The Magpie Salute continues the journey begun by US legends The Black Crowes, incorporating blues, hard rock and psychedelia into a heady and intoxicating brew. Formed by guitarist Rich Robinson, the band features guitarist Marc Ford, bassist Sven Pipien (both Black Crowes alumni), vocalist John Hogg (Hookah Brown), keyboardist Matt Slocum and drummer Joe Magistro. Robinson is the glue that binds these musicians together, but it is clear, listening to the band’s bristling debut, that the connection came naturally and the six-piece play together as if they’ve been doing so for years. High Water I, released via Mascot, is everything that long-time Crowes fans could ask for although it’s clear that the Magpie Salute is more than simple “the Crowes Mk II”, each of the members bringing their own unique talents to a band that has a huge amount of potential to grow its own legend.
Opening with a bugle call, the hard rocking Mary the Gypsy sets the bar high as Rich and Mark lay down sparking guitar lines over Joe’s taut beat. Vocalist John is the perfect foil for Rich’s thunderous riffs. Soulful yet gritty, he sits at the heart of the mix as the music rages around him, the song serving as a powerful statement of intent from a band determined to make their mark. In contrast, the bluesy psychedelia of High Water has an Eastern feel reminiscent of latter-day Beatles with its airy vocal and prog-infused guitars. It builds wonderfully over the course of its near-six-minute run time, but it’s the melody you’ll take away -the dreamy guitar work and subtle percussive flourishes and, in just two songs, Magpie Salute have shown the depth of which they’re capable. Ratcheting things up a notch, Send me an omen harks back to the mid-90s where bands like Urge Overkill and, yes, the Black Crowes, worshipped at the altar of Zeppelin, John delivering a vocal that recalls Robert Plant circa IV. That Zeppelin feel persists on the acoustic guitar and Mellotron beauty of For the wind, a track that explodes into unexpected life, emerging as an album highlight in the process. With a chorus set to stun live audiences everywhere and huge biting riffs the like of which George Drakoulias used to delight in coaxing out of the Screaming Trees, for the wind is just brilliant. The band don’t stop there with the surprises either. Keyboardist Matt leads the way on the soulful Sister moon, a track I could happily listen to on repeat for days, its somnolent pace and hypnotic rhythms providing the perfect backdrop for liquid slide guitar and a melody so gorgeous it will sit with you for days. The first half ends with the wah-inflected Color Blind a song with a strong lyrical message of unity ably backed by typically fantastic guitar work.
Kicking off the album’s second half, Take it all sees the band divulge a hitherto hidden admiration for Tom Waits, the whimsical piano underpinning lead guitar so incendiary you’ll be checking your speakers for smoke. Walk on water, although less explosive, benefits from some lovely layered harmonies and a lazy riff that brings to mind long summers and wide open spaces before the stripped-down blues of Hand in hand takes the band back to their distant roots. Matt really shines on the keys here, clearly enjoying the looser feel of the song and playing his heart out in the process. Continuing their tour of Americana, the countrified You found me has a Nashville vibe as guitarists Rich and Marc pitch lilting acoustic guitar and liquid slide against one another whilst Can you see, with its tough beat, has a strong Rolling Stones vibe, John delivering a vocal that could be Mick Jagger if you squint a touch. It leaves only the mid-paced Open Up to see the album out on a high, the interplay between Sven’s sanguine bass, Matt’s keys and Joe’s lysergic percussion a joy to behold as the vocal harmonies pile into the chorus and the song works its way deep into your consciousness. It’s the perfect closer and it leaves you very much wanting more.
When you’re a musician with so rich a heritage, it can be difficult to escape your own shadow, but High Water I is, by any metric, a truly remarkable effort. If you want hard rock, songs like Mary the Gypsy have you covered; if you want addictive melodies, you need look no further than Open up or for the wind and if you want songs that reference the past without being in thrall to it, then you have magnificent tracks such as walk on water and hand in hand. Picking out a favourite on so diverse an album is tough, but sister moon is a strong contender, although such is the quality across the album that it’s likely every listener will find their own personal highlight. With some truly transcendent guitar work and stunning performances from all concerned, High Water I is exactly the debut album The Magpie Salute needed to make and it provides the perfect soundtrack as this long, hot summer slowly fades into Autumn. Volume II cannot come soon enough. 9
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