Sam Jordan and his Dead Boys have been turning a lot of heads since they announced the release of their debut EP, ‘When Golden Morning Comes’. The shows are coming thick and fast, and with every show, the sense of excitement about the release grows a little more.

It’s hard to imagine a setting more unlike your usual Saturday night dives than the Marwood. “A grandmother’s living room” is the common description of the performance space. It was an unusual atmosphere, and the space set an intimate and relaxed tone you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else at the weekend. So perhaps it was fitting that Sam Jordan should be headlining: his group refuse to follow the conventions of the moment, and reject the polish so many bands actively seek. This was the anti-band playing in the anti-venue, and they were a perfect fit.

The group recorded most of their EP live, so while they actively avoid a cleanliness in their sound, they couldn’t be more well rehearsed. They play a rumbling folk, heavy on the organ and led by Sam’s ringing acoustic guitar. There’s a sense of movement and voyage in their songs, which roll, surge and decline, but don’t meander – their songs and the set in general gave the impression of a clear direction, coming from Sam’s pointed and honest lyrics, and some finely worked out composition.

In many ways the group is attempting to stage a revival of what they would call true folk. Folk that relates a beautifully devastating experience, folk that hits you hard and that you can’t ignore. And in a lot of ways, they’re doing it well. Musically, the songs are nice to the ears, but lyrically, they’re difficult to listen to. The contrast is exemplified by Sam’s voice, which is bold and sweet, yet hollow at the same time. The underlying feeling of desolation, a theme treated fully in the lyrics, can’t help but shine through the melodies as well, and leave a bitter-sweet taste in the mouth.

The full band is a recent fixture, but Sam’s experience as a solo performer has clearly taught him how to hold a stage by himself. He was confident and engaging, unfased by the proximity of the crowd, most of whom could have reached out and touched him. He only played a few songs, favouring long structures where he could really develop a landscape. But they never seemed too long, as the band employed smart and varied dynamics that pulled the crowd in and made the end of their set seem to come all too soon.

Sam Jordan & the Dead Boys are a breath of fresh air in a folk scene where many bands choose the path of least resistance: nobody could say they’re trying to make easy-listening music, and they don’t shy away from challenging their audience. While they require more engagement than many acts, they also offer more rewards in return.

Read our interview with Sam Jordan here.

Website: officialsamjordan.com
Facebook: facebook.com/samjordanmusic