Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis/Kitty Liv: Town Hall, Birmingham – Live Review
“The Right Amount of Groove”
by Daniel Perry | Music Republic Magazine | September 22, 2023
Birmingham concert audiences have been spoiled for choice lately for TV and film stars popping in to the city with their music side hustle.
Movie legend Johnny Depp in July this year at the Utilita Arena with The Hollywood Vampires, Keifer Sutherland at the 02 Institute and now, British film and TV star Damian Lewis and his band at the Town Hall for the second show on his 11-date tour, which opened in Nottingham the previous weekend.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis Plays Thekla in Bristol
UK Tour: Fourth Show
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 17, 2023
Damian and his brilliant band played show number four of their UK Tour in Bristol at Thekla on Sunday, September 17, 2023 in support of his debut album Mission Creep. Set list included Zaragoza, Soho Tango, My Little One, She Comes, Down on the Bowery, Hole in My Roof, Why?, Makin’ Plans and more. After his song Why? he played a brand new song titled Traffic Jam. Lucky audience! He also played his new song Pentonville Prison, which he recently introduced at previous gigs. For encores Damian and band played a cover of After Midnight, as well as his third new song She Makin’ Me Change. His opening act was his current band member, and newly signed to Sunday Best Recordings artist, Kitty Liv – you can find out more about her music here.
Tonight’s venue, Thekla, is a cargo ship converted to a music venue, moored in the Mud Dock area of Bristol’s Floating Harbour, England. The showboat was based on the idea of creating, owning, and running a theatre on a sea-going ship and using it to showcase music of every sort (limited only by the size of the hold), including cabaret, comedy, plays, musicals, and poetry events. The ship also contained an art gallery.
It’s not too late to see Damian and his band play live – get all the information about his upcoming tour dates and ticket outlets here. Check out more photos and videos from the event in our Gallery, from meal prep and sound check to their performance on stage.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis Plays The Gate in Cardiff
UK Tour: Third Show
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 16, 2023
Damian and his brilliant band played show number three of their UK Tour in Cardiff at The Gate on Saturday, September 16, 2023 in support of his debut album Mission Creep. Set list included My Little One, a cover of Werewolves of London and Harvest Moon, She Comes, Down on the Bowery, Hole in My Roof, Never Judge a Man by His Umbrella, Makin’ Plans, Wanna Grow Old in Paris and more. He also played his new song for the audience titled Pentonville Prison, which he recently introduced at previous gigs. For encores Damian and band played a cover of After Midnight, as well as his other new song She Makin’ Me Change. His opening act was his current band member, and newly signed to Sunday Best Recordings artist, Kitty Liv – you can find out more about her music here.
It’s not too late to see him play live – get all the information about his upcoming tour dates and ticket outlets here. Check out more photos and videos from the event in our Gallery, from meal prep and sound check to their performance on stage.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis Plays Town Hall in Birmingham
UK Tour: Second Show
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 15, 2023
Damian and his brilliant band played show number two of their UK Tour in Birmingham at Town Hall on Friday, September 15, 2023 in support of his debut album Mission Creep. Set list included My Little One, Werewolves of London, Why?, After Midnight, Hole in My Roof and more. He also played his new song for the audience titled She Makin’ Me Change, that he recently introduced at previous gigs, and we hope it will be on his second album! His opening act was his current band member, and newly signed to Sunday Best Recordings artist, Kitty Liv – you can find out more about her music here.
It’s not too late to see him play live – get all the information about his upcoming tour dates and ticket outlets here. Check out more photos and videos from the event in our Gallery, from meal prep and sound check to their performance on stage.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis: Town Hall, Birmingham – Live Review
Swapping Billions for Ballads
by Sam Lambeth | Louder Than War | September 15, 2023
Damian Lewis bounds onstage with the aura of a rockstar – lithe, agile and sartorially accurate (all black, desert boots, nifty waistcoat). “When I was last in Birmingham, the Birmingham Post gave me a scathing review,” he laughs. “I’m hoping tonight’s reviews will be kinder.”
He does have cause for trepidation, don’t forget. Actors venturing into music have often found themselves hitting a dead end, with even the most casual music fan ready to pour scorn. Thankfully, Lewis’ debut album sees him enter the Hugh Laurie category, as opposed to the dark and musty files of Russell Crowe.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis Plays Rescue Rooms in Nottingham
UK Tour Officially Kicks Off
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 9, 2023
Damian and his brilliant band kicked off their UK Tour in Nottingham at the Rescue Rooms on Saturday, September 9, 2023 in support of his debut album Mission Creep. He played his new song for the audience titled She Makin’ Me Change, that he recently introduced at previous gigs, and we hope it will be on his second album! His opening act and special guest was Lydia Prettyman – you can find out more about her music here.
It’s not too late to see him play live – get all the information about his upcoming tour dates and ticket outlets here. Check out more photos and videos from the event in our Gallery, from loading up the van and sound check to their performance on stage.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis Transcends Expectations with Mission Creep
Proves a Successful Actor-Turned-Musician Gambit
by David Nobakht | Buzz Magazine | June 22, 2023
DAMIAN LEWIS Mission Creep (Decca) ★★★★
Whenever a successful actor makes an album, there will always be a high level of scrutiny and the sound of naysayers scraping their chairs at what is often perceived as being a superfluous vanity project made between trips to Hollywood – but Homeland and Wolf Hall star Damian Lewis’ Mission Creep breaks that mould. Growing up with Kerouac’s On The Road under one arm, Stones and Zeppelin albums under the other, Lewis travelled through Europe busking long before he could be seen on stage or screen.
His singing voice on Mission Creep lies somewhere between Gene Clark and Scott Walker, as the songs dip their toes into bluesy rock, folk and jazz. Fragile, folk-immersed opener ‘She Comes’ is worth the price of admission alone, as is ‘Down on the Bowery,’ and ‘Makin’ Plans’ is a song the Stones themselves might be proud to have under their belt. It’s evident that Lewis is both a passionate and accomplished songwriter, and his cover of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon is a beauty too.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis: Walk and Talk
Strolling in Central London, Discussing Mission Creep
by Damian Lewis | Twitter & Instagram | June 22, 2023
Damian took a little stroll in Central London while recording a message to his audience and fans, explaining his debut album Mission Creep (released June 16) is very much a storytelling, sort of rootsy album. As for his musical and creative influences, the album has three covers: Neil Young, J.J. Cale and Jelly Roll Morton. In the beginning, Damian and his band did not set out to make an album, only get together and play some covers. But he enjoyed writing the very personal song ‘She Comes’ so much that he found himself writing 8 other songs. In terms of his music experience in comparison to acting, Damian shared that his friends think it’s nice to see him up on stage as himself than as a character. He went on to state that there is a difference when you’re performing a character because you disappear, transform into something else. Playing concerts and gigs, he’s very much himself. And we like that 🙂
Walk and a talk, answering some of your questions about my debut album Mission Creep… sound good? pic.twitter.com/IGQllIsRmv
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Rolling Stone: Damian Lewis on His Solo Album
‘Down On The Bowery’ Effortlessly Shows Capability of Lewis’ Voice and His Commitment to the Craft
by Nick Reilly | Rolling Stone Magazine UK | June 22, 2023
As he releases his debut album, acting royalty Damian Lewis tells Rolling Stone UK why he’s under no illusions about proving himself as a musician. Damian Lewis has opened up on releasing his first ever solo album and why he’s ready to deal with any cynicism that his latest venture might attract.
Last week saw the Band of Brothers star release ‘Mission Creep’, a record of largely roots-y Americana, backed by an accomplished band of eclectic musicians. One stand-out highlight comes in ‘Down On The Bowery’, which effortlessly shows out the capability of Lewis’ voice and his commitment to the craft.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Mission Creep Album Review: Clash Magazine
A More-Than-Admirable Passion Project: Lush Blues Sound
by Robin Murray | Clash Magazine | June 19, 2023
Mission Creep
7/10
The actor-turned-musician pathway is well worn by this point. Numerous stars of stage and Silver Screen have swapped their scripts for microphone stands, and it can sometimes feel like a diversion – a sort of adult gap year, in other words. Damian Lewis, however, is a little different; music was his first love, and in his youth he travelled across Europe, busking as he went. A perennial source of comfort and inspiration, in a way it’s a wonder the actor hasn’t recorded a full length project before.
‘Mission Creep’ is a mixture of fortune, and chance. Introduced to Giacomo Smith – leader of revered London jazz troupe Kansas Smitty’s House Band – Damian Lewis was able to build a band to augment his passions, allowing rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and jazz to sluice together. The songs on ‘Mission Creep’ – primarily original, with a smattering of covers – come from a personal place, offering tales of love, comfort, and loss.
While the performances aren’t about to reinvent the wheel, there’s enough here to certify ‘Mission Creep’ as a more-than-admirable passion project. The lush blues sound of ‘Zaragoza’ for instance perfectly blends his whisky-parched vocal with the excellent band surrounding him, while something like ‘Down On The Bowery’ has a trenchant sense of atmosphere.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Mission Creep Album Review: Music OMH
An Enjoyable Collection of Well Crafted Songs
by John Murphy | Music OMH | June 17, 2023
Mission Creep
An enjoyable collection of well crafted songs, mostly self-penned, defy expectations for a debut album from a successful actor. It’s easy to be cynical about seeing yet another middle-aged actor deciding that it’s not enough to be wildly successful in their chosen field. No, what they really want to do is music. History is littered with such characters – in the last few years alone, Kiefer Sutherland, Russell Crowe and, famously, Johnny Depp have all turned their hand to rock music, with varying degrees of success.
You sense that Damian Lewis, best known for roles in TV shows like Band of Brothers, Billions and Homeland knows this too. “It’s just what the world needs…another record by an actor” he’s said, while promoting Mission Creep. The fact that it’s another collection of ‘authentic’ bluesy rock is yet another reason to be wary.
And yet…against expectations, Mission Creep is actually pretty enjoyable. It may not be enough for Lewis to give up his day job, but it’s certainly a respectable collection of well crafted songs – most of which have been written by Lewis himself. His voice, while maybe not the strongest instrument, is full of soul and character, and when he tackles the more personal material on Mission Creep, you can see why this was a particular itch he had to scratch.
Posted On
Written By GingersnapComments Off on Mission Creep Album Review: Financial Times
A Warm, Rich Debut
by David Cheal | Financial Times | June 16, 2023
Mission Creep ★★★★
When Damian Lewis made his acting breakthrough as a US army major in the second world war TV drama Band of Brothers, it came as a shock to many viewers to learn that he is British, such was the seeming authenticity of his American accent. Now, at 52, Lewis springs another surprise: he is a singer-songwriter of some distinction, here releasing his debut album.
The publicity blurb tells us that as a young man Lewis took off with a guitar and busked across Europe, and that he has long since yearned to return to making music. While the songs here are a long way from being “busked”, they nevertheless have a loose, rootsy quality, a sense of swing and spontaneity. Stylistically the album covers a broad spectrum, from folk-rock to jazz to glam, but its sonic palette — acoustic guitar, keyboards, saxophone and clarinet, bursts of electric guitar, stabs of Hammond organ — brings cohesion to this disparateness.
And then of course there’s the big question: Can he sing? There’s a chequered history of actors turning to music, some with success (Minnie Driver, Hugh Laurie), some less so (Russell Crowe). Lewis belongs firmly in the former camp, possessing a tenorish voice that’s firm and true, ascending at times to considerable heights. He can write a decent tune, too: most of the songs here are by Lewis, with a sprinkling of covers.