Sharing Myths and Legends
ROD WEBB
I first spotted Danny Horn and violinist Richard Moore sipping beers at the recent Give Peace a Chance gig; Danny’s presence and Richard’s fedora marked them out as part of the show. During a brief chat, I heard about their Stables concert. After seeing them perform, I realised I had to go.
Danny Horn with Richard Moore
The concert, at The Stables Theatre, was billed as An Evening with Danny Horn & the Shared Myths, “a contemporary folk outfit, sometimes tender, sometimes theatrical, sometimes wild and raw”. With music genres evolving and changing at rapid pace, it’s not always easy to know what you’re going to get, but the description turned out to be accurate.
On arrival, I could see this was going to be a properly intimate concert: small seated venue, beautifully lit stage, perfect view. Not always the way. The couple behind me explained they had first seen Danny in a noisy pub with poor audio, but had still spotted he was something special.
During Danny’s introduction, I’d scribbled: “This guy’s impressive”. After his first number, written when he was 17, I wrote: “Amazing! Youth captured. I feel young again.” Mike Willis (a myth in his own right) then sang his moving song, After the War, and introduced the Shared Myths, a group that is a collection of individuals and members of other bands. Danny explained the name to me later on: “They’re slightly mythic, in that they are often swapping and changing.”
The first set fulfilled the promise of variety: Megan Leigh Mason showcased powerful vocals; Max Runham, singer-songwriter, melded voice and deft accompaniment; Lost Revellers Richard and Caitlin introduced the dramatic Gypsy vibe that influences their own unique folk/jazz/world music fusion – music that makes you want to dance and weep at the same time.
But, in the end, the first set was a build up to the second. It began with Danny and Richard and a song – Fag Ends in the Cabernet – with slightly surreal lyrics (yes, we’ve all been there late at night). You immediately caught the wonderful musical empathy between acoustic guitar and violin. Richard is not only “a scorching violinist” (Danny’s description) but his stoic appearance also works as a foil to Danny, the star performer. “What a great duo these two are,” I scribbled in the darkness.
The extensive range of Richard’s accompaniment soon becomes apparent, setting the tone for what follows; each additional member of the band adding something special to the music. As with so much music, there is an alchemy in the mix emerging from who knows where, matching the mood of each song.
After two songs the duo became three, adding piano accompaniment. When Megan joined the band to introduce some lovely harmonies – as well adding beatbox percussion – Max switched to bass, adding depth and rhythm. Then Caitlin completed the lineup for the final four songs, her accordion adding that distinctive splash of colour that accentuates both the joy and the darkness that inhabit many folk songs. They ended with the climactic encore Boy Awake. A song for our troubled times? It felt so.
Danny is a prolific songwriter and wordsmith. In true folk tradition, the words come from life experience, often becoming complex, ballad-like narratives: “I love to shove a load of words into my songs – and make a rod for my own back,” says Danny, before singing Jericho, with staccato delivery from folk tradition predating rap. I was also struck by some musical references, real or not. Was that the Kinks I heard? Hardly surprising as Danny played Ray Davis in the award-winning musical: Sunny Afternoon. And I’m sure I picked up some mid-seventies Dylan. Perhaps a bit of dark Nick Cave. They say all great artists borrow – though these days they’re not so keen to lend.
Danny comes across as a natural entertainer at ease with the audience, though no doubt leaning heavily on his acting roots. So how did he end up living in Hastings and playing at the Stables? He moved here in 2021 and “discovered this phenomenal music scene that was offering opportunities that London wasn’t”. He then quickly “dived into the scene here, picking up a new lineup of Shared Myths”. After the Stables what next? Danny’s response: “I’m excited to keep exploring our sound and expanding our following.”
Danny Horn & The Shared Myths were at The Stables on Thursday 16 November.
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