The Weeks at Dingwalls

Hailing from Mississippi, The Weeks returned to the UK this week, bringing some good old-fashioned American country rock along for the ride.

The Weeks stroll on stage at Camden’s Dingwalls with all the presence you’d expect from a Mississippi country rock band. Long hair flowing and guitars at the ready, they open to an already well-lubricated crowd with Lawman’s Daughter, a song that carries all the hallmarks of typical Southern rock. To their credit, the crowd are loving every moment and lead singer Cycle Barnes works them into a frenzy declaring “I know it’s hot, but it’s gon’ be ok.”

As a band their influences are too obvious to ignore, but while the music is far from unique (reminiscent of Kings of Leon) their performance is energetic and oozes gritty, whiskey-soaked soul. The highlights of the set are previous singles The House We Grew Up In and Brothers in the Night, but there is more than enough room for the slightly less upbeat Ain’t My Stop, which suggests there is more to The Weeks than muddy guitar riffs and heavy drums.

The crowd takes bar breaks during some of the less anthemic tunes, suggesting that the band’s strength is clearly in their rockier sound. There are definite ups and downs to the set, but as they play the closing lines of King-Sized Death Bed, they have the audience in the palm of their hand. Even the limited space of Dingwalls does not deter missiles of half-empty pint glasses and the odd crowd-surfer.

Playing to their strengths, The Weeks finish off with an encore of Mississippi Rain. It’s the heaviest song of the night and, with its intense guitar solo and Barnes’ exaggerated Southern drawl, typifies The Weeks completely. They might not be the most original band out there, but they sure know how to throw a party.

Sarah Edmonds
Photos: Erol Birsen

For further information and future events visit The Weeks’ website here.

Watch the video for Brother in the Night here: