After the devastating impact laid upon it by the coronavirus, the most welcome re-emergence of live music continues to gather momentum. It, therefore, seems absolutely right that Cowgirl should be the band who are taking to the Crescent stage this evening. Not only are they York’s premier rock’n’roll outfit playing here at the city’s premier live music venue, but today is the day that also marks the release of Cowgirl’s long-awaited, self-titled debut album.
By any reasonable standards Cowgirl the album is a pretty impressive first offering. It is chock-full of top tunes – seven in total – each one brimming with a self-assured swagger. Built upon the twin foundations of Danny Trew Barton and Sam Coates – they are the band’s principal songwriters and share both guitar and vocal duties – Cowgirl produce an elegant wall of melodic sound, one that bristles with almost primaeval energy.
And it is this energy that Cowgirl easily transport from the studio and into the live setting. To it, they harness urgency, immediacy, and an ever-increasing sense of unity and self-belief. Despite the enforced lay-off caused by the pandemic, it is these characteristics that make them one of the most exciting bands currently operating on the local live music scene.
It is said that Cowgirl now has enough material to fill three albums. Tonight they treat us to just a dozen of those songs. With the exception of ‘I Can’t Help It’, we get the new album in its entirety. There are old songs too – last year’s glorious single ‘Only Lasts A Moment’ is a notable highlight. There are also new songs. And there is an incredible double-finale, featuring a coruscating ‘You’re Not There’ and ‘I Thought You Should Know’ onto which an astonishing krautrock wig-out coda is welded. It all makes for a really rather splendid evening.
Photos: Simon Godley
More photos from this show can be found HERE