James Apollo + Killing Fields Of Ontario + The Clench @ The Grapes, Oct10th

[Amsterdamned]

Americana Night @ The Grapes on Saturday October 10th is shaping up to be something very special. Making a very welcome return to Sheffield and putting the American into our Americana Night will be New York's James Apollo and his band. Joining them will be local heroes Killing Fields Of Ontario and The Clench. Doors open at 8pm and entry will be £5.

 

 

***JAMES APOLLO***

 

James Apollo is restless as a willow in a windstorm. If he's not breaking his legs in motorcycle accidents, or barreling down highways to get to the show on time, he's screwing his life up at home, leaving a trail of wreckage usually left to generals and junkyard foreman.

 

While his music often has some pervasive themes, namely love, loss, loneliness and deceit, Apollo steeps it in so much melancholy that even the most dire of tales has you wondering whether he's cheering for the victim or the cause. And though there may be a sly smile between castanets on his latest, How Hard a Heart of Gold Can Be, for Apollo, this is about as steady as he's going to get.

 

Apollo, who recorded his two previous albums near his home in Brooklyn, travelled back to the bluffs of the upper Mississippi, where longtime musical compatriots joined him in setting these songs in stone. The session took place in a short window between tours, leaving Apollo just enough time to shake the dust off his jacket and onto tape.

 

The result, How Hard a Heart of Gold Can Be, cries out from the dark side of lover's lane. Apollo recalls “A fellow asked me the other day about being on the road. He said it must be tough to keep a relationship going when you're away from home. I said no, being away is the easy part. It's when i'm home that times get rough”

 

Apollo's previous album 'Hide Your Heart In A Hiive' and EP 'Angels We Have Grown Apart' both proved favourites of BBC 6Music's Tom Robinson and Elbow's Guy Garvey on his own 6Music show. The band will once again be live in session on XFm whilst in the UK (Sept 30th).

 

"haunted, western-rich folk with hints of Latin rhythms and Tom Waits-style cabaret." The Onion

 

"James Apollo's songs are Americana in the truest sense: drenched in Civil War ghosts, "Steinbeckian landscapes" and the kind of loneliness known only to someone who grew up in Libertyville, Arkansas." The Sunday Times

 

"Beautiful, yet slightly unsettling feel of a David Lynch film." The Scotsman

 

"an earthy blend of haunted melodies and dusty rhythms." Sheffield Star

 

"For once, the press release tells few lies: you can believe the hype." Whisperin & Hollerin

 

 

http://www.jamesapollo.com

 

http://www.myspace.com/jamesapollo

 

 

***KILLING FIELDS OF ONTARIO***

 

Killing Fields of Ontario were formed in 2007 by Tom Brewster and Stuart Kempster. In early 2008, after months of song writing, they were put in touch with musical prodigy Dave Loffman, who kindly agreed to record a demo. Dave also took up drum duties, and semi-legendary 'Rocketeers' front man James "Roadkill" Brooks stepped in on bass to complete the line up.

 

The initial recordings were predominantly acoustic and banjo driven, however as new songs emerged the band became more electric, with bigger drums and bigger guitars (in a musical, not dimensional, sense). Using a varied combination of acoustic and electric instruments, the band create a sound that is powerful and modern, and yet still steeped heavily in folk roots.

 

The band are currently recording their debut album which they hope to launch by the end of the year.

 

 

http://www.myspace.com/killingfieldsofontario

 

 

***THE CLENCH***

 

Recently emerging onto the Sheffield scene, The Clench deliver whiskey-fuelled, blues-swamp-funk-country rock, to put it in a not very small nutshell. The six piece band are starting to cause a stir on the live circuit and recently unleashed their debut EP 'Pain Don't Hurt'. They aim to make 'music to ride horses by' and their sound conjures up images of Western desert landscapes and cowboys. There are hints of the likes of Calexico and Chris Isaak, who they usually pay tribute to with a cover of 'Blue Hotel' in their set.

 

http://www.myspace.com/itstheclench

 

 

Facebook Event page:

 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142291025667

 

 

Last.fm Event page:

 

http://www.last.fm/event/1236892

 

 

 

[Amsterdamned]

This is on Saturday. You can check out 'No East, No West' from Apollo's new record here:

 

[Amsterdamned]

This is tonight. Live music kicks off at 8.30 with The Clench.