This is the very last time you’ll hear anyone at Folk & Tumble refer to Tony Wright in terms relating to And So I Watch You From Afar. They were an alternative prog-rock, instrumental behemoth and with the release of his debut eponymous album under the moniker of Verse Chorus Verse, Tony has tread his own path as a lyricist, vocalist and master of his own destiny. This is a solo record in the very truest and most honest way.
While the instrumentation here may often be downbeat, the delivery and message is one of assertive affirmation. There are higher heights to climb for Verse Chorus verse and this record takes the first steps on the road to folk-rocks-ville. With far from the strongest vocal delivery on the current scene, Wright lets the lyrics and musicianship do the hard grafting. It’s worked for Young, Dylan and Guthrie and Wright has been around and enthused over music for long enough to surely have noticed this.
There’s a heavy influence of Neil Young on the album with ‘Help Myself’ in particular sounding reminiscent of ‘Harvest’ era Young. Honesty abounds and the trials and tribulations of leaving the band, embracing and being embraced by the music scene and forging out his own path are well documented in ‘Our Truth Could Be Their Lie’ and ‘Three’ with the former edging beautifully in the direction of Mescaleros era Joe Strummer with Mariachi El Bronx lending a trumpet player in return for a favour offered in Dublin.
That’s how the scene works. You help The Bronx, they help you. Fans help get the record out by Pledge Music campaign, you reward them with screen prints and Tshirts. Young artists have a lot to learn from the likes of Tony Wright. He’s learnt from the best in the business and as he packs up that ‘Big Red Van’ with influences ranging from NYC punk through to lonesome Appalachian cowpoke, we could all do much worse than to turn the stereo up and jump onboard for the ride.