Saving Grace - 17 December 2021

An outing to Monmouth to see Robert Plant and the band seemed like a good option just before the Omicron wave shuts down the country. I stumbled across this gig just before it sold out and this third time of seeing Saving Grace was just as brilliant as the previous two. First up was Scott Mathews who I didn't really take to - he had an original style and perhaps his songs were well constructed but somehow the vocals didn't really hack it for me. Maybe he just needs a better sound system. Saving Grace played a number of songs that I had heard from them previously but I think they have improved the delivery and seemed closer as a band. They are all excellent musicians and Suzie Dian's singing is electric. Her singing of Patty Griffin's 'Standing in the Shadow of the Hill' is perfection and that was pehaps the highlight of the gig. Having said that 'Season of the Witch' is always a highlight and there were superb understated guitar solos from Matt Worly and Tony Kelsey on that. 'Angel Dance' is great and of course 'Move Along Train' (a Levon Helm cover) which was sung by guitarist/banjo/cuatro player Matt Worley was also brilliant. Not to forget 'House of Cards' (R Thompson) which was also superb. Other songs continued the trawl through Americana including a song from Ralph Stanley's catalogue 'Two Coats' ( a Bluegrass legend I've found out), a cover of 'Ohio' (another Patty Griffin song), 'Everybody's Song' (a Low Cover), 'Gospel Plow' (a Bob dylan track I didn't know). Another excellent Suzie Dian vocal was on 'I don't wanna hear it'from a New Orleans singer called Betty Harris that Robert Plant recommended to us all. Well that's it until at least 2 February but whether the Transatlantic Sessions tour goes ahead then is anyone's guess.