The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio – Live at your local Waterhole
Sven Curth and his cronies let loose a wicked live set in Live at your local Waterhole. Alongside featured keyboardist Chris Carballeira, these enviable musicians tailored a set of 60s and 70s rock – and blues-inspired masterpieces. This live set is fun-filled, kindly rebellious, and consistently full of next-to-the-bonfire coziness. Overall, The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio do justice to classic rock. No joke – they all know how to play! Always peaceful yet engaging, these performers offer a captivating sonic experience that has us raising our gaze away from our phones and up at the proverbial stage.
“How Come?” is the first track on this live recording. There’s a thumping shuffle on the drum kit. The bass guitar walks us along on a loose leash. Joining other songs on this collection that question important societal norms like marriage, Curth sings, “How come everyone’s looking for a partner?” Though Curth questions the status quo, the band has an energy of understanding. Warm and somewhat jangly, the song immediately showcases Carballeira’s deftness.
Song three, “Worse Before Better,” begins with an electric guitar that’s layered with a subtle tremolo. Curth pushes us to accept a sentiment most people experience at least a few times – wishing to be someone else. “Worse Before Better” is more upbeat, with a contagious energy. A chunky guitar plays call-and-response with the keys in yet another highlight from Carballeira. Meanwhile, Curth cranks up the volume of his vocal cords as epic drums fills pervade this rockabilly tune. Curth rambles, “After some coffee, you’ll probably be okay,” before he enlists a series of growls, a fitting apex before the song’s delicate end.
On the latter half of this album is “Let There Be Light” – an existential pondering of Christianity as well as the fundamental need for acceptance of different spiritual perspectives. With its metaphorical nature, this song is shimmery, like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. Curth sings of a disagreement between he and his mother, she herself believing in the Christian God, while her son questions his existence. The music is somewhat surfy – with its brilliant lyrics, smart musicianship, and believable delivery, The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio rounds out their performance with both love and light.
All in all, Live at your local Waterhole is a stunning album. The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio demonstrates a very high level of musicianship, while providing a friendly musical atmosphere for one to either enjoy quietly or to dance the night away to. This album is FFO Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens. If you want a surefire listen, check out Live at your local Waterhole on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
Categorised in: Album Reviews, New Music
This post was written by Jake Sessanna