Police Dog Hogan - Live Music Review in Bristol

Posted on: 2016-04-26

Our rating:

Cracking songs were continuous during the entire, brilliant set, including The Land of Miracles, Better Go Now and A Man Needs A Shed, blending lyrical smarts with musical finesse


 

The flagstone floors of The Fleece in Bristol were alive with the sound of some seriously outstanding folk music when Police Dog Hogan hit the stage at the ionic venue on Saturday 23 April 2016.

When my partying partner in crime and I waltzed enthusiastically through the doors just after eight o'clock, the rhythmic refrains of Bristol-based alternative country band Red Ray were already galvanizing the surprisingly mixed - and primarily older, for that matter - gig-goers. 

Led by Newcastle-born Ray Lannon on lead vocals and guitar, this cool quartet wasted no time in firing up the audience with its catchy, fun-loving selection of country style, indie-rock infused anthems. Adding a vibrant, invigorating lustre to country music sound, this is an accomplished local band you'd be wise to keep a very close eye on. 

Police Dog Hogan - Review

By the time they'd finished and the bar had been frequented (several times), Police Dog Hogan sauntered on to the stage to a surge of enthusiastic claps and cheers. And after the first few songs, its easy to see why - even if you hadn't heard of them before, which I hadn't - they've amassed such a fervent, admiring and loyal fan base. 

This fabulous 8-piece band might be made up of performers who are also popular column writers, travel columnists and even the head of one of the UK's leading production companies, but they certainly know a thing or two when it comes to throwing a damned good evening of toe-tapping country tunes as well.

With an instrumental line-up including trumpet, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, accordion and guitar, their songs skilfully fuse a marvelous blend of influences and styles including urban bluegrass, country-folk, Cajun, folk-pop, Americana, as well as occasional hints of Pogue-ness.

Cracking songs were continuous during the entire, brilliant set, including The Land of Miracles, Better Go Now and A Man Needs A Shed, blending lyrical smarts with musical finesse and a charming, winning combo of intelligence, whimsy, wit and infectious enthusiasm.

Police Dog Hogan in Bristol - Review

Credit: Su Anderson

After the spirited high-jinks and raucous energy of the group's preceding numbers, however, the gig came to an unexpectedly intimate, tender and utterly sublime close with an a cappella rendition of The Banks with the band members vacating the stage and performing in the middle of the adoring, enchanted audience. 

Police Dog Hogan - and isn't that a great band name, for starters? - might have been a new group to me but they've already gained a respectful and devoted following, of which I'm now an enthusiastic, fully paid up member. 

They were a revelation. Energetic, fun, supremely talented, belting out a phenomenal set of foot-stomping tunes and frequently riffing off banter with the crowd, Police Dog Hogan has a uniquely multi-generational appeal and will leave you on a buzzing high for days.

5/5

Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol.com - The leading events and entertainment website in the city

Check out Police Dog Hogan over at www.policedoghogan.com and their Facebook page.

Police Dog Hogan - Westward Ho!



Article by:

Jamie Caddick

Jamie is a writer, blogger, journalist, critic, film fan, soundtrack nerd and all-round Bristolian good egg.  He loves the music of Philip Glass, the art of Salvador Dali, the writings of Charles Bukowksi and Hunter S Thompson, the irreverence of Harry Hill, and the timeless, straw-chomping exuberance of The Wurzels.  You can sometimes find him railing against a surging tide of passing cyclists, or gorging himself senseless on the Oriental delights of a Cosmos all-you-can-eat buffet.