Jimmy Webb and the Webb Brothers

Jimmy Webb and The Webb Brothers

Town Hall, Birmingham

review by Andy Richardson

It must be hard being a Webb brother. After all, when your father is universally acclaimed as one of the finest songwriters of the past 50 years, you’re pretty much doomed to fail. Right? Wrong.

Whoever wrote the rule that offspring can’t outdo incredible parents had spent too long studying Liam Botham and Sean Lennon, rather than the brothers Webb.

Last night, they excelled during an inspirational night of Americana and grand, sweeping pop at Birmingham’s beautifully refurbished Town Hall.

Jimmy and the boys were promoting their first collaborative album, the exceptional Cotton Wood Farm, and stunned the partisan audience with their craft.

Christiaan, Justin, James, and Cornelius are virtuoso singer/songwriters and musicians who have been carving  out a reputation for excellence since 1988, the year that they started playing together. Three stunning albums have consolidated their impressive reputation but it was only ever going to be a matter of time before they teamed up with their ole man.

It’s been worth the wait because last night, songs from Cotton Wood Farm were an absolute treat. The gorgeously harmonic vocals of Justin and James, allied to their sharp guitar playing, were suited perfectly to the deft piano playing andwarm tenor of their fathers’ voice.

Oldest brother Christiaan’s keyboards and vocals and youngester brother Cornelius’s bass created a lush, almost orchestral sound.

The Webb’s musicianship alone wasn’t the only highlight. Listening to The Webb Brothers and their father perform Cotton Wood Farm was like listening to the Beach Boys air a country-fied version of Pet Sounds for the first time.

It was all glowing harmonies; warm, sunshiney melodies; uplifting, So-Cal grooves and good vibes.

No Jimmy Webb concert is complete, however, without a trawl through the great man’s back catalogue.

After all, he wrote Up, Up And Away, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Galveston, Wichita Lineman and MacArthur Park, among others. His songs were performed by Elvis, Frank Sinatra, REM, Richard Harris and, of course, Glen Campbell.

Campbell’s drummer son, Cal, joined the party last night, as did Magic Numbers guitarist, Romeo Stodart, making it a night to remember.

With former Boo Radleys frontman Martin Carr opening the show, it was a night to remember. Jimmy and the boys’ family affair was an out and out hit.