First up on a very well attended Sunday night sees Toronto 5 piece The Commoners return to the UK after their dates with Troy Redfern earlier in the year.
Their 40 minute set showcased their blend of southern blues,roots and rock and the crowd responded from the first note and from the huge grins on stage a very welcome return.
The band is comprised of Chris Medhurst (lead vocals), Ross Hays Citrullo (guitar), Ben Spiller (bass guitar), Adam Cannon (drums), and Miles Evans-Branagh (keyboards).
All played their part as vocalist Chris who never stopped moving alongside Ross on guitar who's slide work was exemplary and Adam on drums showing with a small kit that with talent that's all you need as he drove the music to new heights.
Older material included More Than Mistakes and Find A Way with it's Hammond background and big guitar riff sounded like a Black Crowes track for now.
Latest single Devil Teasin' Me produced by Kevin Shirley with it's big chorus and groove shows the new album will be one to look out for as the title track Reckless ( I think ) took things down a notch but no loss of quality.
Perfect warm up slot leaving us all wanting more.
Photo Credit and used with thanks: © Phil Honley
Perfect warm up slot leaving us all wanting more.
Originally booked as a Samantha Fish solo tour but after the release in May of their duet album Death Wish Blues and last year's Stardust Sessions EP it's now a joint tour.
I was looking forward to seeing how the the chemistry on the album would transpire to the live stage and the answer is wonderfully.
From the first note of the classic MC5 track Kick Out The Jams as an opener it was superb.
Samantha and Jesse across all songs trade vocal lines or guitar solo's and both shine and we are treated to the whole Death Wish Blues album plus other assorted covers.
Many highlights from the new album with Flooded Love's military driving rhythm and heavy guitar riff and the title track Death Wish Blues had traded vocals and guitar solo interaction too and Brand New Cadillac was rock n'roll personified.
No Apology showcased Samantha's world class vocal take as she ad libbed the vocal and with held notes and a beautiful quieter interlude.
Acoustic guitar's in hand and Samantha's vocal lead on the Ep's cover of Townes Van Zandt's I'll Be Here In The Morning was superb with traded vocal deliveries and the chorus with their 2 voices very well suited and guitar add libbing aplenty.
Samantha's solo track Bulletproof is taken off to a place you wouldn't expect with a way heavier version.
The Screamin’ Jay Hawkins classic “I Put A Spell On You” was excellent with Samantha's high notes she held at the song ending a joy and before she took her vocal off again unaccompanied.
Over the course of 100 minutes Bristol was treated to a rock n'roll masterclass and a new unexpected union has brought us something unexpected but glorious in it's ease and the joy contained within will surely lead to more studio and live shows and for that we are very thankful.
Photo Credit and used with thanks: © Daniel Sanda
6 more UK shows over the next week and get yourselves along you will not be disappointed.
York, Barbican
Tuesday 24th October 2023
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Paragon Street, York YO10 4AH
https://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk
Cambridge, Junction
Wednesday 25th October 2023
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Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX
www.junction.co.uk
Bournemouth, O2 Academy
Thursday 26th October 2023
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570 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH1 4BH
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybournemouth
Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
Friday 27th October 2023
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Marina, Bexhill On Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1DP
https://www.dlwp.com
Birmingham, O2 Institute
Saturday 28th October 2023
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78 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DY
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham
London, 100 Club
Sold Out
Monday 30th October 2023
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Century House, 100 Oxford St, London, W1D 1LL
https://www.the100club.co.uk
