It is rare for a touring American bluegrass band to play a pub gig for a “bucket” collection. To perform two such gigs within three days at venues little more than a mile apart must surely be unprecedented. Yet Michael Reno Harrell and the No Angels Band seemed very much at home in this informal environment. Nor did they mind the cramped and crowded conditions which their appearances at Netherton Hall in Frodsham and the Horse & Jockey at Helsby in July attracted.

With his long white main of hair and “lived-in” countenance, Michael is a charismatic performer. One might have supposed from his name that he could be related to either Bill Harrell or Don Reno but this is not the case, and he has come to prominence largely on the strength of his song-writing talent.

Although Michael opened with the Billy Jo Shaver song “I’ve Been to Georgia on a Fast Train”, it was the self-penned material that held sway. Stand-out numbers included the title track from his new Rank Album “Ways to Travel”, “Big Man on the Opry Stage”, a tribute to the late Bill Monroe, and the melodic “Angels Might Come Back Again”.

Danny Gabriel, Tom Kuhn, Michael Reno Harrel, Jack Hatfield
The "No Angels"  Band at the North Wales Bluegrass Festival

Whilst some of the tunes may have seemed a little familiar, the originality of the lyrics demanded attention, no more so than on the numbers from Michael’s Dancing Bear album “There Are No Angels Here”. His gravelly voice was heard to good effect on the requested “Forty Acre Farm” and on a new song “Rain, Rain, Let It Rain”. The cover of Merle Haggard’s “Rambling Fever” was rather less successful.

Michael was accompanied by Danny Gabriel on stand-up bass, Jack Hatfield on banjo and Tom Kuhn on mandolin and harmony vocals. He explained that only Danny was a member of his normal band the other two were old friends who had joined up just for the tour. Thus it was to some extent a “pick-up” band and it was this - rather than any limitations in Michael’s repertoire - which probably accounted for the similarity andcomparative shortness of the sets played at the two venues.

The band hail from North Carolina and different parts of Tennessee and played acoustically apart from the pick-up on Michael’s guitar. They finished both gigs with “Take theMusic Home”, a song dedicated to bringing the music back to its roots or, to quote one of the more memorable lines, “to the land where Guinness is flowing”!

If one was to attempt an objective appraisal, this band would not perhaps be counted among the doyen of American bluegrass outfits. Both vocally and instrumentally they were efficient rather than outstanding. But they had a refreshing and uninhibited approach to their music which belied the somewhat modest surroundings.

Chris Haggett, Warrington.

Acknowlegement
This article has been submitted for publication to Country Music Roundup Magazine

Updated 23rd Jan 1999