The Grahams
Finally, after the show being cancelled in 2020 for the Covid Pandemic, we get the opportunity to host The Grahams… As people they were a pleasure to host from the very moment they arrived at LRB.
Doug Graham, Electric Guitar, Alyssa Graham, Vocals and Acoustic Guitar, Paddy Ryan Drums & Percussion Aaron Boehler Bass and Ryan Jones on Piano.
And so, a short and enthusiastic introduction from J led to the band striking up with The Wild One from their self titled 2023 album. That set the tone as Alyssa introduced herself and the band & also thanked Vicci Kata for her lovely set.
Don’t Give Us Away was performed next, taken from their latest album THE BRIDGE, followed by Carrying The Torch from The Grahamsfirst album, 2013’s RIVERMAN’S DAUGHTER.
We really do get to enjoy some great playing from a band that are very much Road Tested as this is the second to last gig of the UK tour.
Doug introduces the next song and is clearly surprised that we are all fed between sets at LRB, “That Never Happens anywhere else, no wonder you keep coming back” he tells us as he introduces one of the first songs he and Alyssa ever wrote together as The Grahams.From their first album, track 4, You Made Me Love You. Some lovely guitar and piano breaks pepper this easy groove, and the audience are loving it.
Next up we have a ‘Barn Burner’ and Alyssa encourages us to Hoot and Holla, it’s a tribute to Woody Guthrie, Glory Bound, from the 2015 album RATTLE THE HOCKS.
After some great stage banter where Doug admits they should not let him near the microphone, we enjoy Found It In Us, Track 1, Side 2 on THE BRIDGE, recorded with friends in Nashville after their earlier albums were recorded over various road journeys.
Next, a romantic song Alyssa wrote for Doug on their first album, inspired by a dream she had of them burning together on a funeral pyre… laughs. This eventually became Good Man. Nope, non of us shared Alyssa’s weird dream… Laughs…
A very personal song now, track 2 from THE BRIDGE,The One Who Remembers, and is followed by a more up tempo song, from the latest album, The Best I Ever Had…
Alyssa tells us that since they released THE BRIDGE, they have had time to write a whole album of new songs which were recorded in France; and so we are the test audience for some of these new songs… Broken is the first one, and will be on the forthcoming album, title as yet unknown. Something to look forward to indeed.
Alyssa now quizzes the audience on their album names with a prize of free vinyl, (which was handed out to one lucky person) before they play Worsts Parts Of Me, the opening song from THE BRIDGE.
The Spinner follows, from the 2015 album GLORY BOUND, after Alyssa expressed her frustration at the nail bar person in London, cutting her nails too short, making finger picking a little more tricky. We also enjoy all the gossip at an LRB gig… and she did the picking just fine…
Doug talks about the joy of vinyl that’s been lost somewhat in this modern streaming world as he promotes the merch that needs to be sold for the end of the tour… laughs…
Let’s Disappear is another great song from the latest album, as is Little Fires, a song about fighting.
Alyssa now introduces the band properly before they ‘rip it up’ with Gambling Girl from GLORY BOUND. Then we enjoy another contest to win more Vinyl the band clearly don’t want to take home… Laughs…
Lay me down is a beautiful slow ballad that Alyssa loves to play in a church, happily Simon Allen added the required reverb for the occasion.
Another great song from the GLORY BOUND, album before we enjoy Alyssa introducing her fire cracker of a daughter Georgette to the stage to take a bow and fist bump the band, clearly the inspiration behind the next song, and the band T Shirts, Georgette… Another first at the LRB…
We are approaching the end of the set now and Doug tells the tale behind the writing of Bite My Tongue from the 2020 THE KIDS LIKE US album and sets us up for the encore etiquette for the evening.
It was a long funny story, too long to tell here, you have to come to the gigs, live music needs all our support…
Well, that’s it, the band face the back wall and only raucous cheering will make them turn around for one more song. That’s never a problem at LRB with artists of this quality as we show our appreciation in the time-honoured manner.
One more song… It’s too late to stop now… so it’s Mr G, a song about love that closes THE KIDS LIKE US album, and a fine way to close such a wonderful evening with the LRB Choir joining in on the beautiful chorus.
Thank you The Grahams.
Vicci Kats
Vicci was recommended to us by Sean Taylor when he came across her busking in a London subway, and was clearly impressed.
Vicci introduces herself from South Africa, now living in London, before performing Down In The Valley, a poem beautifully put to music, as our first taste of what Sean Taylor enjoyed so much.
“We are the first audience to hear this original song” Vicci tells us, “My mum thinks it’s very good”… Laughs… Where Do All The Flowers Grow.
With a decent guitar and her vocal harmoniser, Vicci has already cast her spell on the LRB audience.
Next we have some covers to enjoy… Between The Bars by Elliott Smith from his 1997 album EITHER/OR, followed by the classic Hurt, famously recorded by Johnny Cash amongst others. Written by Trent Reznor. Then Wildflower by Billie Eilish from her 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, for something more contemporary.
The Leonard Cohenclassic Dance To The End Of Love is always a pleasure to hear being performed so well.
The Hanging Tree, is taken from The Hunger Gamessoundtrack, again convincingly interpreted, as is the Radio Headcover, No Surprises from their 1997 album OK COMPUTER.
Vicci has great taste in music for such a young artist as she now covers the Kate Bush classic Running Up That Hill from her 1985 album HOUNDS OF LOVE
Now we get to enjoy another original Poor Things. The pre-programmed piano really added to the enjoyment of this new song as Vicci allowed the song to build by tastefully adding guitar and vocal harmonies with a very catchy chorus.
We understand Vicci is working on an album of original material, and if this is anything to go by, it can’t come soon enough.
As we come to the end of the set, Vicci tells us that It’s time to get a little more upbeat, before she plays It’s Going To Be Wonderful. (Origin unknown) but it’s nice to hear, as Vicci thanks us all for this opportunity with the well-deserved appreciation of the LRB audience.
THANK YOU TO THE ARTISTS: THE GRAHAMS + VICCI KATS
This was fabulous follow up to our 2026 curtain raiser event in remembrance to Terry Goldsmith
Thanks to everyone involved with the production: Simon, sound engineer and Geoff, lighting tech; The fabulous little rabbit crew of Chris on video cameras and setup, Stan on setup and artist merchandise; Lyn with artist and guest hospitality; Brian running Little Rabbit Bar and big thanks to Chris and Rebecca, Bob for assistance on the evening.
Review: Chris
Video cams: Chris
Photography: Andy Sheard
Artist/guest hospitality: Lyn
Artist Merchandise: Stan
AV editing & audio mix: J
Artists: The Grahams, Doug and Alyssa Graham, Aoron Boehler, Ryan Jones and Patrick Ryan, TM Brian Bongo Davis | Vicci Katsiginis (Kats)
Sound: Simon Allen
Lighting crew: Geoff Lee
To all wonderful LRB guests and friends who support live music at LRB, big thanks for filling LRB and hope to see y’all on Saturday 25 April for Sarah Jane Scouten + Juliet Lloyd. Big thanks to all the new guests and all your lovely comments.
Thank you everyone.
Best wishes, Keep Safe & See Y’all soon
The LRB team
