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“We’re still a band! We’re not done yet!” James Trimble, front-man for The Dirty Guv’nahs, triumphantly shouted to the fans gathered at Birmingham’s Avondale Brewing. The Guv’nahs, who backed away from the music biz in 2015, returned in 2018 to live performances to select favored cities, both for the fans and a palpable joy shared by its members on-stage. To quote their song, “Tarwater (the fighter)”
I got a story left to tell
I hope you know quite well
I’m not a quitter and I’m standing out here on my own…
I can feel it in the crowd
I just wanna make you proud
The past, the present and hopes for the future pretty well sum up the energy for the night, including their enthusiasm for work underway for a new album expected to be released next year.
How good are the Dirty Guv’nahs? With football camps in progress, they can perform “Good Night Down in Georgia” and “Sweet Old Tennessee in the heart of Bama country, without a heckle or complaint. Or, maybe that says more about their fans who return to their shows whenever possible.
The band’s setlist includes expected (and deserving) fan favorites, mixing it up with a few songs that vary from show to show. Fast or slow, there’s no drop in energy, partly due to a skilled band fresh for each event, and partly because James Thimble is as far from a singer who strums and stands at a microphone as they come, even on a hot summer night that teased with a single breeze.
When the band joins that energy, they’re at their best. “New Salvation” and “I Shall Be Released” stood out in extended versions that highlighted everything from keyboards, to sax and, of course, Cosmo’s guitars. If you’re a guitar fan and don’t know Cosmo, that’s on you. The latter song also featured keyboardist Kevin Hyfantis sharing lead guitar duty and vocals, with a heavenly turn by touring singer Tomi Robb. Chemistry abounds.
The Dirty Guv’nahs built their reputation on their live performances and it continues today with a large enough catalog they could easily play another hour or two without lowering the standard set show after show. If you missed their hometown music festival, Southern Skies, in May, or this concert, their remaining dates include Charlotte (Sept. 6th) and Athens, GA (Nov. 15th).
Setlist:
Encore:
GrandVille, based in Nashville and originating in Albany, GA, opened the evening with a rocking hour-long set. The band is led by twin brothers Jackson (guitar) and James (drums) Tennyson who share vocals. With bass and keys, the band seems festival ready for a southern rock stage, their music informed by 70’s era bands who can fashion a catchy tune and solo without being repetitive. Their debut 2023 album, GrandVille, is available for streaming, and they plan to have a new album out soon. They hope to play for an Atlanta audience soon but no date is officially planned as yet.
