Spain, Holland, Germany.
Michael's latest album, "A Decent Man" , is a departure away from the UK
Alt County genre - melodic pop, dark singer-songwriter territory, folk, and
soul music all crop up on the recording.
It was produced by Jackie Leven and featured some of the UK’s finest
musician including...
Michael Cosgrave (The Waterboys) - Keyboards, Horns, Mandolin, Accordion
Kevin Foster (Doll By Doll, Los Pistoleros) - Bass
Steve Jackson (Lighthouse Family, Wood) - Drums
Harry Napier (Cliff Richard, ) - Cello
Alan Cook (The Charlatans) - Pedal Steel
Ian McNabb (The Icicle Works, and former Crazy Horse collaborator)
MWK is at The R.M.A. Tavern tonight together with English chanteuse Lou
Dalgleish, so go see for yourself if Michael lives up to the title of..... A
DECENT MAN. The beer's decent and admission is free - that's pretty decent, too!