Warning: This will not be an objective or unbiased review… it just can’t be, as will become abundantly clear. If you’ve come here expecting such a review please head over to Punknews or Dying Scene, I’m sure they’ll be able to provide a much more detached review and justify the inevitable 4.5–5 stars they’ll most likely give it (’cause it is very good)! If you’re still reading and want to know my thoughts, thank you and I hope you’ll realise why I’ve taken this approach…
…Much like the recent Springsteen on Broadway experience, this collection of Nathan Gray tracks take us on a personal journey, spanning his career as leader of emo/hardcore pioneers Boysetsfire to the more indie pop influences of The Casting Out and the solo songs released last year on Feral Hymns. Whilst Springsteen always comes across as the blue collar everyman done good delivered with a poetic edge, Nathan Gray’s solo live set is something much more raw, exposed and hard hitting. Its story telling approach is dark, haunting and powerful – the emotion of his voice on show whilst linking the songs is truly inspiring. This is not always a happy story but it is one that hits home… and hits hard.
January 10th 2016 is etched into my head. Early morning, say about 6:10am, I’m sat at home working whilst my girlfriend is getting ready for work. As she is walking out the door breaking news announces the death of David Bowie; her idol and hero. Stunned into silence we watched the news for an hour straight before she finally got in the car and drove to work, Hunky Dory on the stereo and tears in her eyes. At work, colleagues struggled to understand why she would be so upset at someone dying who she had never met... Before playing a cover of Red Tape Parades “Leap Year of Faith”, Nathan talks about the emotional connection and impact music has on us; it’s ability to inspire and influence but also heal us. Whilst he was talking about this I was transported immediately back to that cold winter morning, and seeing someone close to me hurting for something that they can’t readily explain but also for the solace she found in revisiting Bowie’s music. That’s ultimately the essence of this set. This is Nathan’s chance to heal himself and help others, whether he is talking about society, religion, abuse – it’s just purely inspiring and a message that needs to be told.
This is why I can’t treat this as a normal review. When I was in my late teenage years trying to find a place in the world and feeling slightly alone in my views, bands like Boysetsfire, Hot Water Music and As Friends Rust provided this feeling of identity. Nathan Gray’s words in particular spoke to me more than anyone else. When he talks about the influence music can have, it’s not lost on me that he has one such voice that continues to support my own world view. He is one of my heroes and this story telling approach here makes him all the more heroic for his humanity and fallibility on show.
So the music then… it’s epic. Simply, what we have are two sets delivered by Nathan that encompass choice cuts from his career. Inevitably the Boysetsfire songs instantly stand out. An abridged version of “Walk Astray”, “Phonecall 4AM” and “Fall From Grace” all sound so familiar yet so much more vulnerable by the acoustic, pared down approach. We also have some Casting Out songs on show which Nathan admits were conceived as a solo endeavour before he ‘chickened out’. “Lullaby” and “Quixote’s Last Stand” sound exactly as you’d hope they would. Nathan has such a strong and emotional voice that on all of these songs you truly get to appreciate how talented he is, not only as a singer but also with his lyrics and song-craft.
Last year’s Feral Hymns was the first real solo work by Nathan and as you’d expect these songs also appear. “As the Waves Crash Down” opens the set, its atmospheric moody guitar line offset by his melodic uplifting vocals. It’s a great start to both sets. It’s joined by “Burn Away” which Nathan introduces as an admittance of past mistakes and also of recognition of one’s own flaws. It’s this approach that adds the humanity and frailty to the shows. With many of his introductions to the songs he talks from the heart and it makes the songs all the more powerful; and this is especially true of this specific song.
The highlights, of which there are many, are truly amazing – again on both live sets. The Boysetsfire song “Across Five Years” is transformed into a gorgeous acoustic number with some lovely guitar licks and string accompaniment. Whilst the ever stunning “My Life In The Knife Trade” is just, well… stunning; especially the crowd’s reaction in Wiesbaden which is both beautiful and goosebump inducing!
On both collections, two songs really stand out. “Alone” and “Ebbing Of The Tide”. As a fan of the Casting Out I loved both songs but here, knowing the personal background to the project, they both just live and breathe so much more. Nathan acknowledges the personal turmoil that surrounded the touring and live aspects of the Casting Out but both songs have his heart and soul laid bare and have the majesty to reduce you to tears. As previously stated, the music is epic but these two are taken to a completely different level due to their stripped down approach.
So in terms of a review, genuinely there was no chance I could ever suggest that this was anything but a gushing love letter to one of my heroes. A man who through personal adversity, challenges and hardship has created songs that I feel resonate with my own life story; whose political and social beliefs make me believe that punk rock can change the world for the better and who continues to show humanity and compassion for those around even if we sometimes struggle to understand them and their views of the world. What we always tend to forget is that sometimes things happening in the world are more important than music but music provides us a soundtrack and narrative with which we experience the world. That’s exactly what we have here – and it’s truly magical!
Stream and download Live At Ringkirche Wiesbaden here: https://endhitsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-ringkirche-wiesbaden
Like Nathan Gray here: https://www.facebook.com/nathangraymusic/
This review was written by Richard Mair.
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