Sari Schorr & the Engine Room

could be, very impressed with Demolition Man, will be looking to buy Force of Nature...... I like his Firebird too

coulda done this on the front end, hit the "show more" button and you will be........shown more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Fd_P53FZQ

After a few listens I've come to the conclusion that this may be the best album I'll hear this year.  From the first to the last note it's all good.  My favorite changes from song to song but the standout at the moment is "Oklahoma".  The guitar and keyboard playing sounds like they slipped out of a vintage Doors jam.

Sept 9th - Darlington Forum

Talk about blowing your socks off; Sari’s gig at Darlington Forum blew the top of my head off too. This was one amazing gig from start to finish; almost impossible to identify any one stand out moment as Sari kept them coming think and fast, and varied, showing her awesome range; from the howling darkness of her re-working Leadbelly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night, ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOQcw5CWgPU ) to the exuberant dynamics of Led Zepp’s Rock & Roll. and then doors-like work out on her own Oklahoma between Innes Siburn on guitar and Anders Olinder on keys.

And for the 2nd half of the show, there was no let-up, from the bands’ instrumental Freddie King workout, to Sari putting heart, soul, lungs, liver and spleen into an almighty Stormy Monday as well as that incredible Black Betty work-out and showcasing every number from her stunning album with Innes Siburn working into an sweat with the rest of the “powerhouse” Engine Room, Kevin Jeffries (bass), Kevin O’Rourke (drums) & Anders Olinder (keys) not that far behind.

This was like being on the business end of a Typhoon; a real “force of nature”.

Kenny, good to finally meet you, hope the gig was worth the trek down. One day I'll have to reciprocate and have a look up your manor.

Innes Sibun has left the band - never saw that coming.

The CD will one of my top 10 in 2017

Dianna Ross classic how I have never heard it before

So, if you’re lucky enough to be on the trail of Sari’s September tour, then you’re in with a good opportunity of grabbing an early copy of her sophomore album, Never Say Never; my advice - grab it!!!

It’s an album at first that’s going to split fans - after all the trials, tribulations and tears, the whole “engine room” has been rebuilt; literally from the ground up. First and obvious difference is in the guitar, now in the hands of Ash Wilson, stepping away from his own project for a time, to provide a crisper powerhouse sound. On the other side,  on keys is the everyband member, Bob Fridzema. Mat Beable on bass surely needs no introduction and behind the drums, Ray Martin. The only constant, the amazing, powerful & emotive voice that is Sari Schorr.

After road work-outs, this incredible band locked themselves away in the Norfolk studios at The Grange for 3 days and recorded live, most of the album, capturing the stage chemistry that had come together. Three track, Beautiful, Freedom and title track Never Say Never were recorded at Superfly Studios with a slightly different line-up, still Ash & Mat but with 2nd guitar by Steve Wright, drums from Neal Wilkinson and keys from Bennett Holland (which itself may spark debate on who’s best between Bennett & Bob, much like United or Wednesday). In place of Mike Vernon, production is well handled by Henning Gehrke; mastering by Jon Astley, the only other name carried over from Force of Nature.

That gives us 11 tasty new tracks, two of which are covers; not quite as full-on Bluesy as it’s predecessor, but packed with goose-bump moments. Getting the covers out the way, first is Mick Ralph’s contribution to the Bad Company canon, Ready For Love, and Sari has no difficulty in rising to match Paul Rodger’s emotive range or power. The other cover is the title track and album closer, the tender and haunting Ian McLagan composition Never Say Never which again is made her own by reining in the power.

There’s a lot of the usual “names” used as a bench mark for Sari’s voice, but over the majority of the album, the one that stands out for me is Stevie Lange (or Vann), if anyone can remember the band Night from the late 70s early 80s… never quite achieved their promise; Zambian born Stevie was their singer. (best known here for Remember My Name from the Limara advert….). That said, there’s one track, Turn the Radio On, which reminds me of another big voice, from that same era, “Tiny Boiler” during her Steinman years….

Opener, King of Rock and Roll, is a smouldering, building tale of doing a deal at the crossroads for fame, fortune etc. Thank You, opens with swirling Hammond and Wah-Wah guitar, with a title dripping with irony and rocks out.  Valentina, another of Sari’s rockers storms along into a blistering solo by Ash. Bob leads the riff into the anthemic New Revolution. A real change in tone and style is apparent in Beautiful, not only the different studio and band but this is Sari mellowing out. and showing a different dimension; not only that, Ash delivers not one, but two spine-tingling solos. Maybe I’m Fooling is another belter of a rock track, Ash & Bob going toe-to-toe. Again, a slight change, Back To LA has a great West Coast Rock vibe as the title suggests, very Fleetwood Mac. Freedom is another of the Superfly tracks and rocks away with Bennett & Ash trading hot swipes behind Sari’s best Janis howling vocals.

With a totally re-built band, there’s a temptation to look at this as a re-debut, but then Sari’s not doing a Bowie-like re-invention of herself, she’s wanting to make her statement, her way and with the best band she can muster. Well, that part is nailed. Is it as good as Force of Nature? Yes. Is it better than Force of Nature? Too close and too early to tell, but to equal the first is no mean feat, so for me, one of the strongest albums of the year - 85%.

Never Say Never Tour video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQEHtAC2SAM
Ready For Love (Live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3WCz5O76y0

Sari Schorr @ Newcastle; Cluny2

So, not long back in from another tremendous "school night" gig on the doorstep. This time the tungsten-tonsilled Sari Schorr and her band, on the 2nd leg of her 2022 European Tour and their first visit to The Cluny.

Another great evening of powerful Blues-rock, Sari letting rip with her awesome voice, pinning people to the back wall of Cluny2, while the band, Matt Beable, Ash & Phil Wilson, and keyboard guy who looked not unlike a mid-1970s Billy Connolly were incendiary. Being leg 2 of the tour, this time round we were treated to a couple of new numbers, so brace yourselves for an upcoming album.