The Magpie Salute is an American rock band formed in 2016 by the Black Crowes guitarist Co-founding member Rich Robinson. Rich Robinson announced the formation of the Magpie Salute in October 2016. In addition to Robinson, the group features UK singer John Hogg, former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford and bassist Sven Pipien, as well as keyboardist Matt Slocum, plus drummer Joe Magistro, and backing vocalists Adrien Reju and Katrine Ottosen from Robinson’s solo band. John Hogg; songwriter and singer of Moke and song writing partner on Robinsons’ Hookah Brown, was invited to support Rich on his 2015 tour in Europe and the UK.
The name The Magpie Salute comes from a superstition based in the UK,” Rich explained about the band’s moniker. “There are many variations, but the version I’m drawn to is the belief that if you see a Magpie, you would do well to salute it ‘to ward off negativity, or to have a good day.’ The way you salute the Magpie, based on some traditions is to say ‘Good Mornin’ Captain.
Hogg and Robinson picked up from where they left off with Magpie Salutes first single ‘Omission’, Hogg bringing a well crafted and soulful voice and his own London flavour to the lyrics.
This came on the heels of a series of shows Robinson performed earlier in 2016 in Woodstock, New York, where he was joined by Ford, Pipien and former Black Crowes keyboard player Eddie Harsch. Harsch was slated to tour as a member of the band until his sudden death in November 2016, and his appearance on their self-titled debut marks his last recording.
The Magpie Salute released their debut studio album “High Water I” in August 2018, The band’s second studio album “High Water II” was released October 2019, Rating it four out of five stars for American Songwriter, commented, “High Water II” has a consistent quality, never veering too far off the boys’ true sonic course, which starts and ends with the blues.
The Magpie Salute’s “High Water II”, on Eagle Rock Entertainment, its titular Part One (the band’s 2018 debut, “High Water“) receives a worthy expansion of style and exuberance. Produced by Magpie guitarist/vocalist Rich Robinson, the album was recorded at the same time as its predecessor, but it stands out as a cantered, less introductory release.
Much of the album was written during those early recordings at Dark Horse Studios in Nashville, which is why the album feels like a perfect continuation of its predecessor.
While “High Water” contained a mélange of blues, folk, soft and hard Southern rock tracks, packaged together as a first impression of the group’s impressive musical bandwidth, the new LP has a uniformity which, even in its delicate moments, is always tethered to the members’ bluesy, hard-edged approach.
Rich talked about the decision to feature multiple players and singers within The Magpie Salute, “I wanted to try something different. I wanted to hear this music with two drummers, two keyboard players, and multiple singers. I, and everyone involved, love playing music. Not only on our own, in The Crowes and in my band, but playing music in general.
The first single, “In Here,” follows an uplifting heartland rock groove as Robinson sings imagery-rich verses urging people to let go of any hang-ups which keep them from living in the moment. “Mother Storm,” an acoustic-driven anthem, similarly inspires some version of self-empowerment with its choruses’ tuneful peroration: “you made it here, you faded here, you shine your light down on the empty floor.” In fact, a great deal of the album consists of second-person reassurance, including the Alison Krauss-assisted ballad “Lost Boy,” in which she and Robinson comfort a wayward adolescent (“lost boy, let me tell you what you mean to me”).
From sweltering hard rockers like album opener “Sooner or Later” to soft drifters like “You and I,” B3 organ, lead guitar riffs and Robinson’s high-octane voice connect the dots with blues licks and swagger.
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