When it comes to American singer-songwriters few come any better than an all too often underrated Greg Trooper, a master at his craft, his beautiful lyrics backed by hypnotic grooves have long been a favourite with me. Here you have him perform live, and he isn’t just solo. For he has Chip Dolan (keyboards, accordion, vocals) and Jack Saunders (upright bass, vocals) add colour songs that come from a number of years performing, and as a bonus there is a new one too. “Broken Man” is that new tune, wrapped in sensitive lyrics and gentle caressing of guitar, strain of keyboards and rock solid bass poignant images are evoked of the song’s character.
Among the treasures featured on the 14-track, Austin Texas Jan 2015 recording that has one instantly into the feel of his work, such the dramatic power of the wonderful “It’ll Do”. Enriched in harmony vocals, and his own acoustic guitar and harmonica the album is off to a terrific start, and there is no let up as Trooper’s imaginative lyrics are wrapped in the beautiful playing of Dolan and Saunders. From the likes of “Don’t Let It Go To Waste”, potent tale “They Call Me Hank”, Einstein’s saying of ‘everything’s a miracle’ inspired Trooper to write a song of the same title, and with ties to this part of the world Greg, breezes majestically through an accordion doused “Mary Of The Scots In Queens”.
Pretty guitar figures nicely on “The Land Of No Forgiveness”, and with sensitive ode “Amelia” plus with a dash of energetic exchange he tries to make sense of this world on “Might Be A Train”. “All The Way To Amsterdam” and the likes of “Inisheer” plus closing piece “We’ve Still Got Time” ensure there is no break in the thread of consistency. If Greg Trooper is playing near you be sure to go check him out, he is worth the time, and if needed go that extra few miles to see.
Maurice Hope