Richard Hawley - Leadmill, Sheffield, 17/5/2003
by Denzil Watson
published: 12 / 6 / 2003
intro
Having previously postponed his hometown gig twice due to a finger injury, it was third time lucky for Richard Hawley. Denzil Watson finds his back-to-the-basics approach to music and unashamedly retro set has much to merit it
Having previously postponed his hometown gig twice due to the re-occurrence of a rare bone disorder which affects his finger, it's third time lucky for Sheffield songsmith Richard Hawley. The Leadmill is comfortably full as he unassumingly saunters on stage with his four-piece band. "Before anyone asks it wasn't a wanking injury" he jokes before launching into the aptly titled 'Coming Home' from his self titled debut LP. Shorn of the strings and studio paraphernalia this is a stripped down and more human sound compared to the studio material, a format that very much suits the rich tones of his voice and the subtle textures of the songs. The Hawley vibe is unashamedly retro (names such as Roy Orbison, the Walker Brothers, Chris Isaak and, more recently, Edwyn Collins come to mind) and in current musical climes could be considered a tad uncool, more Radio 2 than Radio 1. Equally, though, there's much merit in Hawley's back-to-the-basics approach, and the championing of good, old-fashioned song writing and balladry, much in a similar manner to what Billy Bragg did in the 1980s. Add to that a genuine pride in the city of your birth and you start to get the frequency. Predictably we get a hefty slice of his critically acclaimed latest 'Lowedges' LP but not before we're treated to the shimmering beauty of last year's single and stand-out track from his last album 'Late Night Final' - 'Baby You're My Light' - a song that, with any justice in the music world, would have comfortably made the number one spot. There's a more low key feel to the new material, the gentle nostalgia-tinged lilt of 'Darlin', the fantastically titled 'You Don't Miss Your Water (Till Your River Runs Dry)' and the current single, 'Run for Me' which crashes and soars while the singer lays himself bare. Hawley matches the number of songs with guitar changes (lap steels, f-holes, 12 strings – you name it) but we can forgive him this apparent self-indulgence – “I’ve just collected a lot of guitars over the years”. ‘The Motorcycle Song’, another high point of the set, encapsulates Hawley’s appeal quite nicely. Not a full throttle tribute to two wheels as one might expect, more a forlorn tale of pushing a Triumph Trophy back home with a tank full of holes. “One of the best three songs I’ve written” he tells us. After more humorous quips, including parochial references to Fir Vale School, Sheffield City council's architectural misdemeanours and a surreal rant about the virtues of Sham 69 (!) the hour plus set draws to a close. "Thanks, you've been rare good". Aye lad - you weren't so bad yerself. The photographs that accompany this article were taken by C.M. Saunders and originally appeared on his website www.cmsaunders.com
Band Links:-
http://www.richardhawley.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/RichardHawleyOfficial
https://twitter.com/RichardHawley
http://richardhawley.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/RichardHawleyMusic
https://plus.google.com/+RichardHawleyMusic
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2012) |
Much acclaimed singer-songwriter Richard Hawley speaks to Denzil Watson about his recent ‘Standing at the Sky's Edge’, and the influence of his native Sheffield on his music |
profiles |
Standing At The Sky’s Edge (2019) |
Nicky Crewe finds Richard Hawley and Chris Bush create a love song to Sheffield with a universal message that will make you reconsider what a stage musical can be. |
live reviews |
Albert Hall, Manchester, 7/10/2019 |
Richard Hawley plays a show in Manchester that clearly means a lot to him. Amanda J Window tells us all about it. |
Richard Hawley |
Leadmill, Sheffield, 11/9/2005 |
soundcloud
reviews |
Now Then: The Very Best of Richard Hawley (2024) |
Double CD collection from Richard Hawley spans over twenty years of the now legendary Sheffield musician and songwriter’s career, and proves a real treat for fans as well as a wonderful introduction for those only just discovering his music |
Standing at the Sky's Edge (2012) |
Leave Your Body Behind You (2012) |
False Lights from the Land EP (2010) |
Tonight the Streets are Ours (2007) |
Coles Corner (2006) |
Coles Corner (2005) |
Lowedges (2003) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Prisoners - Interview
Steve Harley - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart