Daddy Long Legs - Wednesday 3 September 2025 at Night Owl, Birmingham

Daddy Long Legs
New York City's most diabolical rhythm and blues street gang aren't back, they never left. In dark times, DADDY LONG LEGS continue to shine their light everywhere they go, leaving a piece of themselves on stage every night because it's in them and it's got to come out.

Now the sharp-dressed trio-turned-quartet make their post-pandemic return to the studio to present their latest LP: Street Sermons (Yep Roc, 2023). An album of the times, for the times, by a band of the people. Written and recorded against a backdrop of political tension, riots in the streets and a deeply uncertain future, these 12 new tracks are a testament to triumph over adversity.

In the first moments of Street Sermons, DADDY LONG LEGS beseech their troubled congregation to "Work with one another/Not against each other" as the Brooklyn band evolve into a chain gang that sounds like they're emanating through the cracks of a hot and sticky subway station.

During the depths of the lockdown, frontman/harpman Brian Hurd experienced a terrifying dream and awoke in a cold sweat. To exorcise the terror he immediately scribbled down his memories of the dream that became the album's first single, "Nightmare," a scream-worthy rocker about dealing with a world gone wrong: "We're livin' a nightmare and this world is condemned; I'll see you if this nightmare ever ends."

Meanwhile! "Rockin' My Boogie" lets the listener know that when it's our time to go, DADDY LONG LEGS will be the band leading the funeral parade. "Harmonica Razor" is a dangerous rhythm and blues instrumental which shows off Hurd's prowess on the instrument, and "Star" proves guitarist Murat Aktürk and drummer Josh Styles can cool things down and deliver a country blues ballad of the highest order when the time calls for it.

DADDY LONG LEGS fled the madness of the city to record Street Sermons at Old Soul Studios in Catskill, NY with Oakley Munson (Black Lips/Nude Party) producing and stepping in on organ and piano. The LP also features some guest appearances from John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful) and Wreckless Eric of "Whole Wide World" fame.

Over the last decade these gentlemen have burned down houses the world over with their explosive fire ceremony and have amassed a cult-like following all their own with a tough to beat reputation for being one of the finest live acts on the road today.

The boys recently returned from their first tours in Australia and New Zealand and their previous album, Lowdown Ways (Yep Roc, 2019), reached 4 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The band has received high praise from Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke, who calls DADDY LONG LEGS' sound "Chicago blues fired at the moon played by the demented children of the Pretty Things."

Night Owl
The Night Owl is The Midlands’ finest soul and retro club. An intimate live music venue set in the heart of Digbeth, the Creative Quarter of Birmingham. Based on Lower Trinity Street in Digbeth, The Night Owl is the perfect club for any fan of music from days gone by. Taking its name from the Northern Soul song of the same name by Bobby Paris, The Night Owl was the first ever purpose built Northern Soul and Motown club, opening its doors in 2015.
Since its opening , The Night Owl has gone from strength the strength, expanding its music genres to include much loved retro genres spanning decades (as well as record collections!) Soul is and always will be at The Night Owl’s core, but music fans can expect Motown, ska, funk, disco, garage, psychedelia, rock and roll, Britpop, indie and more coming from tribute and live bands and respectful Birmingham DJs every week, both in the day and night.