Gomez When these young Brits’ debut, Bring It On, dropped in ’98, some were struck by the brazen joy it took in scrambling genres and eras. They noted its kissin’ cousin-status to alt-country — a movement at its acme then — and the record’s distinct British twist on it: Topanga Canyon filtered through Mark Hollis, the Band through Fairport Convention, the Stone Roses through Crazy Horse. Maybe the most striking aspect was the hardened Delta bluesman-voice of Ben Ottewell, who sounded 71 rather than 21 (his age at the time). It was all rather promising, but unfortunately the band’s releases have never really delivered anything like greatness. Opening for the John Butler Trio. $35.25. The Fillmore Charlotte. www.fillmorecharlottenc.com.
This article appears in Jul 19-25, 2011.
