Gig review: Chatham County Line - Stereo, Glasgow

CHARMING though their albums are, Chatham County Line, a terrific Carolinian quartet who uphold the old bluegrass ways, have to be seen live for full appreciation of their natural-born talent.

The foursome habitually cluster round one microphone wielding acoustic guitar, double bass, banjo and fiddle or mandolin, enacting a fluid dance back and forth to achieve the desired sound balance of instruments and harmonies.

Their easy chemistry belied the real work involved in pulling off this dynamic. The musical results were a joy and a pleasure, whether the blushing romance of Sweet Marie, the sorrowful lamentation of Dark Cloud, the plaintive alt-country of Chip Of A Star or the quiet anger of Birmingham Jail, their soaring bluegrass tuppenceworth on the 1963 Ku Klux Klan bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Their heartfelt cover of The Traveling Wilburys’ Handle With Care proved it is actually possible to improve on a song featuring Roy Orbison.

Such a rich sound required no window dressing. However, on his occasion their sole stage prop, the state flag of North Carolina, shared space with ghoulish décor intended for the post-gig Hallowe’en club night. The group were unfazed by the tormented souls of the undead but appeared taken aback by the crowd’s ecstatic whoops before, during and after every deft solo, any swell in the harmonies, lead singer Dave Wilson’s delivery of a particularly sweet line – hell, just for being there and sounding so damn fine.

Rating ****