On Sunday Rivals Sons in Hamburg stank. But then I stank too and so did the 400 others that saw them. We all stank. because the bloody place was packed to the rafters and was hotter than a dockers armpit. I won't dwell on the H&S issues associated with allowing such a gathering in such circumstances other than to say, in my opinion, that Rival Sons have already outgrown such venues. The groundswell of support is multiplying apace probably as a result of such ferocious performances.
What Jay Buchanan thought he doing wearing a 3 piece tweed suit, and Scott Holiday a jacket and scarf God only knows, but then these men and the band in general do have a certain style.................
It's said that form is temporary but class is permanent (old football cliche), but that being the case Rival Sons are definately 'on form' at the moment and I would venture to offer that their undoubted class is permanent.
If the aforementioned Mr. Buchanan can preserve his incredible pipes in the long term there is no question he can join the pantheon of 'Legendary Rock Vocalists', if he isn't already banging on the door.
The bloke is absolute full value, full bore pretty much all the time. Most singers feel their way into a gig even if they have substantially warmed up beforehand. No fears for steady men here. Jay is ON IT from the get go. He's out there with Glenn H with a fully armed banshee of vocal weaponry. I was close enough to get sprays of sweat from time to time as his drenched mop swung back and forth like a nodding dog on an adrenaline overdose.
The full on attack of almost the first 6 songs without a pause or comment left me pretty much exhausted. We like to pigeon hole things to better express what we are trying to say or describe. I’ve seen the Zeppelin comparisons, might have used them myself. Are they fair? The music is different I would say, but the pomp and sheer swagger of the delivery is probably what sends us in this direction. The band is so competent and professional it’s difficult to see them in this setting somehow. It is a stadium filling performance that they bring so we should be grateful we get to see it now close up.
I like that they are not afraid to indulge themselves musically at times. Scott Holidays sideways glances of appreciation at his singer on many occasions underlined what a result he feels he is having being in this band. The delivery is almost feral at times, but with such panache.
Marlies has already posted a setlist from a previous gig. Sundays did differ, no ‘Jordan’ for a start but I missed the titles and confess to not being completely familiar with all their stuff.
Any downsides at all? Only one really. They don’t engage with the audience much. Buchanan does his thing in his own way. A few thank you’s, and only on 2 occasions did he announce a song with a few words. Drummer Miley seemed to indicate he didn’t think the crowd at the front were as animated as we could be, but honestly, the band don’t invite singalongs, or clapping or this kind of interaction. Rival Sons play ‘at’ you and it is quite an assault. But this is a minor quibble. It will be interesting to see how they develop. I do wonder if Buchanan is totally comfortable in this role longer term. But for now bigger audiences and venues surely beckon.
No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
