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Review: 'MIRACULOUS MULE'
'London, Brixton, Hootenanny, 12th April 2014'   


-  Genre: 'Rock'

Our Rating:
The Hootananny, situated on Effra Road in Brixton is one of the better music venues that I've been to, having been variously voted Best Music Venue In London, and Best Music Venue In The UK.

A tall order to live up to certainly, but as it boasts some excellent acoustics, it manages to carry this off with style. Tonight, the venue is home to MIRACULOUS MULE, headlining a three band gig, and playing their first show south of the river.

First up is WILLIAM TENDER SCHUBERT, who whets the appetites of the gig goers with his brand of heavy western. Following on from this is DANIEL JEANRENAUD AND THE CAMDEN CATS, who lay down their brand of good old rock 'n' roll. With Matt Millership (AKA Tensheds) guesting on keyboards, the band gets everyone up and bopping, and pulls off a lovely version of Chuck Berry's 'You Never Can Tell'.

At just after eleven thirty, Miraculous Mule hit the stage, and open with their own take on Chuck Berry's 'Downbound Train': an absolutely thunderous version with Patrick McCarthy and Ian Burns, laying down the throbbing bass and pounding drumbeat and Michael J Sheehy letting loose with some white hot guitar riffs.

Loud? You bet – it sounds like an unstoppable juggernaut!
The band's set is primarily drawn from their latest album, the excellent 'Deep Fried', and they are in their element playing to an audience that is very receptive throughout. During 'Dangerous Blues', I notice a guy at the front of the stage wearing a Sin Cara/Rey Mysterio WWE wrestler's mask and throwing shapes similar to those the band indulged in for their promotional video of the track.

At the start of 'I'm A Soldier,' Michael asks the audience to clap along, before informing us “you guys got no rhythm!”. What struck me about the gig was the volume and the power. This is some heavy blues at its best, and all members of the band are spot on.

The band run through a mix of originals and covers; their own 'Country Circuit Preacher' being a particular favourite, telling the tale of an unpleasant hypocrite who promises salvation and relief whilst taking “the poor man's money”.

The set finally closes with 'Satisfied', the first single lifted from the album, but in a departure from the recorded version, Michael stops to do a bit of testifying: a brothers and sisters moment which really adds to the track, detailing poverty and unanswered prayers. This was an exceptional end to a fantastic gig, and one that left the audience shouting for more.

Miraculous Mule will be playing several festivals during the summer months. Details of these can be found atMiraculous Mule online. This is definitely a band not to be missed.
  author: Nick Browne

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