It is hard to believe that 20 years have glided by with the Handsome Family and the musical exclamation points they have produced.
The couple continue to travel down that dark and twisted road that they have inhabited for some time now. With an expectant Sunday night crowd on hand at The Basement it was obvious the loyal fans were on hand to hear some new and old tales from the catalogue of Rennie and Brett Sparks.
Kicking off with the humorous “The Dark Hole” was sweet and the follow up was a true Handsome Family classic. “So Much Wine” showcased the deep resounding vocals of Brett and the charming high pitched harmony of Rennie. Their ability to draw you into their music and the well thought out storylines is thrilling to behold.
An evening in the company of this husband and wife duo is not only a musical experience of country and fine playing. The couple not only dish out some dark and lovely Americana, but their stage banter is a show stopper at times and comparable to stand-up comedy.
Not only were the audience’s ears entertained with musical magic, but the anecdotes kept them in stitches. Whether it was the story about the couple arguing about twilight and dusk before the show, the postman having to report the pair to the authorities because they ordered an excessive amount of electronic equipment or the Used Adult Book Store in Melbourne they discovered, every face in The Basement was smiling and laughing throughout these introductions to songs.
“The Woman Downstairs”, about the couple’s not so happy time in Chicago and why they moved, was filled with a sparse but biting guitar solo.
Percussionist Jason Toth had a light but mesmerising touch during this song and throughout the night with his small kit, shakers and glockenspiel added charming sonic shades to the material on offer.
Wilderness, their latest release, an album with all songs named after animals from the “Woodpecker” to the “Octopus” was featured throughout the night. These songs were fervently received and the audience was truly rapt with the delivery. At times, like “During The Sad Milkman”, you could hear shades of two John’s that influence their music: Cash and Prine.
This is country music that will never be heard on a mainstream country music radio station. It is intelligent, humorous and unique. Rennie’s delicate banjo picking, matched with the lo-fin Neil Youngesque guitar solos of her husband, proved that their musical abilities shade their lyrics perfectly.
The Handsome Family leave you with a sense that their songwriting offerings will be here much longer then the time they spend with us on this planet. True quality and beauty like this is hard to find but for those who have experienced it, it won’t soon be forgotten.
