RIVAL SONS, Graveltones, Ulysses @Birmingham Institute 11/4/13

First of all you have to take your hat off to Rival Sons. In an age where it is increasingly hard for new bands to get heard, what they have achieved in the last couple of years in the UK is pretty remarkable.

When RTM first saw them in 2011 they were at a packed Slade Rooms. Then in autumn last year they were at a packed Wulfrun Hall and now just six months later they are at The Institute main room and guess what, that’s all but sold out too. The group are living, breathing proof that if you tour constantly, engage with fans on social media and have good songs, then you can still play rock n roll.

Both support bands for this evening are on this month’s Classic Rock “Bands to Watch” CD. Bath’s Ulysses we have seen before, when they opened for Rival Sons at the aforementioned Wulfrun gig. Unashamedly 1960s sounding, they remind RTM of The Kinks. “April Showers” is chirpy, while closing song “Taxi Driver” (the song on the CR CD) is catchy and immediate and sees the band all playing Kettle Drums before bidding us adieu.

London two piece Graveltones are next up, an odd affair, as two piece groups tend to be, they make a real racket. Sort of heavy blues, let’s be totally honest, whatever they do they are going to get compared to the White Stripes. If that is comparison that will upset them they are doing nothing to dissuade it. “I Want Your Love,” their song on the cover mounted CD is a good one, as is “Money”, but they finish off, rather strangely with a drum solo.

Which brings us to Rival Sons. Guitarist Scott Holliday emerges wearing a very loud suit, while singer Jay Buchanan has the look of a younger Steven Tyler. The band are greeted like heroes. Opener “You Want To” is rather a cameo of what happens for the rest of the night. The song is a good one, but the band – as befits a group with a retro outlook – they extend it into a huge jam, likewise the following track “Get What’s Coming” follows the same path. It does, to be totally honest, get just a little wearing.

“Gypsy Heart” is better, borrowing as it does, from The Black Crowes “Remedy” while “All The Way” with its attempts at light-heartedness doesn’t quite work. That is absolutely not the case for “Until The Sun Comes” the stand out moment of last year’s “Head Down” album, a fine song, full of Stonesy stomp, you wish all their songs were as short and sharp as this.

“Jordan” is a little bit too mystical for our tastes, while epic closer “Sacred Tounge” and “Face Of Light” starts off acoustically and builds to a conclusion.

The encore of “Burn Down Los Angeles” a brilliant track from the superb “Pressure And Time” album and “Soul” which is equally good, showcase just why this band is so popular, and why – despite RTM’s misgivings about the third album and the jamming nature of their delivery – they keep filling halls up and down the country.

Personally not all of this gig was to our tastes, that said, we are in a minority as the band continues to go from strength to strength.

RIVAL SONS, Ulysses, Pint Sized Hero @Slade Rooms 29/9/12

Pint Sized Hero are chuffed to bits to be here. The grins on their faces tell you as much.

The Kent band are adopting a “cottage industry” approach to Rock n Roll, releasing their “Get Your Kicks” album themselves, so bagging the opening slot on this tour is a pretty big – and important deal.

Their songs have just the right amount of retro to pull it off. “Barberella” and the albums title track get things moving pretty well, while the new song they air before they end (so new it doesn’t have a name yet) hinted at a future with some heavier riffs.

Bath’s Ulysses are far too cool to show happiness, but they too have a real 1970s vibe to their tunes. To RTM they sounded like The Kinks playing hard Rock songs with The White Stripes. Not bad at all, but a touch more stage presence wouldn’t go amiss.

Rival Sons have become a reasonably big deal. Album number three, “Head Down” has gone into the British Charts at 19, and is top of the Rock section. Moreover, last November RTM saw them play The Slade Rooms. This show is at the bigger Wulfrun around the corner – we predicted they would rise fast and for once it seems, we were right.

They have done so on the back of embracing the old and the new. They have released good records, gone on tour with everybody they can and done the old school things to build a fanbase. However, they have also embraced social media to get their message out there. Perhaps as a result of this there are a lot more young people here than you might normally get for what is essentially a retro act.

If 2011’s “Pressure and Time” was a stunning affair – and the band begin with the title track from it tonight – the just released “Head Down” is more of a grower.  “Wild Animal” sounds heavier than on record, while “You Want To” grooves along. “All The Way” with its supposedly jokey lyrics doesn’t quite work.

“…Down’s” first single “Keep On Swinging” goes down a storm when tossed out mid-set, while anyone who doesn’t enjoy “Burn Down Los Angeles” from “…Time” is, frankly, an idiot and there is a dip back to the first CD with “Memphis Son.”

The main set was, from start to finish, a triumph. But things do go slightly array in the encore. Manifest pts 1 and 2 are jammed on a little bit too long, and closing number, the brilliant on record “Soul” goes the same way.

These quibbles aside, the Sons deserve their success and posses real talent. Guitar man Scott Holliday can knock out a mean riff and singer Jay Buchanan evokes –probably intentionally – memories of Robert Plant and Chris Robinson.

Rival Sons are already very, very good. If they cut down slightly on the jamming they could be exceptional.