Bobby Long at Troubadour With He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister

Bobby Long, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister 

Troubadour

February 3

English singer-songwriter Bobby Long has built a devoted following the past few years through fine storytelling and confessionals inspired greatly by the sounds of Americana and contemporary folk.  Playing solo and then, last year, with a backing band of indie musicians, fleshing out the tunes just right, he’s gone from shy Brit lad to a more confident, though still humble artist.  So what happened at his recent Troubadour appearance in West Hollywood?  

The performance had its moment, but the essence of his appeal was often hammered away by his quite slick three-man band, of obvious session and tour pros.  As result, one number wouldn’t work, while another left many fans wondering if they’d ever hear the more stripped-down beloved version again.  

That was certainly the case for “Who’ve You Been Loving,” one of his shots at a sing-a-long hit, which was rocked up, losing all the tune’s bittersweet charm. In other cases, pedal steel drenched songs as though crying out, “look, this is almost country.”

This isn’t to say there weren’t moving pieces, such as “Bounty of Mary Jane,” and “A Stranger’s Song.”  

When the band left the stage and Long played a couple of songs solo some of the heart and soul that seemed to be missing returned.  And the band wasn’t always heavy handed. The slight weepy steel accompanying him for the ballad “Dead and Done,” was just the right touch, rather than the overbearing playing through much of the set.  And it was hard to tell when Long strapped on an electric guitar for more of a jam than anything else whether he was enjoying it because it looked so forced.  

It’s hard to understand what ATO’s thinking is here. You have an artist, albeit still growing, but already with a distinctive style and you try to turn the man into a band?  The move was disappointing and even, at times, distasteful, and that’s too bad. Because there’s still no doubt that Long’s a talented songwriter and inviting singer.

On another side note, trading in his jeans and flannel shirt for all black including a jacket came off as image calculation – GQ or something like that - matching the spiffy-dressed other players.  Some were fine with it all, but others were left wondering, what happened to the artist that touched them?  Those seeing him for the first time may well have thought he was good, with no idea how much better he's been. Here’s hoping he gets to pull back the band a bit to scale down things, less is more definitely a truth here.

In contrast, the night’s support band was a wonderful discovery, in fact a delight. He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister is an unsigned Los Angeles band fronted by brother Robert Kolar on guitar and also bass drums (which is behind him and he thumps with the heel of one foot) and sister Rachel Kolar on vocals and percussion.  The band includes upright bass/cello, lap steel guitar, a drummer on snare and cymbal, plus a tap dancer! 

The group’s sound is eclectic mix of circus or carnival rock, Vaudeville by way of New Orleans swamp blues and flashes of off-center folk and quirky cabaret. The songs, including the lively “Lazy Daze' and "Coattails," and catchy “Tales That I Tell" were thumpy and organic, with a slinky, sexy appeal, too. The band was fun from song one. Keep an eye on this playful troupe, they're on to something.