The Lost Brothers in Whelan’s Dublin on 18th May 2013

There is a night of spare instrumentation ahead at Whelan’s as four guitars and two microphone stands line the stage in preparation for The Lost Brothers’ gig, and besides the odd intrusion of a harmonica these are the only sounds we will hear this night. It is a testament not just to the diversity of that instrument (here also including one electric and a twelve-string acoustic for that added bit of variety) but also plathat keeps interest high and the atmosphere laid-back.

Before the main act appears the charismatic San Diego native Steve Poltz arrives on-stage with his guitar and sings some fine songs of his own. His Brief History Of My Life is funny and nostalgic and he easily wins over the crowd with his visible positivity and great belief in what he sings. Before he plays his final songs he informs us that he will probably end up doing a gig in one of our living rooms at some point in the near future as is his tradition, and nobody complains.

Then the Lost Brothers arrive, put on their guitars and sing in harmony the songs they have written in the various styles of the American Mid-West. Hints of rockabilly creep through their song In Spite Of Being Blue and these same influences are very much on the surface of the Everly Brothers-esque Ribbons And Bows. This was the first song they wrote together – they explain how they wrote it in Liverpool and afterwards sneaked off in the night to the house where George Harrison was born and sang songs in the street until they were hollered at by the residents.

Besides the rockabilly sound and the clear Simon and Garfunkel influence, they delve into the sound of straight country music, with the song Killing Heart sounding very much like a Hank Williams tune. These guys are not interpreters of the sounds that have come before, nor updaters of those styles. What they play and sing is very much a re-presenting of those old sounds without any attempt at taking it beyond where it was when they got their hands on it. For this reason the gig never reaches a point of transcendence, but at the same time it is all so well performed that you wouldn’t mind if it went on for an hour or two longer.

For the encore they do two covers, the first being Moon River which they sang in Cincinnati the night Andy Williams died and have sung at every gig they’ve played since. It is a fine rendition of the song that feels very much in harmony with what has come before  and they finish the show, Steve Poltz having returned, with a cover of I Shall Be Released. It’s not the most original choice of conclusion but it’s familiar and pleasant and for this gig that’s all that matters