Nuneaton is a bit off the beaten track even for this intrepid gig-goer. It comes as a welcome surprise to discover that the Queen’s Hall, in this provincial town is a cracking venue with good stage and sound. Moreover, the venue is situated on the first floor of what is a very cool pub be-decked with rock and roll memorabilia, I spy, for example,  a bass guitar that was once is the possession of Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris bolted in a display case to the ceiling of the pub.

The first band on this evening, is Country Ties. I had the great pleasure of seeing this band play earlier on this year as the support act to Hillbilly Moon Explosion’s Emanuela Hutter’s solo gig at the Water Rats. They impressed that night and I’m pleased that they do the same tonight. The band conjure up images of Emmylou Harris. Their repertoire is self-penned and witty and they are a perfect curtain raiser to the titans of eurobilly pop, the wonderful Hillbilly Moon Explosion.

To the headline act, the Anglo-Swiss purveyors of sophisticated rockabilly the Hillbilly Moon Explosion. Four more talented musicians and superb songwriters you could not wish for. The band announces its arrival with the words ‘Lets Go’ from the title track to last year’s album Back In Time. Along  the way we ae treated to gems such as ‘Maniac Lover’, ‘Down On Your Knees’, ‘Sometimes Late at Night’.

 Of course, the band is best known for their smash hit duet with Mark ‘Sparky’ Phillips, of Demented Are Go, ‘My Love For Evermore’ which the band quite naturally plays, with guitarist Duncan James taking on the Sparky counterpart to the delectable Emanuela Hutter’s quite ethereal vocals. The beautiful Emanuela is also quite the songsmith with ‘Queen of Hearts’ and the country-tinged ‘Reno’ from the new album providing compelling evidence tonight. Also of note, is the superb rendition of the J.D. MacPherson -penned, ‘Everybody’s Valentine’ the single from Emanuela’s wonderful second solo LP. This rendition features sublime bass slapping from Oliver in the breakdown sections which is somewhat reminiscent of Al Gare’s playing on Imelda May’s ‘Johnny’s Got A Boom Boom’. 

Bandleader and bassist Oliver Baroni also has his share of vocals including ‘Knocked Down’ the terrific first single from the band’s latest album Back In Time. Other gems from this album played tonight include the wonderful piece of pop that is ‘1979’; the groover, ‘I Live In My Head’, and ‘Let’s Go Back’ that features superb backing vocals. 

The band also manages to include material from previous albums including ‘Down On Your Knees’ and the Ronnettes’ ‘Baby I Love You’ which the band plays as its encore. I must say a word or two about the quite extraordinary guitar playing of Duncan James that is quite unparalleled in this genre, none more so than on the band’s ‘Going to Milano’ on which Mr. James plays the most exquisite baritone guitar solo. 

The hidden gem of the band is French drummer Silvain Petite who plays in an understated fashion that serves the song rather than craving the limelight, but who adds some deceptively difficult flourishes and fills in a seemingly effortless fashion: he is the business. The band goes down exceptionally well with the audience.

This has been a simply wonderful celebration of music by an incredibly talented band absolutely at the top of its game – really, quite exceptional stuff!

Nick Kemp

Buy music from The Hillbilly Moon Explosion here