The Washboard Union bring Canadian country charm to Cologne
The Washboard Union played their first ever concert in Cologne at Helios37. As a matter of fact, it was their first visit to Germany altogether. The band kicked off the night without an opener act, at 7:30, half an hour past the advertised time.
They opened with “Maybe It’s The Moonshine,” “What We’re Made Of” and “Somebody To Love,” which set an uplifting, feel-good, boot-stomping tone for the evening.
Live, the band sounded extremely good. Their upbeat music, paired with tight three-part vocal harmonies, came across somewhat differently than on their polished modern country recordings. The sound leaned toward a more natural, unpolished old-school country, built on banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar and, of course, the washboard.
Aaron Grain handled most of the lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Chris Duncombe contributed banjo and vocals, and David John Roberts played the signature washboard and mandolin and sang as well . The trio was backed by a tight three-piece touring band, guitar-bass-drums, which filled out the sound. The lyrics rely heavily on familiar, radio-friendly country tropes: trucks, lakes, drinking and escaping the city. The band’s depth, however, lies less in the lyrics than in the musicianship, the arrangements and their Canadian friendliness.
Storytelling between songs loosened the atmosphere even more. The band pointed out some fellow Canadians from their home town Kelowna, British Columbia, in the audience, as well as a German couple who had camped in David’s backyard while visiting Canada and were now in the crowd. They also took the moment to thank the local audience for the warm welcome on their first tour in Germany. And there was another Canadian in the crowd, going unnoticed, taking photos of them for CountryMusicNews.de and also this site.
The eighteen-song setlist made for an excellent introduction of The Washboard Union to the German country scene. The audience had no trouble taking in the band’s infectious music, and by the end of the night the songs felt familiar. “Whiskey Wings,” “Neon Needs The Night,” “Country Thunder,” “Shot Of Glory” and a cover of Don Henley’s “The Boys Of Summer” laid the foundation for the band in Cologne, and with great success. The audience will surely want them back soon.
Accreditation: Semmel Concerts
Also published on: CountryMusicNews.de
