LIVE REVIEW: TWO WAYS HOME - PATIENCE TO PLAY - ALBUM LAUNCH - 21SOHO BASEMENT - LONDON

So successful has the "Round Up" brand become, that for many people Two Ways Home are that duo that just host the Songwriters rounds. Seemingly even when given the chance to play at a Festival, it is to recreate the atmosphere of one of those shows rather than being allowed to play as a fully fledged band in their own right.

Tonight would be something of a halfway house - not the full band - ( see the bottom of the page for details of how to see that happen), yet at the same time, no sign of stools or other artists. It would be to premiere the new TWH album "Patience To Play" brought to us by the good folk at TALENTBANQ. The Basement at 21Soho is a bijou choice to hold an event at, a big rug on the floor, five rows of collapsible chairs and a selection of merch proudly displayed on a small table taking up most of the available space. The performance area as such, had room for a keyboard, 2 guitars and an array of microphones in front of a curtain that was a grey shade of green! With the no ceiling approach exposing air con and lighting, it was a curious mix somewhere between being on the Nostromo from Alien and the back room of your favourite small pub.

It all made for a warm, informal atmosphere and in an effort to make an evening of it, the show would be split into three parts, a short ice breaking set where Two Ways Home would dig out the classics, followed by a not entirely revealing Q&A session, filling up the first half, while a run through the 12 tracks of the new album would see us through the second, with a special guest appearance or two from the musicians on the record.

Lewis would provide the familiar opening riff of "Just For Now" to start things off, with Isy on shakers. This was familiar Two Ways Home territory, and would get the compact crowd finding their voices early, with some "Hey's" right on cue. Further attempts at a singalong required the audience to be familiar with Anastacia's "I'm Outta Love" - Isy would lead out on the opening vocals, with Lewis joining on the chorus. It gave Isy an early chance to really test her vocals and Lewis's flamenco'ish guitars did kick off a party atmosphere on this most celebratory of nights. This short introductory set would close with the news that "Push & Pull" had been included on somebody's "Birthing Play List", even if the suitability is a touch questionable! A perennial crowd pleaser, with its in built "My heart my beating heart" singalong, it got a rousing response from the whole room.

This was not a night for looking back, but one for looking forward, with the new album played in order from start to finish. Some of the tracks may have appeared as singles across the years however this was a chance to hear them in context and more importantly a chance to hear Two Ways Home in an extended format.

Lewis would lead off with the delicate guitar intro to the title track "Patience To Play" and indeed the opening vocals. With Isy on shakers and backing vocals, this was a a rootsier more Americana sounding Two Ways Home than normal, with added oomph coming from Lewis's stomp pedal. It was certainly a statement of intent for an album opener. The first of the guest musicians on the night would be Callum Lury, from The Blue Highways who picked up keyboard duties, starting with "Waiting On Luck" the song about taking your chances. The first single from the album to be released, the piano naturally immediately changed the overall sound, though the traditional interweaving vocals, a Two Ways Home specialty, still worked to great effect.

A live debut for "Room For Love" was about the perils of being addicted to our phones, and a plea to return to simpler pleasures such as mix tapes. Callum would leave the stage as TWH would keep the looking back theme going, with "Polaroid Kids". Lewis would provide the recurring refrain while Isy would provide the lead vocals for the first part of each verse. With one hand clasped to the mic while the other was most expressively interpreting the lyrics, this was a most considered vocal. The song would take a little diversion into Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" sung as a soft duet before Lewis then opened it up for the audience to join in.

Another one of the albums singles, "Feet On The Ashphalt" would see TWH rock things up a bit with both firing out the lyrics out at pace.

Keeping the rocking going, or at least as much it could in an acoustic format came "Medicine Man", this was TWH at their most Americana, with Isy's tambourine adding to Lewis's strident guitar playing.

Moving to side 2 of the album, TWH would move to the immaculate pure pop of "She Keeps Time Like A Casio".

The delicate melody always enchants and the closing entwining vocals made this one of the special highlights of the evening. One of the albums other new songs to #TEAMw21 was "Hot Rain" with Lewis turning into a credible crooner for the opening verse, and Isy for the second. A rarely played track "Signals In The Smoke", would see TWH start off as as a duet, they would occasionally glance at each other as if sending a signal, on this lovely performances.

It would now be "Clancy time" as Michael Clancy, the original third way home would take to the stage to play additional guitar. The star of "Hear A Heartbreak" was the the entwining vocals of the chorus, Lewis singing out the lyrics, with Isy providing a deliciously sweet harmony vocal. Complete with a Clancy solo, this was another of the #TEAM21 favourites on the night.

The album would close with two new Two Ways Home songs, the first continuing a fascination with H2O at different temperatures, so having earlier had "Hot Rain", it was now time for "Cold Water"! A song with a cracking opening guitar riff from Michael, this was Two Ways Home at their finest, the dual vocals of the chorus adding real sense of drama to the occasion. It was song that they had at one point scrapped during recording and the decision to bring it back was certainly justified. The album closes with a ballad "Slower Kind Of Love", a delicate opening verse and chorus that gradually starts to speed up,

Not wishing to leave us on a ballad, the album may have been played but Two Way Home still held a couple of aces up their collective sleeves. Firstly a cover, with Cody Johnson's "Till You Can't" which was played with a real sense of enjoyment, for both band and audience. The successful launch would close out with Two Ways Home becoming a four piece for "Broken Hearts Club" including solos for both Calum and Michael on a rocking finale and gave a hint as to what the tour later in the year might be like.

Two Ways Home will be at Country Calling Aug 14-16th https://www.country-calling.com/

Two Ways Home are also taking the full band on the road with Katy Hurt in October/November to provide double the entertainment. Take the opportunity to go see them as a full band - it is truly a different experience and one that you are certain to enjoy.