Richmond Fontaine 5 October 2005, Belfast

ARTIST Richmond Fontaine + The Amazing Pilots
VENUE The Spring and Airbrake
DATE 5 October 2005

A real alt-country treat was brought to the Spring and Airbrake courtesy of the excellent Open House Festival. Fresh from a stint supporting Pedro the Lion in the USA The Amazing Pilots joined Portland's Richmond Fontaine. RF broke through to Irish audiences after the release of 2004's Post to Wire. Now touring in support of the stripped down Fitzgerald album they visited Belfast for the first time. “We love Ireland, especially the horses, but this is our first trip to the North.” lead singer Willy Vlautin tells Alternative Ulster.

The Pilots quickly won the applause of the crowd during their short support set with easy melodies and silky guitar sounds taken from their latest record Hello My Captor. When the four members of RF ambled onto the stage around ten o’clock, Willie was in story teller mode. He has an ability to bring to life the characters in his music, from gun-toting Harley Davidson girls to drinking shots of vinegar for lunch and losing on the horses. Live, the louder songs from Post to Wire excelled and while they typically describe the desolate and destitute, on stage their enthusiasm is palpable. Richmond Fontaine are one of few remaining great American songwriters, let’s hope it’s not long until they’re back.