’’Like a musical Lowry’’ - James Whale, TalkSport
The Sugarmill has long since reached its maximum capacity as the braying punters, young and old, shuffle amongst the throng for a preferable vantage point, awaiting the culmination of the evening’s acts: Andy Gower, arguably the finest singer/songwriter to ever to have been born and grow up tasting the smoky air of the Potteries. Gower eventually appears to the raucous cheers of many, amidst a plume of blue electronic smoke, wielding his acoustic guitar like a weapon rather than an instrument, singing songs so breathtakingly simple, so systematically engaging, you are left wondering where you have heard them before. But, of course, you haven’t; this collection of brilliant songs of Gower’s are stories of life, reminiscences and perceptions, and sentiments shared by his legions of dedicated fans, singing back every word in receptive and boisterous harmony. “This Town”, “Another Mistake” and “Stepped Out Of Line” are songs which have that annoying habit of lurking around the subconscious long after the dust has settled. It is also Gower’s characteristic Stoke-bred wit and camaraderie between performances that endears him to his followers. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to catch Andy Gower live, then you are missing something essentially important.
Danny Hill - Confessions From A Smoky City.
’’A former Rockfeedback Pick Of The Stereo next, Andy Gower. Previously described here as an unpolluted Noel Gallagher, Gower has got ‘the right sound at the right time’ as he not only bashes out some Oasis-rambling reverberations, but chops it up with sinister and sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics to become a Northern songwriting tour-de-force to rival all his Bright Eyes worshiping southern counterparts that waffle around acting as though the worlds ending and their music’s saving it. Check out ‘Stepped Out Of Line’, ‘Hollywood’ and ‘This Town’ to see how we write songs where I come from but don’t be put off by an apparent pub-singer style as it’s Andy’s wit, emotion and better yet; simplicity, that make him one of the more interesting performers to emerge from the depths of a town that at last is pulling itself into the arena it deserves.’’
Alex Lee Thomson, Rockfeedback, January 2007
’’How many singer songwriters have actually lived enough of a life to have a clue about what they’re singing about? Not many. Andy Gower, from Stoke-on-Trent, England, has shaped his experiences into a body of songs that you just can’t fail to fall in love with. Simple and heartfelt but with melodies and words we can all relate to without being cheesy or shit. There’s no hype at work here, there’s no major record company, he doesn’t particularly want one. There’s just a talent at work who’d like you to have a listen, tell your mates if you like it and come and see him play live. No masterplan other than to do what he wants and what he enjoys and what he is rather fuckin good at.’’
Pearce Norman, The Fly.
’’Singer-songwriters aren’t exactly a rare breed on the music scene at the moment, and worse, for every Regina Spektor or Patrick Wolf there are a hundred James Blunts or Nerina Pallots, riding the flavour of the month wave all the way to the middle of the road. Luckily for Bristol, however, Scott Matthews doesn’t fall into this category. Support act, Andy Gower, also manages to avoid this trap but often sounds like Noel Gallagher embarking on a solo tour. That’s not necessarily a bad thing (after all, Noel’s a talented man when he wants to be) and Gower does pull out some catchy tunes.’’
Review of Bristol Scott Matthews support on gigwise.com Nov 2006
Fixing us with a stare, pub poet Andy Gower launches into a collection of acoustic songs about violence, braggadocio and small town depression, the small town in question being Stoke-on-Trent. So far so Noel Gallagher, but Gower at least has both a sense of humour - "I’ve got some CDs. I’m not on them, I’ve just got some", he quips drily at one point - and a sense of adventure, most apparent on ’Stepped Out Of Line’, which comes to a furious climax with accomplice Craig Coda taking a violin bow to his electric guitar as Gower sings "If you see me walking in your direction / Will you cave my head in?"Review on the Art of Noise Website
YOU CAN BUY MY ALBUM ’’I LIVE AND I WONDER’’ HERE DIRECT FROM ME IF YOU LIKE, ONLY £10 PLUS P&P
