My Darling Clementine present ‘Country Darkness’ including the Songs of Elvis Costello
We are delighted to welcome My Darling Clementine as they continue to tour in support of their most recent, critically acclaimed album ‘Country Darkness – the songs of Elvis Costello’. The album is a collaboration between Michael and Lou, and Costello’s long-time right-hand man, the brilliant Steve Nieve. They have taken 12 Costello songs and re-worked them for duet, adding their own inimitable style.
“Masterly cinematic interpretations” ********8/10 UNCUT
“Costello’s songs, King and Dalgleish’s voices, Nieve’s keys… it’s a perfect fit” AMERICAN SONGWRITER
Their current live show will feature a number of the Costello songs as well as many favourites from the duo’s 10-year back catalogue.
A labour of love on multiple levels, My Darling Clementine – the sobriquet of spouses Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish – began as a homage to classic country duets of the 60’s and 70’s á la George & Tammy and Johnny & June
The 2011 debut “How Do You Plead?” was produced by Neil Brockbank (Nick Lowe) and featured some of London’s finest musicians from the 70’s pub rock era.
Released in 2011, it was immediately acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic. Country Music People called it; “The greatest British country record ever made”
Such praise led to a US record deal and invitations to appear at the Americana Music Association in Nashville and SXSW in Austin in 2013
The follow-up, “The Reconciliation,” produced by Colin Elliot (Richard Hawley) and featuring guest appearances from Kinky Freidman and The Brodsky Quartet only enhanced the bands growing reputation and received a similar critical response with the New York Daily News choosing it as ‘album of the month’ while Popmatters put it in their Top 10 Country Albums of 2013.
Their next move was a slight departure as they the collaborated with best selling crime writer, and avowed country music fan, Mark Billingham on the story and song project The Other Half.
Billingham wrote a dark, nourish tale of murder, lust and revenge around eight of King & Dalgleish songs. The Other Half became an album, an audio book, and a stage show and featured contributions from actor David Morrisey and singer songwriter Graham Parker
After 18 months of touring The Other Half, including a run at The Edinburgh Festival Michael and Lou returned to the studio for album no. 4.
Re-uniting with producer Neil Brockbank, Still Testifying was released in the summer 2017. Stylistically, it was a further shifting away from classic country to embrace gospel and country soul and was widely acclaimed with many writers praising the new direction;
“Where gospel, country and Southern soul happily collide. It’s terrific.” UnCut, ‘this more Delaney & Bonnie than George & Tammy’ Record Collector
Their latest album is called “Country Darkness” – a collaboration with keyboard genius Steve Nieve (The Attractions / The Imposters), which sees them reinterpreting the country songs of Elvis Costello.
Released in November 2020 it charted in both the UK and European Americana charts receiving unanimous praise along the way
During the past 9 years they have played over 800 shows around the world, won numerous awards and have more than earned their own bona fides, with their wry yet heart-on-sleeve song-craft spotlighting the vagaries of romance and the human condition, and their match-made-in-heaven harmonies
“King and Dalgleish have earned their place in the role call of great country duettists” – UNCUT
“MDC mix country gloom with excellent musicianship and very fine songs.” The Guardian
“King and Dalgleish have re-invented the country duet” – The mingling of these two voices is just heavenly” Mojo
“One of the most exquisitely pained country albums of the year comes from England” New York Daily News
