To say that Dorset’s Two Man Travelling Medicine Show are prolific would be a slight understatement, no sooner than I have finished writing an article for their last EP another brand new EP arrives on my desk waiting to be heard. This 9 piece ensemble spent last summer stomping up and down in dusty dry fields entertaining the masses fuelled by a passion for their own original music along with plenty of delicious scrumpy cider.
The new “Oh Me Oh Mi” EP was recorded by local bearded wonder Matt Musical at The Burrow in Bournemouth. Matt has been the musical brains behind a host of local success stories and with him, their tune would have been in very capable hands.
The band have a habit of writing infectious tunes that get inside your head and get right into the corners of your brain. The title track is another one of these. It features a lovely combination of violin with western style piano. It meanders along at a fair foot-tapping pace aided ably by Mark and Alison’s spot on vocals. The second track has been a staple part of the band’s live set for a while and it describes the frontman’s paranoid thoughts of what his other band members actually think of him. This time the track features some strongly fore-fronted acoustic guitar along with some rambling banjo with plenty more violin and piano. With Mark usually being at the front of them with his back to the rest of his band members for most of the gigs, they all have had their chance to take him out, but the truth is I’m sure the actually quite like him…most of the time anyway…
The final track “Let’s Make the Bed” takes us in a slightly different direction, it pulls us headlong into a domestic argument between a couple who seem infuriated by each otherís actions. A typical everyday struggle between co-habiting spouses who just frustrate each other constantly. Mark and Alison play the duo well, with the theme reminding me a little of the Beautiful South classic “Need a Little Time”. The song features more of the same great ingredients that you have come to expect from this band who just seem to grow with each release they deliver. The Ep is available on Musical Bear Records in March…..
Track Listing
Oh Me Oh Mi
My Banjo Player Hates Me
Let’s Make the Bed
The Two Man Travelling Medicine Show are…
Mark Lyons – Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Alison Jay – Violin & Vocals
Rob Vowles – Bass Guitar & Vocals
Martin Giles – Lead Guitar & Vocals
Chris Pearce – Keys & Vocals
Brad Watt – Banjo & Vocals
Steve Wareham – Slapbox & Vocals
Seb Hartley – Harmonica & Vocals
Jamie Lynch – Lyrics
Links
https://www.facebook.com/TheTwoManTravellingMedicineShow
http://www.musicalbearrecords.co.uk/the-two-man-travelling-medicine-show
Contact
mark1lyons@icloud.com
Words by David Chinery (Chinners).
