Huey and the New Yorkers- The After Hours EP

"It wouldn't be a night at Birds On A Wire Towers if no Huey Morgan was played" said one of our friends at dinner recently. It's true- we've been massive Fun Lovin' Criminals fans since we were teenagers, and we're no less enthusiastic about Huey Morgan's most recent outfit, Huey and the New Yorkers. A combination of some of the charismatic front man's best Big Apple buddies (plus Frank from FLC), the New Yorkers have released an impressive album (Say It To My Face) on the independent label Naim and played a sell out tour (yes, we were on the front row of both London gigs...) so it's a big surprise to us that we haven't blogged about them much before now.

Their recently released 'The After Hours EP' (which features five fantastic covers) seemed like the perfect excuse to praise their musical genius and to share some of the photographs Liz took of them at the Half Moon gig in Putney. And the best news? If you buy the Deluxe edition of the album on iTunes, you'll get the EP thrown in for free (click here).  It's sixteen little minutes of heaven, and if you don't believe me, read on...

1)Guns On The Roof The Clash

A completely riotous start to the EP- The New Yorkers bring an insistent beat and some driving guitar strumming to this Clash track. Despite Huey saying that the lyrics " put this song in play today and its relevance resonates prolifically", what this track really communicates is just how much these guys love making music together. The joy of their jam is incredibly infectious, and you'll find it hard not to bust a move (or at least not to tap a foot). For those that have loved the New Yorkers live, this serves as a reminder of their incredible on-stage chemistry. Listen out for Chris Scianni's guitar solo. 

2)Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) The Rolling Stones

Wait- The Rolling Stones? What? Scianni's dirty guitar riffs and the way Huey busts out the line "THE PO-LICE IN NEW YORK CITY!" will leave the less musically knowledgeable wondering if FLC have written a new track. Pete Levin's considerable skill on the Hammond doesn't help. Except it does, because it is oh so very good. The New Yorkers' version of this classic from the Stones' '73 album Goats Head Soup does exactly what every cover should -it injects a completely new (pretty damn funky) vibe and makes us hear everything about the song in a completely fresh way. This is really the standout track of After Hours.

3)Draggin' The Line Tommy James and the Shondells

This is a re-working of the kind of track that you can be confident will pop up on Huey's Sunday afternoon show on 6 Music, and it will leave you with a massive smile on your face. Some old school tinkly piano and jazz-style drums are the perfect backdrop for the sexy, Tom Waits inspired vocals. Huey aficionados will notice that he inserts the name of his sadly deceased dog, Sugar, into the first verse.

      4)My Funny Valentine Rodgers and Hart 

Recorded by Huey in his 'Man Cave' as a gift for his wife (read their beautiful story here) this is an intimate musical love letter. Raw and far from perfect (because, as Huey has said of the track, "neither is love") you'll feel lucky to have heard something with as much emotional honesty as this. It kind of feels like those nights when you've had too many Brooklyn beers, and just need to tell your loved one how into them you are.

5)Don't  Think Twice, It's Alright Bob Dylan

Huey has labeled this "The best break-up song I've ever heard" and I'm guessing most Bob Dylan fans will find it difficult to disagree. Eric Clapton recorded my favourite ever version of this song at Bob's 30th Anniversary Concert in '92- a fast moving, carefree, riff-laden rock number that screamed "I'm totally over you, and there's nothing you could possibly say that would interest me ever again." Huey's version is worlds away, but definitely rivals it for emotional intensity. There are no other New Yorkers here- it's just Mr Morgan and his beautiful, room-filling acoustic guitar skills. The warm, melodic strings and Huey's hard-edged Johnny Cash bedroom vocals go down easy as ice cream, and would surely convince any girl that she'd made a hell of a mistake in messing him around. There's just something about Huey's "So long, honey babe" that makes it difficult to be objective, but if nothing else I've said about this EP has convinced you, buy it for this track alone. Oh, and maybe it's just me, but listen for the cheeky twinkle when he croons "We never did too much talking anyway..."

Much love,

Liz xXx and Laura X