Review: Steve Wickham & Ray Coen; Heathen Apostles at 100 Club

Review and photos by markosgigarchive, visit for full review: Blimey little did I know this was going to be an ace night given I’d never heard of the support acts or indeed Ray Coen – but being an ardent Waterboys fan and a lover of the Irish fiddle Steve Wickham was a no brainer. It ended up as a weird and wonderful surprise plus I’ve no got 2 new bands to check out. Quick summary: Sarah Vista are a mix between a Mexican mariachi band and an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western soundtrack. Heathen Apostles at the 100 Club were Tennessee bluegrass with a gothic country twist aptly named ‘bloodgrass’ by their singer.

The Heathen Apostles definitely have a dark western image – hat, hair styles, beards/sideburns – it could easily be 1873 in Tennessee.  To me they looked like a cross between Jason and the Scorchers and Aimish undertakers, and the attractive lead singer was the antithesis of Stevie Nicks..  So after  a bit of investigation it turns out Chopper was with the Cramps for a while – great education .

The band are: Mather Louth (vocals/guitar/ bodhrán); Chopper Franklin (guitar/mandolin);  Thomas Lorioux (Upright Bass), Luis Mascaro (violin). 

Being a small gig the band have to do their own humping – thankfully they don’t have much gear.  Dressed all in black and wearing hats they looked mean and ready to kick ass.  Mather, dressed like the wicked witch of the west, immediately commands attention and her screeching eerie voice blends perfectly with the dark nature of many of their songs, even the up tempo ones.

Obviously I don’t know any of the songs but did manage to video them in action singing Death’s Head a rather wonderful tune. There was plenty gothic foot stomping rhythms that would go down well at any hoedown!  I really enjoyed there set and will check them out for future gigs.

The “fuck Trump” comment was unnecessary – there are way too many people need fucking!

PS – Alex Cox, the director, is using the band’s ‘Careful What You Pray For’ in his upcoming ‘Dead Souls’ film.