Hiss Golden Messenger

The outstanding HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER. Or; in real life, MC Taylor.

MC Taylor creates such lovely smokey Americana music - it’s cigarettes and bourbon, marching bands and open chords. It’s almost cliché. Taylor records under the name HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER and I was incredibly lucky to see him at VILLAGE UNDERGROUND in London this past week. He is touring the UK, solo, supporting his warm and inviting and sad new album TERMS OF MY SURRENDER. The album’s first single, “I Need a Teacher”, and its accompanying video, moved me to tears. The video depicts stately and openly-honest portraits of men and women and children who are taking part in a march and rally for public school funding in Durham, North Carolina. It made me so happy to be an American; and there is not much that could make me say that right now.

Village Underground is a special room! A converted packing warehouse, it’s all brick and arched, and hugely high ceilings with skylights. It capacity is 670 although the bouncer told me they can fit as many as 1,000. Taylor spun a spell with merely an acoustic guitar. I’m so fortunate to be living in a country that appreciates this sort of Americana genre — and appreciates it with such relish.

ALSO! The opening act was a revelation! Olivia Chaney! Like a Renaissance troubadour folk English Joni Mitchell — though incredibly wry (almost dour) in her sense of humour and stage banter. Her playing is so precise and crystalline. Just GREAT! Olivia Chaney is the real deal! She is on Nonesuch Records, folks. Seek her out!

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER, live at The Village Underground, 10 Deember 2019. It’s fun to be in the front row! And that’s a sharp suit.

Olivia Chaney: Joni Mitchell meets Fairport Convention meets Richard Thompson meets something ancient and old.