Temporary stepped
in at the last moment. Answering a plea to be the opening band, the impossibly
young group are evidently enjoying themselves onstage tonight. Resolutely
retro, “Cold Inside” owes a debt to the Black Crowes, while “Madness Love And
Fear” has a fine solo. For a band clearly in its infancy they have plenty of
potential and if they learn to connect with their audience slightly better they
really could do decent things. Keep your eye on them.
The Mighty
Young list themselves on their Facebook page as a three piece (you suspect that
Solomon Hotcoals might not be his real name) but tonight – if he exists at all
- they are one short. As everyone knows
there is something inherently odd about two-piece bands. From the obvious ones
like the White Stripes to newer ones like The Graveltones, they are perhaps by
their very nature, outsiders. Drummer
Robb Cartin bashes away and singer/guitarist Joseph Gatsby chucks out the
riffs.
The style
might be a trifle limiting, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with tracks
like “Goodbye Blues” or “The Science Of Love” in fact the only tiny criticism
of the group is – rather like the openers – they struggle to make any
connection. Again, ones to have a look at – and you suspect that they would be
better with a bassist.
RTM is here
tonight because we saw Sugar Mama support Gerry McAvoy last November and very
good they were too. This should have played this show in January but the snow
put paid to that. So the question is: was it worth the wait?
The answer,
happily, is yes. By far the most polished band of the evening, the band isn’t trying
to change the world. Billing themselves as “dirty, filthy, stinking rock n roll”
they don’t quite get into that territory, but they are a very decent heavy
blues band.
Like the
other groups on show this evening Sugar Mama are very young but they are much
more professional than the duo that had preceded them. They have honed some
decent tunes too, “Love Nor Money” and “Bullfight Blues” are self-penned but
exciting nonetheless.
In common
with most bands of this type there are plenty of covers. “Louie Louie” sounds
excellent, as do “All Over Now” and “Maggie’s Farm.” That said, there is a
suspicion that perhaps they overdo the medleys. The band are talented, though,
and finish with an entertaining version of “Money.”
An
interesting rather than stunning evening, but you suspect that all three of
these groups can have their say in Blues circles in years to come.
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