The Rainbreakers

I know, I’ve just mentioned The Rainbreakers’ E.P. on another thread, but have to say more about this Shrewsbury quartet.

Heard quite a bit of buzz about these guys recently, so snapped up the chance to see them locally; one of my best decisions this year. With a range between 90’s Britpop & 60s R’n'B its difficult to pin Peter (bass), Jack (lead guitar), Ben (vocals & rhythm guitar) & Sam (drums) down to one particular style, but the mix is a glorious sound that they’ve distilled out of it; there’s a great mash-up of Albert Collins & Jimi Hendrix in the set as well as stormin’ self compositions like Blood Not Brass &Ain’t Nothing Goin’ On. They’re not hiding behind rocking things up, mid-set there’s a great cover of Wood Brothers’ Honey Jar (and I’d pass on Ben’s tip to check out Wood Brothers if you’ve not heard them before), with it’s tricky changes throughout the song. And closing a gradually building set was a cover of Cher’s Bang Bang, steering well away from Bon Jovi and closer to Terry Reid. No big, long solos, but every song is well crafted and the balance between Ben’s vocals & Jack’s guitar works really well, solidly backed by cool bass lines from Peter & slightly understated drumming from Sam.

There’s definitely somethin’ goin’ on, and you really need to catch the guys. Best new band I’ve heard this year; liked ‘em so much, I bought the t-shirt!

Blood Not Brass (100 Club, May 2016)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eSJQPW__oc

(PS - Wood Brothers Honey Jar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=setB6ZLnte8 )