Highway gig for Malcolm Holcombe

US singer/songwriter Malcolm Holcombe will be playing at the Highway in Crusheen on September 29.
When The Clare Champion spoke to him last Friday, he had just arrived in Europe. “We start the tour this evening, with a show in Norway. I can’t remember where it is but I’m in Oslo now,” he said.
He is looking forward to coming back to Ireland. “I’ve been over several times. They’re loveable people, wonderful. It’s a lot of fun and it’s good to get back to some roots there in Ireland. I’m very excited about it.”
A native of North Carolina, his distinctive accent and turn of phrase set him apart from most performers who make their way as far as the West of Ireland.
His most recent album Down the River has just been released and he is reluctant to offer any firm views on it, saying it’s up to the listener. “I hope it’s pensive. I hope it evokes emotion and thoughtfulness. But then again, it could just make you want to pet the dog or eat a peanut butter sandwich. That’s up to the listener. It’s not my job to tell people what to listen to, or how to listen to something. That’s up to the individual, it’s their pathway. I just lay it out there, try to be of service and do my job.”
He says the show in Crusheen will be approached in the same way as if he was back in North Carolina. “Whether I’m in Europe or the United States, I don’t change my performance. I don’t change anything, I try to deliver the goods as best I can do with the grace of God and the kindness of people. I do the best I can, like most of us do.”
One recent reviewer described Down the River as one of Malcolm’s best albums. “Some songs are stripped back to a bed of voice and guitar, with subtle atmospherics. Holcombe uses his guitar as another means to bring his country-blues based songs to life. The Empty Jar uses strings behind the voice and guitar to lend a sense of hope. In Your Mercy, has a beauty and the beast aspect with Holcombe’s gritty voice contrasting with Emmylou Harris’ clear voice – a pairing that works well. Steve Earle plays harmonica and trades verses on Trail of Money which contains the lines “My instincts are wounded, my schools bleed with guns, my children are recklessly, lost in the sun” as a sample of his distaste for the corporate greed that runs through society at many levels. Those who have heard and seen Malcolm Holcombe will not need encouragement to seek this out; others should check him out on his website and on YouTube.
“Holcombe is a true troubadour, a truth teller and a man with human frailties that are reflected in his music. Ray Kennedy’s production has given this album a sound and structure that makes it one of Holcombe’s best and well worth exploring its rivers and tributaries.”