VATA free entry gig tonight in Birmingham

We are working up sone dates for later in the year, should be wide coverage but it depends how receptive local promotors are. So if you have a venue you want us to play, let them know and keep on letting them know;)

Thanks to you and the guys for a superb night's entertainment Martin - not sure what impressed me the most, the sounds coming from the Roadhouse stage, or the sounds coming from the tour van CD player    

It's probably as far back as September since I last heard these guys play a full set, and once again there has been another big step forward in that time. I guess it's fair to say that bass playing newcomer Jack was still finding his feet back then, but there was a maturity about their performance last night that suggested big things have been happening since. There was a confidence on stage that I have not witnessed before - the confidence of a band that has bonded - not just on stage, but in the studio, and having just heard the results of the latter, I think part of that confidence comes from pride in what they have produced. Well deserved pride I have to say.

More of that later - first a few words about the gig.
"Working Man" has been something of a work in progress for a while now, but the guys now open the set (and CD)with it, and it is the perfect choice IMO. A new instrumental "The Storm" then led into some more familiar VATA numbers before we were treated to 2 new tunes "Racing With Life" and "Backstabber", before things slowed right down for the Hoax cover "Don't Shake My Hand", which for me, now eclipses the original. Another newie " Coldhearted Woman" was included as the set moved toward it's conclusion of the melancholic new instrumental "Silver Giver". The modest but increasingly enthusiastic audience were lapping this up and demanded more, which was duly supplied in the form of Virgil's great take on Philip Sayce's "Alchemy", and the obligatory "Johnny B Goode".
The guys were then dragged out a second time, and astonished the crowd with an impromtu version of a song a heckler had been requesting - "Paranoid" - great fun! Proceedings then drew to a close with a great run through the standard "Going Down". Strange that - I can't see these guys going anywhere but up!

So I also got to hear the CD, in it's still to be mastered entity (to say I felt honoured is an understatement). I think this release is really going to surprise people. It certainly did me! VATA's roots are without doubt steeped in the Blues, but people, get ready to Rock! This is very much as Martin suggested - Rock with a hint of Blues. More BCC than Bonamassa, more ZZ than BB, More Sayce than Stevie - in fact there wasn't an SRV lick or shuffle to be heard. It's a quality piece of work that uses well constructed songs to showcase Virgil's fretboard skills and ever improving vocals, is driven along by Gabriel's powerhouse drumming, and Jack's solid bass is the glue that bonds the whole thing together.

I for one can't wait to get my hands on a copy I can call my own. 

Ian

+1

I really enjoyed your review, Ian. I wish I could have been there, it sounds like it was a great night. Looking forward to the New Gen Blues Tour. 

Phil