Mark Morton, Dave McPherson & Ben Jordan, Thekla, Bristol
Easing into the New Year with an acoustic evening didn’t appear such a good idea on initial assessment. A foul winter’s evening, rain lashing down and splashing through the puddles as I scurried across Bristol, stepping past and over the numerous homeless bodies that cluster in the doorways and car parks of Bristol, the world seemed dark and twisted.
Entering the Thekla and the dry hull of the aging boat, I joined a couple dozen hardy souls huddled in the bowels of the cold ship as opening act on this UK tour, Ben Jordan (7) provided calm and respite with some lovely if unremarkable acoustic guitar. A native of Virginia and long-term friend of Mark Morton, Jordan’s s humble, honest approach endeared him to the slowly expanding crowd. With short songs, he didn’t spend much time chatting, although glimpses of his style of humour were evident; “canned water: It’s weird” he commented. “My taste buds and liver don’t know what’s going on but hey, it was free!” I didn’t catch many of the song titles although Hard Times, from Jordan’s Mark Morton produced forthcoming release stood out along with a stirring cover of Temple Of The Dog’s Hunger Strike with Joe Harvatt adding additional guitar, although having the guitar plugged in might have ensured an even more rousing finale. Jordan’s brand of laid-back Americana crosses genres and there is more than a touch of country to his sound. One can’t help feeling that he was more at ease with another musician alongside him, and reference to an absent steel in one of his songs suggested that there could have been much more. His history suggests he is routinely playing in various venues in Bristol and the UK. Maybe delving into him with more oomph would be worth an evening out sometime.
I’ve never really taken the time to listen to InMe. The UK alt-rockers have been going for 24 years according to frontman and founder Dave McPherson (6), although “I’m the only original member left” he tells us with an uncomfortable giggle. So began half an hour of crazy antics, broken strings, anti-Brexit statements and some very funny Randy Blythe impersonations (“who gives a fuuuccckkk”). McPherson is an acquired taste and appeared to have taken some pre-set sharpeners to relax. His vocals ranged enormously, some of his screeching and higher pitches not having the desired effect and although the boat had by now filled nicely, a fair number moved to the back or out of sight as his short set progressed. A talented performer, his style was completely at odds with the almost subdued delivery of Jordan, whose calm and measured mannerisms contrasted with McPherson’s chaotic, hyperactive and at times ropy delivery. He concluded a set that included a celebration of life and a song about Citalopram with Unchained Melody, introduced as “a song by Robson and Jerome, you know, from Game Of Thrones and Gone Fishing”. Reasonable fun and probably a way of loosening the rust before InMe tour their new album Jump Start Hope in a couple of weeks (They play the Bunkhouse in Swansea on 21st January).
It’s unusual to see someone of this calibre vulnerably perched on a stool in front of a good sized crowd but this is where Lamb of god guitar legend Mark Morton (9) found himself, accompanied by vocalist Mark Morales (Sons Of Texas) and Hark guitarist Joe Harvatt (whose presence as a Welshman elicited a massive roar of approval later in the evening). Morton released his debut solo album Anaesthetic in 2019, with a host of top names adding their talent. This short acoustic tour was to promote new EP Ether although unsurprisingly the bulk of the 13-song set was drawn from Anaesthetic. Softly spoken, his US drawl gentle and instantly likeable, this was Morton at his most vulnerable. Constantly checking the tuning on his acoustic guitars, he admitted to being massively nervous, something he said rarely happens when LOG is tearing up massive festival sites. Technically this set was probably more challenging. No hiding place, a reliance on timing and the reliable Harvatt as his co-pilot, Morton’s demonstrated flexibility and dexterity, whilst Morales tackled a range of songs, the majority not even written by or for him, with a desire and passion and no little skill, especially as there was evidence of a cold lurking. He met the challenge
Entering the Thekla and the dry hull of the aging boat, I joined a couple dozen hardy souls huddled in the bowels of the cold ship as opening act on this UK tour, Ben Jordan (7) provided calm and respite with some lovely if unremarkable acoustic guitar. A native of Virginia and long-term friend of Mark Morton, Jordan’s s humble, honest approach endeared him to the slowly expanding crowd. With short songs, he didn’t spend much time chatting, although glimpses of his style of humour were evident; “canned water: It’s weird” he commented. “My taste buds and liver don’t know what’s going on but hey, it was free!” I didn’t catch many of the song titles although Hard Times, from Jordan’s Mark Morton produced forthcoming release stood out along with a stirring cover of Temple Of The Dog’s Hunger Strike with Joe Harvatt adding additional guitar, although having the guitar plugged in might have ensured an even more rousing finale. Jordan’s brand of laid-back Americana crosses genres and there is more than a touch of country to his sound. One can’t help feeling that he was more at ease with another musician alongside him, and reference to an absent steel in one of his songs suggested that there could have been much more. His history suggests he is routinely playing in various venues in Bristol and the UK. Maybe delving into him with more oomph would be worth an evening out sometime.
I’ve never really taken the time to listen to InMe. The UK alt-rockers have been going for 24 years according to frontman and founder Dave McPherson (6), although “I’m the only original member left” he tells us with an uncomfortable giggle. So began half an hour of crazy antics, broken strings, anti-Brexit statements and some very funny Randy Blythe impersonations (“who gives a fuuuccckkk”). McPherson is an acquired taste and appeared to have taken some pre-set sharpeners to relax. His vocals ranged enormously, some of his screeching and higher pitches not having the desired effect and although the boat had by now filled nicely, a fair number moved to the back or out of sight as his short set progressed. A talented performer, his style was completely at odds with the almost subdued delivery of Jordan, whose calm and measured mannerisms contrasted with McPherson’s chaotic, hyperactive and at times ropy delivery. He concluded a set that included a celebration of life and a song about Citalopram with Unchained Melody, introduced as “a song by Robson and Jerome, you know, from Game Of Thrones and Gone Fishing”. Reasonable fun and probably a way of loosening the rust before InMe tour their new album Jump Start Hope in a couple of weeks (They play the Bunkhouse in Swansea on 21st January).
It’s unusual to see someone of this calibre vulnerably perched on a stool in front of a good sized crowd but this is where Lamb of god guitar legend Mark Morton (9) found himself, accompanied by vocalist Mark Morales (Sons Of Texas) and Hark guitarist Joe Harvatt (whose presence as a Welshman elicited a massive roar of approval later in the evening). Morton released his debut solo album Anaesthetic in 2019, with a host of top names adding their talent. This short acoustic tour was to promote new EP Ether although unsurprisingly the bulk of the 13-song set was drawn from Anaesthetic. Softly spoken, his US drawl gentle and instantly likeable, this was Morton at his most vulnerable. Constantly checking the tuning on his acoustic guitars, he admitted to being massively nervous, something he said rarely happens when LOG is tearing up massive festival sites. Technically this set was probably more challenging. No hiding place, a reliance on timing and the reliable Harvatt as his co-pilot, Morton’s demonstrated flexibility and dexterity, whilst Morales tackled a range of songs, the majority not even written by or for him, with a desire and passion and no little skill, especially as there was evidence of a cold lurking. He met the challenge
Six tracks from Anaesthetic included the opening duo of Axis And Blur, the latter the track that Morales contributed vocals to on the album. Interspersing new tunes from Ether between tracks from the solo album, this included a brave choice of cover of The Black Crowes’ She Talks To Angels (sung by Lzzy Hale on the EP). The set later included a further three quality covers, Pearl Jam’s Black, a stunning Down In A Hole (Alice In Chains), both previously converted to Unplugged sets for their former masters. An emotional Cross Off, which featured the late Chester Bennington on vocals, raised the hairs on the back of the neck. Morton’s conversation was simple and gracious, stories of their trip(s) to Ikea to buy the rug and stools for the shows and how he borrowed battery operated candles for the stage set from his mom, “she emails with Randy” he revealed as laughter echoed around the boat. Closing with a creative “jam” of Sabbath’s Planet Caravan, this was the end of a special evening up close and personal with one of the metal world’s most ferocious guitarists. Stepping out of the boat, the rain had stopped and just for a while, all was right with the world again.