Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Many would have seen The Rails, the undeniably cool  Kami Thompson and James Walbourne, two years ago supporting the legendary Richard Thompson, they would have been impressed with the duo and their folky close harmonies that wouldn’t have been out of place in Kami’s father’s old band Fairport Convention. Arguably all would have left any of the gigs on that particular tour buying their intriguing, almost haunting E.P. release Australia.

Expectation and Time can play tricks on you, the scene of musical confrontation will always win over the audience; a four piece kick-ass Americana unit that was as tight as a camel’s backside in a sandstorm and with acoustic guitars firmly tucked away in the cupboard, expectation and Time laughed at the way humanity anticipates the same again to happen.

The fabulous harmonies are still there, still very close but this time around you’d be forgiven to think it’s a different unit. Supplemented with bass and drums, Kamie takes to rhythm electric guitar and James – well he had been unleashed onto lead guitar with such skilful display that it’s no surprise he’s back on stage doing more of the same in The Pretenders as their lead guitarist after the break.

To promote their new album There Are Other People In This World Not Just You, which has been produced by Nashville legendary producer Ray Kennedy, The Rails lent heavily on the new material available and it could be seen as wonderfully defining. Gems such as Late Surrender, Brick and Mortar gave the audience a real sense of how good British artist are good at doing the so called “American Music” thing. James dedicated a song to the much admired and loved own Americana Scouser Robert Vincent who invited James to play guitar on his debut album Life in Easy Steps.

The Rails are back in the Philharmonic Music Rooms in March 2018. It is to be thoroughly recommended as a night out in the comfort of the music and to listen to the new album as soon possible.

John Jenkins