The Gutter Brothers
The Bush Hall – London
8^th August 08

Photography by Emma Loader

You may say that you have never heard of the Gutter Brothers, however the chances are you have HEARD them.

You all remember ‘Only Fools & Horses’. You will all know the episode ‘Miami Twice’ where Del and Rodney go on holiday to Miami. The opening credits have the aeroplane flying into the airport to the tune of ‘Summer in the City’ that was The Gutter Brothers (produced by Bristol boy Jez Coad).

You may remember a TV drama in the late 80’s called ‘Gone to the dogs’ starring Harry Enfield, Jim Broadbent and Alison Steadman. The GB’s did all the music for that, again produced by Jez Coad. 

You may have been at a jam packed gig on the Thekla when the GB’s came to Bristol in a very big way and rocked the boat until it nearly sank….great night that was.

However, if you are unaware of the Gutter Brothers let me give you a potted history.

The GB’s began about 25 years ago performing as a skiffle group at Covent Garden in London. Now before you go “Ah bless….buskers”. The GB’s became so popular there that they could clear £1,000 plus in a single weekend maybe even £2,000 at the height of summer. There are not many of us in Bristol that could claim to be able to do that even now, let alone 25 years ago.

The band went through the usual early day’s line up changes until they finally settled on Tony Green on vocals, washboard, harmonica and anything else he could lay his hands on. Dennis Johnson on Tea chest bass, Chris Cawte on lead Guitar, Steve Turner on Guitar and Jeff Walker on drums and percussion.

Each individual musician in the band was way above average on their own. Put them together with Tony’s gravelly New Orleans drawl (and it is genuine, he is from there) and Dennis Johnson’s song writing ability giving the band an almost gutter level poetic feel and the GB’s became a band not to ignore.

The bands first album was ‘Isometric Boogie’ produced by at this point fledgling producer Jez Coad in his Isle of Dogs council flat. The album is crammed with stunning songs that are quirky by nature but a ‘must listen to’. It went on to sell 30,000 copies and got them gigs on the newly created MTV Europe and LWT’s Juke Box Jury hosted by Jools Holland.

The single from the album was to be a fantastic skiffle version of ‘Princes’ Kiss. However, just days before the release of the single with TV appearances and everything lined up, they discovered that they had been piped at the post by Tom Jones & The Art OF Noise who went on to have a tremendous hit with the song and re-launched Tom Jones career.

Unperturbed the GB’s set out touring and selling their album to an ever appreciative and growing audience.

Time moved on and Dennis, who was considerably older than the other band members, began to take more of a back seat and concentrated on lyric writing for the band and Steve Turner took up duties on the bass and the GB’s went on a national tour with Dr Feelgood.

The band began to lose their skiffle edge and became far rockier, although they never lost their distinctive sound especially with Tony’s gravelly vocals and Chris’s incredible guitar that colours everything especially when laid over the solid yet fascinating rhythms of Jeff and Steve. 

As I already mentioned the band as well as performing outstanding live gigs got into TV and film work and supplied music for other shows such as Boon and films like Staggered with Martin Clunes. 

Sadly all good things must come to an end and in the mid 90’s the band decided to hang up the washboard and played a final gig at The Mean Fiddler´ in London, from which an incredible live album Already Dead was released.

Since that time Dennis Johnson sadly went onto that great Bayou in the sky and Tony returned to New Orleans to bring up a family.

However, Dennis’ writing had been prolific to say the least and there was enough quality lyrics left for the band to come together this year to record ‘El Krusho’ (named after Dennis’ nickname) to celebrate 25 years of the birth of The Gutter Brothers.

So on Friday 8^th August 08 myself and former Mudheads guitarist Matt Sims and my resident photographer Emma took a drive to Shepherds Bush in London to witness one of the three gigs that had been organised to Launch El Krusho. 

I have to say, we are all sadly older, greyer, fatter and balder than we were in the mid 90’s and this was reflected in both the band and the audience. 

The band are perhaps not as energetic as once they were; they have even added a fifth member to help fill out the sound, that being Chris Cawte’s son Tom who played keyboards and guitar. 

However, older and greyer they may be…..and in the case of Steve lacking the fine head of hair that once he had, yet they have lost none of the sheer passion and enthusiasm they had for the songs that Dennis Johnson had penned over many years and for entertaining a live audience. 

The gig consisted of songs old and new. This was not a nostalgia trip, lamenting the passing of time this was something new with a nod to the past and what had been. 

With the familiar songs the audience sang along as if we were members of the bands family, which to a large extent many were. 

Tony got his daughters to join the band on stage for several songs, one of them played the violin to great effect. The youngest proved that even though she was probably only 9 or 10 she had a fantastic singing voice for one so young and will have a great future in singing if she keeps it up. The eldest even sang a song all to herself during the encore. Now that will be something to tell her mates back in the USA, travelling to the UK to go on tour with a fully fledged rock band. 

Tony often whipped out his washboard (no that is not a euphemism) and the old days of skiffle returned, especially as Steve picked up his electric double bass completing the look and feel. 

Although the band was on for two hours, it felt like 30 minutes and the whole audience was left craving more. 

The GB’s have lost none of their ability to grab an audience by the throat and to entertain the life out of them. This is still one of the best independent bands I have seen and I really recommend that if the chance to see them arises, grab it. 

Now at my age it’s no fun having to drive back to Bristol following a gig (a sentiment echoed by Tony when we were nattering to him before the gig) so I for one would like to see the GB’s perform in Bristol…maybe at The Fleece perhaps?? 

Anyway, check out the website www.gutterbrothers.co.uk, and maybe you’ll join me and Matt in hoping that the GB’s will eventually get back to our city.