Live Review: Dan Parsons, Steve Grady, Brooke Russell

Past the Thursday night Pub Trivia crowd at The Workers Club, Brooke Russell begins a solo acoustic set full of songs about boys. Singing to only three people at first, the stragglers finally get the message to enter the bandroom once her sweet voice begins with Fondly. 

Joaquin Phoenix lookalike Steve Grady begins this co-headliner gig with a touch of nerves. He’s flanked by Megan Cooper and the two begin with the delightful Go Away & Miss Me. Cooper sways coyly next to him, offering sweet harmonies while Grady earnestly plays the acoustic guitar. After a string of delicious alt-country tracks, Grady wipes his brow and confesses he cannot see a thing through all the sweat in his eyes. Next up, Grady sings a song for “anyone who’s ever travelled anywhere”. The lyrics (“If I went back to London/Oh where would you take me?”) inspire a father-like punter to yell, “Forest Gate, my son!” at song’s end. Grady and the crowd are all highly confused until the dad-joke finally clicks. Gettin’ Over You sees Cooper bust out the shoulder shimmies along with her lovely harmonies. Mellow, red wine-friendly covers of 16 Days by Whiskeytown and Can’t Hardly Wait by The Replacements close out Grady’s thoroughly heartwarming set.

A full band turns up on stage ready to get Dan Parsons rocking. They start with new track I’ll Live And I’ll Die and the Hammond organ, bass and Tracy McNeil’s backing vocals take the night to a whole new level of awesome. Bass player Alex O’Gorman’s moustache and trucker’s cap combo win the evening’s unofficial ‘Best Style’ award. Parsons introduces a song he says is all about an old friend lost to a religious cult and sweet piano by keys player Robin Waters accompanies this soft, sad number. Parsons then swings on a shiny red electric guitar for On The Way Downtown, which allows the band to let loose on some grooving, extended-jam time towards the end. Close Your Eyes, Let It End delivers a darker vibe, but still allows for amazing group rock-outs on stage, including a little shredding from Parsons. Grady then joins Parsons on stage for bromantic times, singing I Had That Dream Again Last Night by Mike Garris together. The band return to close out with more jam-friendly numbers like Oh Baby, When You Say It Like That. A whole night of alt-country gorgeousness, what’s not to love?