Live music listings: October 2007

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CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS [day 2]
+ Kathleen Haskard

Doors 7.30
£15.00 via WeGotTickets
£17.00 door

Q Magazine: 4/5 | Uncut: 4/5 | Mojo: 4/5

Chuck Prophet started it all as a kid back in the eighties when Green on Red plucked him out of Berkeley, CA and threw him in the van for an eight year ride and the recording of as many albums. Green on Red were seminal purveyors of American Roots-Rock and broke up in 1992 just before an entire movement followed in their wake.

"He's a genius." [Lucinda Williams]

Since then Chuck has recorded seven amazing solo albums and toured and recorded with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Aimee Mann, Cake, Alejandro Escovedo and Jonathan Richman. Ryan Adams, Solomon Burke and Heart have recorded his songs, along with a host of others. Chuck’s never been one to rest on his laurels and ride it out. He’s always manically chopped and changed; with his distinctive panache for a classic tune always in tow.

"Prophet's records always seem to find a way into best-of-lists. No-one layers country, rock and '60s soul idioms better." [The Times]

It’s been three years since his last album, 'Age of Miracles', but Chuck Prophet is not a man to sit about. He revived the band that started that whole goddamn alt-country thing, Green on Red, for a recent spin around Europe. He produced and helped co-write Kelly Willis’ new album 'Translated From Love', and is currently collaborating with Alejandro Escovedo on his next album.

Chuck has also made his debut on the silver screen, acting the part of the dope dealer in the new film “Revolution Summer” (with a fine soundtrack by Jonathan Richman) as well as contributing his own tracks to the Sundance Jury Award winning film “Teeth” about a woman with a toothed vagina. If that work doesn’t make you break out in a sweat, the thought of a toothed vagina should do the trick for the rest of you.

"One of several good reasons for going to a Prophet show is the opportunity it affords to watch a master of the Telecaster in full flight. Prophet's playing is like an instant guide to 50 years of guitar-playing, from the twangy bottom-end tones of Dick Dale or Duane Eddy to rolling barrages of Neil Young [The Guardian]

For his latest album, 'Soap and Water', on Cooking Vinyl, Chuck was joined by his own band The Mission Express, Todd Roper (of Cake) on drums, and The Spinto Band. Hell, they even drafted in the local Methodist children’s church choir for a few tunes. It saw him blending his twisted soul-country-rock; a Alex Chilton-meets-Waylon Jennings via Dylan thing, with that Fender Telecaster he’s had since his Green On Red days, weaving a singular common thread throughout. From the beautiful lyricism and arrangement of 'Would You Love Me?', the witty and wicked call-and-response of the title track, to the pure rock and roll ecstasy of 'Let’s Do Something Wrong' featuring Chuck’s well-honed six-string abilities. “We goofed on some agitated single coil cubist junk, got serious with the spring reverb on mournful ballads” says Chuck.

Kathleen Haskard, supporting, will be playing music from her new CD, 'Don't Tell' which was produced by Chuck Prophet and Simon Alpin. The beautiful mystery of this album unfolds in the listening. She's been compared to the likes of Patti Smith and her band features members of Willard Grant Conspiracy. Folk Rock Noire that can see in the dark. Kathleen has written collaborations with Stacey Earle ('Losers Weep'), Texan Sandy Stewart ('Into The Deep') and LA-based acoustic artists Lowen & Navarro ('My Own Way Of Doing Things') and recently sang backing vocals for Neil Young.

She has previously toured with Chuck Prophet, Suzy Boguss, David Lindley, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Renbourn, Nick Harper & Glen Tilbrook and Robyn Hitchcock.

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