Daddy Long Legs

Norwich Arts Centre | 51 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG

14+ (under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18)

New York City’s most diabolical rhythm and blues street gang aren’t back, they never left. In dark times, DADDY LONG LEGS continue to shine their light everywhere they go, leaving a piece of themselves on stage every night because it’s in them and it’s got to come out.

Now the sharp-dressed trio-turned-quartet make their post-pandemic return to the studio to present their latest LP: Street Sermons (Yep Roc, 2023). An album of the times, for the times, by a band of the people. Written and recorded against a backdrop of political tension, riots in the streets and a deeply uncertain future, these 12 new tracks are a testament to triumph over adversity.

In the first moments of Street Sermons, DADDY LONG LEGS beseech their troubled congregation to “Work with one another/Not against each other” as the Brooklyn band evolve into a chain gang that sounds like they’re emanating through the cracks of a hot and sticky subway station.

During the depths of the lockdown, frontman/harpman Brian Hurd experienced a terrifying dream and awoke in a cold sweat. To exorcise the terror he immediately scribbled down his memories of the dream that became the album’s first single, “Nightmare,” a scream-worthy rocker about dealing with a world gone wrong: “We’re livin’ a nightmare and this world is condemned; I’ll see you if this nightmare ever ends.”

Meanwhile! “Rockin’ My Boogie” lets the listener know that when it’s our time to go, DADDY LONG LEGS will be the band leading the funeral parade. “Harmonica Razor” is a dangerous rhythm and blues instrumental which shows off Hurd’s prowess on the instrument, and “Star” proves guitarist Murat Aktürk and drummer Josh Styles can cool things down and deliver a country blues ballad of the highest order when the time calls for it.

DADDY LONG LEGS fled the madness of the city to record Street Sermons at Old Soul Studios in Catskill, NY with Oakley Munson (Black Lips/Nude Party) producing and stepping in on organ and piano. The LP also features some guest appearances from John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful) and Wreckless Eric of “Whole Wide World” fame.

Over the last decade these gentlemen have burned down houses the world over with their explosive fire ceremony and have amassed a cult-like following all their own with a tough to beat reputation for being one of the finest  live acts on the road today.

The boys recently returned from their first tours in Australia and New Zealand and their previous album, Lowdown Ways (Yep Roc, 2019), reached #4 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The band has received high praise from Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke, who calls DADDY LONG LEGS’ sound “Chicago blues fired at the moon played by the demented children of the Pretty Things.”