One Horse Pony
Album: Blue When I Go
Label: Blue Road
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.facebook.com/onehorsepony

'Acoustic Blues Band', be it of the 'high-energy' or 'hard driving' variety, conjures up thoughts of a picked guitar or two, possibly a bottleneck and almost certainly a harmonica blowing and drawing for all it's worth. Women would definitely leave, alcohol would definitely be consumed and there would be a high chance of rent not being able to be paid.

The band in question, One Horse Pony, cover most of this in the album's title and opening track, the self-delusional Blue When I Go (do you really think she will be)? Staring Blues is probably more accurate and if alcohol was conspicuous by its absence in the first two tracks it's more than made up for by the time we reach Walked In A Bar.

It takes a while but they do eventually show that they have more tricks up their sleeves than their name might suggest. No Longer Around has a Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac feel to it, Smiler is silky smooth and the albums closer No More Water is a huge, gospelly call and responsive number.

One Horse Pony could do the blues by numbers stuff in their sleep so it is good to see that they are comfortable expanding a touch.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes