Deeper, The Soul Rebels, Margo Price, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, JD McPherson, et The Tossers

Known for their catchy guitar riffs and short aggetated lyrics, Deeper did not disappoint. Bringing energy and a new found sense of identity, Deeper had the rooms attention right out of the gate with the tone of the show immediately apparent. This was a rock band and this was a rock show. While their self titled debut album “Deeper” certainly has its highlights, it can at times come across flat. Deeper’s live performance managed to bring those songs to life. The guitar sounded...twangy...and foreign...and polished? The vocals, their delivery in particular, was almost David Byrne-like. In a good way! Pink Showers was the inevitable standout, but a “new one” to close out the show was certainly a treat as well. Overall: Would see again.

Also: Shout out to the opener Diviño Niño. Would recommend.

New Orleans, the home of jazz, blues and The Soul Rebels. Destined for success after parading around the streets of New Orleans in the tradition of the second line and jazz funerals, the Soul Rebels began their professional debut with the famed Neville Brothers in New Orleans at the hot spot Tipitina’s! They impressed the crowds so much that they continued to open for the Nevilles and this was just the beginning.

Their genre crossing sound between Mardi Gras funk, soft rock, funk and reggae has gained them attention from a spectrum of artists such as Better than Ezra, Counting Crows, Green Day to name a few. This live show is still delighting fans worldwide as the outfit are known for throwing everything they have into their performance, merging their own original music with incredible covers of Eurythmics 'Sweet Dreams' and Hall & Oates 'I Can't Go For That' which are assured to get their audiences dancing and cheering along.

An incredibly happy live act, the group always appear ecstatic to be performing together and to their crowds as they launch into jazzy numbers such as 'I Like To Move It Melody'. For an old style sound with a modern dance twist, The Soul Rebels are a must see artist.

Brilliant gig! Went having never heard any of Margo Price's recordings, purely on the merit I understood her to be be an exciting new artist.

Turns out the hype wasn't wrong. Brilliantly sweet voice and excellent leading lady and show-woman with a superb band. She and her band provided a storming set that I would happily watch all over again

Waited to get a signed CD after the performance and got to chat with her briefly and she was as delightful as as had shone through during the gig, a truly lovely lady!

Highly recommended

Hurray for the Riff Raff are a distinctive feel good folk and country band that hail from New Orleans, Louisiana. The fantastic Alynda Lee Segarra, who has such a good voice for storytelling, fronts them. It’s very easy to find yourself hanging on every word that she sings with her captivating tone. They are in the house tonight to perform their original material, starting with a song called “Look Out Mama” a song that has a very original kind of instrumentation with a drum kit hit by timpani beaters, a violin, a double bass, and a synthesizer which supplies some odd and original gated synthesizer sound. “Crash on the Highway”, allows the violin to play in a very fiddle kind of manner, adopting some double stops and a lot of glissandos here and there. It really goes back to the more original country and western bluegrass style that was very large in the 50’s and 60’s but of course, this band somehow manages to make it work in this present day, making it sound current. They are well worth a watch if you want to loose yourself in some music that sounds different.

With a blues heart straight from Oklahoma, JD McPherson is a blessing from the blues God.

Take a look at his performance for KEXP back in 2012. I know it's perhaps dated, but it shows JD, Jonathon David McPherson, in his natural vibe. The double bass brings a funky jazz swing to it all, contrasting to JD singing 'I'm nothing but a country boy.' His music derives from the essence of popular music today: blues, jazz, country and classic rock n roll. JD is the perfect example of a rockabilly. Although stating that his music is old school, JD admits that he takes inspiration from various artists including Wu-Tang Clan and Pixies.

I admit I can't quite see the links myself but inspiration comes in all different types of forms. Whatever his inspiration is, JD produces faultless country rock music. He has a couple of shows commencing soon which could be paving way to the start of new material and a new record. Let's hope.

It takes a lot of self-loathing to call your band “The Tossers” and to maintain a career spanning over twenty years. Fair play to this Celtic Punk band hailing from Chicago, Illinois.
This band are amongst the scene dominated by bands such as Catch 22, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys. Tony Duggins and Aaron Duggins front this band demonstrating quite a great deal of 10,000 worth of practice on their respected instruments, mandolin and tin whistle. Performing live isn’t just a party for this six-piece band, it’s almost a recital that these virtuosic musicians seize an opportunity to showcase what they have learned up until now. Of course, they drink a lot when performing and it inspires the audience to drink, lots. There is beer EVERYWHERE, but it is definitely all part of the atmosphere! With a back catalogue of 15 studio albums they draw their best songs and some from their most recent album, “Emerald City” to roil this crowd up into a frenzy, bringing the house down as they do it.