Glasgow ABC, 7th May 2008
by Paul Kerr

Although Jason Ringenberg has been a regular visitor to these parts over the years I think this was the Glasgow (and perhaps Scottish) debut of the band he made his name with. Accordingly a fired up audience gathered to see this visitation by one of the great 80’s bands.

Fresh from their support slot tour with Chuck Prophet, The Wynntown Marshals opened with an all too short set. Risen from the ashes of The Sundowns (a 10/10 album on Americana UK with Calabasas), they have lost one of their major songwriters, Ross Taylor, but maintain the excellent Keith Benzie who now handles all the frontman duties and drummer, MC and general powerhouse behind the band, Keith Jones. In addition there is Iain Barbour, a veritable guitar for hire who pops up on record and gigs throughout Scotland and who adds a new dimension to the band sound.

Despite a difficult, bass heavy sound at times, the Marshals had 30 minutes to wow the audience and by and large succeeded. With no time to play their epic 11:15, the highlight of their current mini album (a great pity), they managed a selection from the disc including “Silent Movie,” and “I should‘ve guessed.” There was a nod to the Sundowns with “Said to Me” and a rendition of their latest single, “Ballad of Jayne,” a countrified version of an LA Guns' song.

As with the Sundowns they carry an authentic whiff of Americana in the writing and performance and with Barbour, who at times was banging and knocking his guitar and producing a twang element of a very high degree, it bodes well for the Marshals’ future.

Jason Ringenberg before the show at the merchandise table, looked as if he wouldn’t say boo to a goose. Mild mannered and pale you would walk by him in the street. On stage he was a man transformed. A dervish, dancing and clapping, playing wild harmonica riffs, witty and engaging in his intros, the crowd were eating out of his hand. In addition, guitarist Warner E. Hodges had his own fan club pressed against the stage barrier and he played to the crown in an excellent fashion. From an immediate, barnstorming opener “Absolutely Sweet Marie” they whipped up a storm. Frenzied versions of the back catalogue including Shotgun Blues, Going Nowhere, Broken Whisky Glass, Pray For Me Mama, Hot Nights in Georgia and Drug Store Truck Driving Man (with a great intro from Jason) formed a two hour set. Hodges pulled out all the stops with his trademark guitar slings and careered through a version of Parson’s Las Vegas.