LIVE REVIEW: MY DARLING CLEMENTINE - MARTIN BELMONT - WEST HAMPSTEAD ARTS CLUB

The West Hampstead Arts Club is located down a tricky staircase, with an extra last minute step just as you as you enter the performing space.Tonight was a rescheduled show, the earlier one postponed due to flooding and early on  there was a definite muskiness in the air, a somewhat cellar like atmosphere. In fairness once the heaters on stage kicked in and people arrived, the tropical atmosphere created did help things for the audience even if it made it a little warm for tonight's hosts My Darling Clementine.

Michael Weston King is if nothing else a keen musicologist and hearing Booker T & The MG's "Time Is Tight" as an introduction was clearly no accident, it was paying homage to the sad passing of Steve Cropper. The stage at the WHAC, is quite deep, it is surrounded by plush red curtains and is covered with 2 large rugs. Tonight it is dressed with a piano, 2 microphones, and to Michael's left, a small magician style table on which his harmonicas and a bottle of water are placed, There is a mystery electric guitar to the back of the stage, whose purpose will become clear as the evening progresses.

It is a show in in three sections, the opening one a meander through familiar parts of the MDC catalogue. These are songs rich in detail, properly constructed duets and there is always some nuance to be picked up on that you'll have not spotted before and so it will prove. They take to the stage in a fairly low key manner, and within seconds have the audience laughing with their well worked stage patter.

The opening song "Since I Fell For You" is as classic a country tune as you could get, elevated by a incorporating a number of classic song titles within its lyrics. The Mexican feel of "King Of The Carnival" never disappoints and gives a chance to marvel at the vocals whether as a straight duo or later as their voices interweave, as well as Lou's final Mexican clapping.

Normally "Friday Night Tulip Motel" comes with a long introduction about its inception, however tonight it is left to fend for itself. Michael's harmonica perfectly sets the scene - the early infidelity of the "Sweet rendezvous's" of the opening verses contrasting with the eventual betrayal in the later one. Similarly "Eugene" skips its intro and immediately Lou is singing the first verse on the piano. Michael takes the second and provides harmonica with Lou closing on the sweetest combination of high piano notes.

It was a first time for us hearing "Two Lane Texaco" live, a pointed tale of a town selling itself for oil and then living to regret it. It's a wider metaphor for much of big business wherever it lays it hat. The drama of "Jolene's Story" with its Orbison dramatic guitar takes the characters from Dolly's original song and reverses the perspective to great effect.. Another classic piece of writing comes with "I No Longer Take Pride", beautifully observed to the point you can virtually see the character in front of you - it seems at first that MDC might have broken the duet formula with Michael taking most of the song on his own however Lou keeps things in tact by appearing as a ghost in the final verse, ending with a wide grin.

At this stage the owner of the mystery guitar stepped forward, and revealed himself to be occasional guest "Attraction" and full time "Rumour" member in Martin Belmont. It's hard to underestimate the effect that Mr Belmont had on a young #TEAMw21 reviewer whether helping to cook up a sweat at the Hammersmith Palais with Graham Parker or playing an encore with Elvis Costello at the Hammersmith Odeon joining Glenn Tilbrook to perform "From A Whisper To A Scream". His mobility maybe a little fragile on stairs however his playing remains impeccable and he immediately rolled back the years on "Going Back To Memphis" while Lou added some additional tambourine. The first half would close with "No Matter What Tammy Said ( I Won't Stand By Him)" which dismantles the ridiculous idea behind the original. As Michael portrays Lou's protector she places a gentle hand on his shoulder. For the final soaring verses Lou takes the mic in her hand and finishes on a fabulous extended note.

The second part of the evening addresses why there will be two solo albums appearing next year rather than a new one under the My Darling Clementine banner as Lou and Michael seek some sort of catharsis through music, of the events of the last 18 months. The first, saw Lou at the piano for a song called "No", it was a retelling of events unfolding from her perspective, hearing the news while travelling to a wedding. This was a performance like no other, with a piano providing such a beautiful tune to lyrics that were bitingly real. There was almost a magnetic force that kept your eyes glued to Lou as she revealed each line. In our peripheral vision we could sense Michael rocking back and forth, but our eyes could not move away such was her grip on our attentions. As it drew to a close ( as she would for each of songs in this section) Lou would quietly say "That's it", almost just to confirm it was finished. It was moving, heartbreaking on every line and to witness it was a true privilege. Lou and Michael would trade songs in this section, "La Bamba In The Rain" sought to highlight the dubious events in the aftermath of the tragedy, of these seeking to cause nothing but trouble. Lou would add some piano on this tune blessed with the sweetest of melodies.

Lou's second entry in this section ""The Girl With The Rose In Her Name" by her own admission was another "Tell it like it is" song, and once more the performance was dramatic and given the circumstances impeccable.

Michael's second entry was a reworked old song "Die Of Shame" repurposed to vent his feelings about the representatives of the gutter press that he came into contact with.

Lou's final entry in the section "Empty Swing" was another song, that needs no explanation. It is vivid memories put to music and even finds some sort of hope

"You're in your Mother's pulse now

And in your Father's everything,

You're in your sisters voice now

But it's the hardest song to sing"

It is truly impossible to put into words the bravery and honesty displayed in those 3 songs.

This section of the show would close with a song from Michael's last album "The Struggle" - "The Hardest Thing Of All" for which the opening verse and chorus was played to just Lou's piano, before Michael joined in on guitar on a song now given a new context in this part of the set.

Slipping back into the My Darling Clementine universe would see a quick dip onto MDC/Steve Nieve Elvis Costello project with "I Felt The Chill". Martin Belmont would return to the stage and a dramatic piano intro led us into "Our Race Is Run", which would see Michael tightly grasp the mic stand. Now free of guitar duties he would deliver a most considered of vocals - "How could you think about leaving?" and would see MDC swap vocals as Martin played out a delightful accompanying refrain with Lou solidly powering out the piano chords.

The set would close with the first ever My Darling Clementine single on which Martin had originally played. With Lou adding some tambourine and Martin providing suitable twang on "100,000 Words", which he could not resist but play standing up. The evening would close with "You Cheating Heart" with Lou standing to one side of the stage as she had done all the time Martin was on stage to ensure the audience got a chance to see a master at work. It's a bit of an old stalwart yet this exceptional trio gave the tune a fresh lick of paint, after all the original never had a Martin Belmont guitar solo on it!!!

There is a Crowdfunder campaign running to get the middle section of songs recorded and issued.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/two-albums-one-year---2026-1

If you contribute to any campaigns this year - then this should be the one to back.

My Darling Clementine will return to London on the Golden Hinde in 2026 - make sure you go and support them.