Live: Chris Shiflett @ The Water Rats

by | Jun 18, 2017

Chris Shiflett grew up in Santa Barbara, California. His childhood idols were Kiss. He first gained attention as a member of punk band No Use For A Name. And for almost two decades he’s been the Foo Fighters’ lead guitarist.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

Yet, over the past five years, the musician with such bonafide rock credentials has been beating a path down to Nashville (the city not the TV show) on three solo albums. The latest, West Coast Town, is his most authentic yet. Recorded in the city’s legendary RCA Studio A with Chris Stapleton’s producer Dave Cobb, its classic country sound is worlds away from the genre’s mainstream. Rowdy, rebellious, and straight shootin’, it’s the real deal – even when stripped of the characteristic pedal-steel twang, honky tonk piano, and Wurlitzer.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

Performed solo on an acoustic guitar, at London’s 200-capacity Water Rats venue (which seems to have had a fantastic upgrade), there’s no mistaking just how sincere and heartfelt the LP is. Clearly autobiographical, or heavily influenced by personal experience, these songs are perfect for an up close and personal set interspersed with off-the-cuff banter and confessional anecdotes.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

Chris Shiflett
Chris Shiflett

It turns out that The Girl’s Already Gone is about the time he (briefly) decided to give up his rock ‘n roll dreams, move to the suburbs, and become an accountant. A rough-and-tumble Tonight’s Not Over, which begins with the lyric “Jenny slipped me two hits of Ecstasy and I’m still tripping”, partly reveals why those early dreams of suburban bliss were short-lived.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

In fine comedic form tonight, he bangs out solos on his acoustic guitar and when initially faced with no reaction from the quiet London crowd quips: “Clap motherfuckers, I just played a guitar solo!”, ensuring all such gestures from that point on are met with rapturous applause and whooping.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

The wild Goodnight Little Rock recounts his time playing dive bars across the US in the early ‘90s. The title track is packed with childhood memories of growing up in, yes, a west coast town. And, as a self-confessed glass half empty guy, the touching love song for his wife (Still Better Days) is more realism than rainbows.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

That realism continues with an emotional take on Blow Out The Candles, as well as a stark rendition of album bonus track and bleak political piece Mrs America. And he pairs the most “mopey ass sad song” in his repertoire, I’m Still Drunk, with the Merle Haggard tearjerker Holding Things Together.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

But you can’t keep Shiflett down for long. Despite dealing with loneliness, Room 102 swings. The ebullient Cherry sounds like the most fun you can have with an acoustic guitar. Waylon Jennings classic Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? becomes a good time duet with support act Sam Palladio from Nashville (the TV show not the city).

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

And, even in its bare bones format, irrepressible current single Sticks & Stones is as sunny as California, and as hot as a packed London venue in summer.

Chris Shiflett @ Water Rats

Live review of Chris Shiflett @ The Water Rats by Nils van der Linden on 14th June 2017. Photography by Kalpesh Patel.

Read Kalpesh’s interview with Chris Shiflett: Interview: Chris Shiflett, Honky-Tonk Foo Fighter

Nils runs fantastic music blog Graffiti. Punctuated

Kalpesh has more music photography up on his flickr stream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingforkate

Interview: Chris Shiflett, Honky-Tonk Foo Fighter

 

Rise Against (Alexa Viscius)

Rise Against Drop New Single ‘Prizefighter’ Ahead Of Download Festival Spot This Summer

On the heels of playing LA's Kia Forum, and releasing recent single Nod, Rise Against have shared their second new...
Culture Wars (Eliot Lee)

Culture Wars Pen Angry Letter On Rock ‘N’ Roll Belter ‘Typical Ways’

Austin-based band Culture Wars have shared their shout-from-the-rooftops single Typical Ways, available to stream now...
James Bay @ Royal Albert Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

The Long Road Festival Announces James Bay As Final 2025 Headliner

The Long Road Festival returns for its biggest year ever in August 2025, today announcing that multiple Brit Award winner, Ivor Novello recipient and GRAMMY® nominee James Bay will close the festival as Sunday night’s headliner, adding to previously announced U.S. headline artists Drake Milligan (Friday) and Midland (Saturday). Set for the August Bank Holiday weekend (Aug. 22-24) The Long Road takes place every summer in the grounds of Stanford Hall in Leicestershire.

girlpuppuy (Tonje Thilesen)

Atlanta’s girlpuppy Announces UK Tour This May

Girlpuppy, the musical project from Atlanta, GA, USA’s Becca Harvey, has announced a run of UK tour dates this May,...
Tim Wheeler of Ash @ Wembley Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Ash Share Their Raucous Take On Harry Belafonte Classic ‘Jump In The Line’

Perennially exuberant Northern Irish noiseniks ASH have returned with their new single, a suitably vibrant version of the Harry Belafonte’s 1961 staple Jump In The Line. Fans will have caught the band playing the song live on their recent tour with The Darkness.

Crymwav Bring American Carnage To London

Heavy rock and the Cart and Horses are the perfect combination: after all, the historic East London bar is well known...
Djo (CJ Harvey)

Djo Shares New Single ‘Potion’ Ahead Of Tour Including UK Headline Dates & Glastonbury Festival Appearance

Djo – the musical project of actor / producer / songwriter Joe Keery known for his work in blockbuster projects as Stranger Things and Fargo – will release his highly anticipated new album The Crux this Friday, 4th April. Before the album drops, he shares one final preview of the record with Potion. Showcasing a different side of the record to the BBC Radio 1 playlisted single Basic Being Basic, and its Hottest Record In The World follow-up Delete Ya, Potion finds Djo in Laurel Canyon.

Wet Leg (Iris Luz)

Wet Leg Announce Second Album ‘Moisturizer’ Alongside Tour News

Wet Leg – the Isle of Wight five-piece founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – have announced their eagerly...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing