Lights! Camera! Durhams~ Kitty, Daisy & Lewis Live at the Rosemount

There is something intriguing about UK family band Kitty, Daisy and Lewis.  So evidently youthful yet vintage, you can’t help but assume they are playing dress ups or trying to fit in with mum and dad on stage. What is even more perplexing is they haven’t been able to break these shackles, a decade into their own careers. Their live show at the Rosemount on Wednesday night was a fully-fledged family affair.

Warming up the evening was Ruby Boots. She was unafraid to exhibit a raw bluesy passion. Her bold style was refreshing and truly captivating with just two guitars on stage.  In between songs, she elaborated on her recent songwriting adventures.

Kitty Daisy and Lewis are from a well-established musical legacy.  Mama was the drummer in the all girl punk band, the Raincoats and Papa was founding member at The Exchange. Growing up, they had no shortage of recording equipment and networking opportunities. With such a heavy capital investment in their musical futures, it is no surprise that the Durhams have quite easily established themselves in the music industry. Their old style aesthetic is most definitely a strategic effort to diversify themselves and thus captivate old and young demographics.

Dressed in vintage suits and frocks, they took to the mainstage at the Rosemount to play 90 minutes of rhythmic echoes. They played mostly new material from their new album ‘The Third’ produced by Mick Jones. Their sound is predominantly RnB influenced with some harmonica backed bluesy tracks in there for good measure.

Every London band has a token Jamaican join them onstage for a few tracks, and this outfit was no exception. Trumpet aficionado, Eddie ‘Tan Tan’ Thornton has been collaborating with the band since 2008. His contribution is prevalent in their rapid drive towards dancehall sounds, typified in ‘Baby Bye Bye.’

In attempt to keep things equal, the siblings swapped instruments for every track. This may have assisted them stylistically, however this was not the case sonically. Collectively with the aid of mum and dad, they were able to create a wall of jazzy, soul, funk, ska, country and rockabilly sounds. Honourable mention to brother Lewis for a lively and tight guitar performance throughout the evening.

Don’t be fooled by their outwardly messy and casual sound. It seems as though both mum and dad have had an abundance of control in the direction in which the Durham’s musical legacy in steered.

Stand out track here 

Read the interview we did with them a few months back here