We met in the middle of the Severn at Bristol’s Thekla for a night of exceptional folk, country and roots, courtesy of journeyman singer-songwriter Chuck Ragan and his backing band, The Camaraderie.
First up was Jesse Ahern. The Boston based singer-songwriter played a stripped back set channelling Dylan and Springsteen.
With only an acoustic guitar and a selection of harmonicas, the gravely voiced bar-room bard was a fitting opener for what was to follow.
Dedicating the catchy tale of an adult and an angry husband, Broken Jaw, to the homewreckers in the audience at the fast-filling club, Ahern insisted that although it was based on a true story, he wasn’t the guy that ended up lovelorn and sprawled out on the floor with a broken jaw.
He later gave the room the option of hearing either a Clash or Rancid cover. The crowd unanimously clamoured for the Clash and were rewarded with a superb version of Straight to Hell. (In case he’s reading this – You passed the test.)
Though it took Ahern a little while to get the crowd on stage, his honesty and innate charm eventually got the packed club on side, and everyone was humming, clapping and stomping by the end of his superb set.
Finally, it was time for the main event, and Chuck and the Camaraderie did not disappoint.
Ragan is a commanding presence on stage, wearing a work shirt, jeans and DMs, he looks like he’s just finished his shift down a mine, but boy can he sing.
Opening with Something May Catch Fire, the boat rocked to the sound of Chuck and The Camarade – as the revellers in the packed venue lifted their voices like a congregation for the first big singalong of the night.
I wondered whether Regan even needed a mic during You Get What You Give as he bellowed: “Love at first sight,” and his gravelly voice shot through the boughs of the boat like a shotgun.
Addressing the crowd, Chuck said: “This is a song about seeing the light at the end of a tunnel after a rough patch.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to put your boots on and carry on. This is about finding the strength to do that.”
The band then launched into Hot Water Music classic, Drag My Body and blew the roof off the place. It wasn’t the only HWM tune played as the superb State of Grace also got the folk treatment. (I could easily listen to a whole album of them)
I know I’ve been raving about Chuck for most of this review, but the Camaraderie were exceptional. I’m not sure you could want a better backing band. The richness of sound and pure skill brought a richness to the performance that would have been lost without them.
Though my favourite part of the evening was hearing tracks from the soundtrack to The Flame in the Flood. As an avid gamer and fan of alternative music, it was one of those rare moments when the weird ven diagram of my interests perfectly aligned, and it seems I wasn’t the only one.
Other highlights included a massive sing-along erupting during Nothing Left to Prove and an absolutely electrifying performance of Wish on the Moon.
The main set ended with a stirring performance of The Boat and the absolutely banging California Burritos.
While leaving the stage, Chuck turned and picked his guitar up to play just one more and then played several by himself while the Camaraderie got a much-deserved break before they returned for the last song of the evening, The Middle – which tore the roof off the place.
Thus ended another night of exceptional live music on the boat, something that (like Ragan’s songwriting) will never go out of style.