Playing to a full house on a Sunday night is no mean feat, especially if you haven’t gigged in Dublin for quite some time. Perhaps this was the reason why so many turned out to see this shy troubadour play, and the song set was a combination of old and new across the evening. John R Miller grew up in West Virginia and his rural influences run through his music with songs that are very much in the Americana Roots and singer-songwriter traditions.
Tonight he opened the show with Shenandoah Shakedown from his album DEPRECIATED (2021), and followed it with Red Eyes, a track that appeared on THE TOUBLE YOU FOLLOW (2018) release. John is an excellent guitar player with a fingerstyle technique that propels the songs along with real panache in the delivery. Tonight he’s joined by the very impressive Tom Hnatow on both lap steel and electric guitar, and his superb interpretations of the songs are a joy to hear as he floats around the rhythmic playing of John R Miller.
Press On is included from the last release HEAT COMES DOWN (2023) and John also plays Harpers Ferry Moon, Ditcher, and Conspiracies, Cults and UFOs from the same album, with the latter song closing the show in fine style. The performance is delivered with both musicians sitting on chairs and whereas this may lend an intimacy to the proceedings if you are up close to the stage front, it sadly takes away from the enjoyment of the people further back in the packed audience. Also, John is not a talker and his circumspect approach to between-song banter doesn’t lend itself to building any momentum.
Faustina conjures up images of a life spent on the road and the story on Back and Forth looks at the tired dreams of a dancing girl who has seen better days. Borrowed Time is a highlight and the fine interplay between John and Tom has the audience duly impressed. A well chosen cover of the Sparklehorse song Hello Lord is included and the timely message hits home with its anti-war sentiment. A few new songs are introduced from a forthcoming album which is due for a May release, all going well, and if I have the titles correct; Far Station, Lookin’ For A Place To Die, Toll Booth, Start Over, and Steering Wheel Drums are all going to become firm favourites with the fan base over time. There is a hypnotic feel to the interplay once the musicians lock into a rhythm and I have images of both JJ Cale and Billy Joe Shaver in the playing and the singing.
Coming Down is a highlight this evening and John gets mixed up in the days as he tells the crowd about this latest tour run and how this is the final gig. The fog of life on the road cannot diminish the light that shines from this singer songwriter however and he is genuinely thankful for the healthy attendance tonight. “Take me as you find me” could well be his calling card, and it’s this persona that attracts so many to his creative muse. If you are not already a follower, then you should be. Until the next time, John.
A word for the excellent opening act tonight, Dublin’s own Kenan Flannery. He played a six-song set that was very well received and won him many new friends in the process. Different Strokes is a song about falling in love with a lesbian and is full of humour, as was Kenan himself in the regular chats with the audience. He did a Luke Kelly song Come My Little Son and his vocal tone is not too far removed from the legendary balladeer. Other songs included Cobblestones, One Home, and a closing number that details the relationship of a willing victim with a dominatrix. His guitar prowess is impressive and he has a winning charm that had everyone singing along when beckoned. Well done, sir.
Review and photo by Paul McGee