An outstanding artistic value night with The Bros Landreth
The two-time Juno Award winners The Bros Landreth from Winnipeg, Canada, are currently touring in support of their fourth studio album Dog Ear, and their stop at the Luxor Cologne proved why their reputation continues to grow. Playing to a sold-out room, the Winnipeg brothers took the stage as a trio and treated the audience to a masterclass in musicianship, effortlessly delivering their signature blend of Americana, roots-rock, and alternative country.
Having played together their entire lives, the chemistry between Joey Landreth on guitar and David Landreth on bass is unmistakable. Both are strong vocalists, and their voices weave together in rich, natural harmonies that feel entirely instinctive rather than arranged. The true magic of the band lies in that familial bond, which translates into a performance that feels deeply connected and genuine. Drummer Roman Clarke deserves special mention, not only for anchoring the rhythm section with finesse but also for contributing beautifully to the vocal harmonies throughout the set.
While their sound is often described as country-tinged blues rock, genre labels hardly do justice to The Bros Landreth. Their music freely crosses stylistic boundaries, fusing picked blues, deep soul, touches of funk, and old-school R’n’B — all framed within an alternative country aesthetic.
Frontman and guitarist Joey Landreth remains a captivating presence. His distinctive playing style — marked by finely executed riffs and expressive slide guitar — fills the spaces between lyrics with nuance and emotion. Vocally, his powerful southern-tinged twang adds further character. Joey primarily played a Sorokin Gold Top, occasionally switching to a Novo Serus, drawing a wide palette of tones from an extensive and carefully dialed-in pedalboard.
The set opened with the upbeat Runaway Train, immediately energizing the room. Songs such as Stay, Half Moon Eyes, Half of Me, and Wide Awake and Dreaming followed, each colored by fluid slide guitar work. A standout moment came with the jazzy, soulful Knuckles, featuring Begonia joining the band on vocals, adding yet another layer of texture to the evening.
David Landreth took time to share stories from life on the road, reflecting on family ties and the emotional weight of touring — themes central to Dog Ear. The title track resonated with particular warmth, before the band shifted gears into the west-coast-flavored Vincent, the grungy, funk-infused blues of I’ll Drive, and Got to Be You.
One of the evening’s most cinematic moments arrived with Tumbling Wild, evoking a Morricone-like atmosphere complete with a fuzzy slide guitar solo — a perfect soundtrack for a drive across the Canadian prairie somewhere between Calgary and Winnipeg. Half Moon Eyes brought the focus back to the band’s hallmark harmonies, while Let Me Down Easy and Wide Awake and Dreaming leaned into a softer, almost Eagles-like west-coast feel.
The encore, I Can’t Win, pushed the night’s chemistry even further, sending the audience out on a high note.
Rootsy, folksy, and deeply soulful — yet capable of rocking far harder than their understated setup might suggest — The Bros Landreth delivered a performance that felt generous, effortless, and utterly unforced.
Photo and review for: CountryMusicNews.de
