From the archive : The Civil Wars - London 2012.

The Civil Wars are no more.

The Americana duo were truly a blessing for music and offered not only one of the best debut albums in Barton Hollow but a truly intense live experience.

I was privileged enough to see them twice, once at the Night And Day Cafe in Manchester with no more than 20 people and then at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London. 

I wrote this review shortly after the gig in London in 2012. Enjoy a stroll through the archive

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The Shepherds Bush Empire is seething with people. We’re all here for the same reason, that’s the Nashville duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White. They had played to big crowds before when supporting Adele but this crowd is theirs. John Paul is sophistication personified as he strides out in a dinner jacket and tie, greeted by a glass of bourbon and followed by the poise and elegance of frock wearing joy. She can barely contain herself, with smile after smile sneaking across her face. It’s infectious. The crowd can do nothing but smile back and listen to her stage patter as she proclaims “Why are you all here?” The answer is simple. The Civil Wars are Exceptional.

They ease in and out of songs from their debut album “Barton Hollow” and throw in neatly reworked covers, like “I want you back” by the Jackson Five, which is no longer the upbeat sing-along you remember, rather a deliberate romantic, encounter played with precision and hair-curling harmonies. Something is quite haunting about the harmonies that these two produce as they bend their bodies from the microphone to add to the splendour of songs such as “My father’s father” and “C’est La Mort”. A trait seemingly taken straight out of the Gillian Welch and David Rawlings handbook, especially accompanied with the simplicity of their stage. There are no extra musicians, no banner sporting their name, no gimmicks. It’s about the music here. Apart from Joy occasionally slinking over to a piano to accompany such songs as the utterly seductive “poison and wine”, they stand together. Their chemistry on the stage is like a perfectly rehearsed play, they seamlessly act out their set.

  

The crowd are transfixed by this special blend of country and Americana music with a folky core. As every song is being absorbedly listened to, the crowd is an eerie kind of silent. Every note dances its way to the back of the venue, reaching every person. When the music stops, the place erupts. Leaving White and Williams to stand and take the plaudits they so sorely deserve and are humbled to receive. 

They quip about Adele using them and on the evidence of tonight ,coupled with the fact they have sold out their UK tour and will return to the US to play numerous festivals, they could well be right.

The highlight of the night is the barnstorming title track “Barton Hollow”. Its burly guitar riff piques all interest, encouraging everyone in attendance to move, Joy stamps her foot through every line and sways with the melody. They launch into the tune with fierce vocals, played out in perfect harmony. Their voices brawl to the finish, Williams with her hypnotic gothic sound and White with his striking power intertwine faultlessly. It calms to finish as they show remarkable control and drift into its complete opposite “falling”, which is an enchanting love affair which cools everyone down after warming them up. Its moments like this that proves they are deserved of their double Grammy success. 

A stunning rendition of “Billie Jean” closes the encore, a song which is played with real satisfaction from both parties. London shows its appreciation with rapturous applause which doesn’t end until Williams and White are most likely back on their bus. 

At one point during the night, a voice climbed out from the crowd proclaiming “CONGRATULATIONS”. This is most likely in response to Williams’ news that she is an expectant mother; however it could equally simply be recognition of them achieving something truly special. From a backroom writing desk in Nashville they are building their legacy, succeeding with an air of class and sophistication. The Civil Wars will be around for a long time to come. Join the revolution. 

Setlist:

Tip Of My Tongue

Forget Me Not

From This Valley

20 Years

I’ve Got This Friend

Sour Times (Portishead Cover)

Barton Hollow

Falling

C’est La Mort

I Want You Back (Jackson 5 Cover)

Birds Of A Feather

To Whom It May Concern

My Father’s Father

Poison & Wine

Encore:

Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover)

Dance Me To The End Of Love (Leonard Cohen cover)

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Hepkatt FM 

Spotlight on: Mikey Shyne

Prepare yourself.

I was recently contacted by a man named Mikey Shyne and I'm not speaking out of turn when I say I can't wait for this guys memoirs. 

Throw what ever you want at him, kick him from his home, drive him to the lowest depths with addictions and one thing will become very, very clear. Mikey will not be stopped. 

I caught up with Mikey over email and below he gives us a insight in to his journey. 

Who is Mikey Shyne?  

Mikey Shyne is a Pop artist from Queens, NYC.  I'm a product of hopelessness, desperation and perseverance. I have turned a nearly non-existent dream into something remarkable.  

My hard work, dedication and learning to never give up on a dream have allowed me the opportunity to generate a huge local buzz that is slowly spreading globally.  

How did you get started in Music? 

I have been singing my whole life.  I remember my younger years where I would put on concerts for family members with my grandmothers vacuum cleaner set up center stage as a mock microphone.  I sang with church choirs, local theater groups and sang the national anthem for the New York Mets when I was 10 years old. Music is in my veins.  Its the heartbeat of my soul.

I took nearly decades hiatus of actually pursuing music because of family disapproval but never stopped singing and writing on my own.  

There were a few sparks to the fire that is Mikey Shyne.  The first is meeting Eric Anzalone, the Biker from the Village People.  I was doing a stint in rehab up for substance addiction where Eric was shooting a documentary.  I was asked to sing a solo for the documentary and absolutely nailed it.  Pitch perfect.  Eric became a very early mentor for me and an inspiration.  If he could do it, then I could do it.  

After rehab, my recovery progressed and I still continued and write on my own, but I still only had that glimmer of a dream. 

It wasn't until I hit a personal rock bottom in January 2015 following a bad breakup where something snapped inside of me.  I locked myself in my room for two weeks and made the DECISION that I would no longer waste my talent.  I wrote and wrote.  "Set Me Free" was born.  I recorded "Set Me Free", my first professionally recorded, mixed and mastered track and released it on Soundcloud.  BAM!  It became an overnight sensation and Mikey Shyne was officially born.  From that point on I said hey, maybe I really could do this.

I rebuilt my relationship with friend and manager DJ Manny Flyiso who introduced me to DJ Tomekk who introduced me to Kurtis Blow.  Tomekk and Blow are legends that told me they saw something in me remarkable.  Kurtis came out to my first live show and INTRODUCED me to the crowd.  I killed it that night and won the showcase.  I was addicted. 

Now, I treat this as a career.  Making it in the industry is really a full time job but I love every minute of it.

What kept you going through the addictions and homelessness? 

Man, its always hard to talk about my dark days but talking about it and keeping it up front keeps me from ever wanting to return to that lifestyle again.  

The specifics of my substance abuse don't matter but living with the disease of addiction, depression and anxiety make even the smallest tasks seem impossible.  Addicts are great at making mountains out of molehills.

Being kicked out of my families home, in the grip of a nasty addiction and having to sleep in the lobbies of hospitals, subways, buses and friends couches was a horrible way of life.  People were dying left and right around me of overdoses and felt it was only a matter of time where my own card would be pulled.  

But what really kept me going was a glimmer of hope that one day, I'd be on a stage in front of people.  Feeling the moment.  Feeling the love.  Feeling free.  I never gave up on the dream and I thank God for blessing me with this talent because if it wasn't for the talent I would feel no purpose in life.

Growing up, who were your biggest influences? 

Believe it or not I LOVED doowop and golden oldies in my early years.  Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Eminem and Justin Timberlake I would say are my biggest influences.

If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be? 

I would love to collaborate with Eminem.  I grew up on him and his recovery inspires me.  I'd also love to do a recovery track with Macklemore.

What's been the highlight of your musical career?  

Theres been so many in a short amount of time but my favorite was getting to work with DJ Tomekk on my single "Put It Down" I had a blast.  And having an international Grammy nominated artist featured on my track was so dope.

What did 2015 mean to you and what does 2016 hold?  

2015 was like my indoctrination into the business.  Its not just write songs and perform them on a stage.  Its a daily grind to be noticed, get plays, get views, collect fans, beg bloggers to get me on their site, sell tickets, etc. 

I have built a foundation for myself so for 2016 I am looking to level up and start earning income.

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I can hand on heart say I want to see Mikey achieve what he wants. Mental illness and addiction are crippling people daily and Mikey is the perfect example of how these things are not a life sentence, they are only with you until you beat them and boy, has Mikey beaten them.

You can find more about Mikey at:

www.mikeyshyne.com

www.reverbnation.com/mikeyshyne

Twitter/IG: @MikeyShyneMusic

I hope you will all join me in giving Mikey what he really deserves. A chance. You can be sure he will not pass it up.

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HepkattFM