Time for a bit of psychedelic rock here are Bannermans with Goldray but we have two bands to get through first.
Up first we have Tom Coyne on acoustic tonight, he has an old classic voice that belays his young age as he opens with “Blue Personality” and “Withered and Gray” – a great start to his set. We meet “A Lost Generation” which is just fabulous and he reminds me of someone on this track but I just can’t place it. We get caught up in “Winter’s Grasp” now before “Seeking Summer”.
The set ends with the wonderful “Willow” which carries you along as do the majority of Tom’s acoustic tracks such is his skill as a writer and performer. I have seen Tom a number of times now and he never fails to deliver a great set whether electric or acoustic. There were a number of people chatting through his set which is always really annoying but Tom never let it get to him. Go see Tom whenever he plays as its always a treat to the ears.
Next up a new band for me – The Cosmic Trip Advisors. The band kick off with “Oh My My My” with a soulful blues sound and in Lesley Muir they have a stunning singer – boy, she can wail! There is some tremendous guitar from Mark and Ian and Peter on keyboards on this track, backed up by Andrew on bass and Pete at the rear on drums; a fabulous start.
The band give us “Had to Have it” and “Feeling Low” before the excellent “Sleazy Does It” opens up a real rock-tastic track with Lesley in full flight both vocally and in of moves. My favourite of their set is probably “I’ve Got it Going On” and both she and the band really do. Lesley is like a modern up-tempo version of Janis Joplin, just brilliant.
The band are a joy to watch with Mark almost falling over a few times as the stage was a bit tight with the six of them up there as they plough through “Bottle in Me”, “Firecracker Blues”, and “Tongue-Tied”, then ending a tremendous fast paced set with “Ledz Boogie”.
This was a fabulously enjoyable set played by a great band with one foot in the 60s with a Doors/Janis Joplin modern rock sound and a dynamic front woman in the form of Lesley Muir. This is a band to watch out for. All the tracks tonight are off their forthcoming debut album Wrong Again Albert… featuring amazing cover art “Black Hole In The Milky Way” by Russian Artist Tanya Shatseva.
Now as the light trips fantastic, literally, Goldray take to the stage with ex-Reef guitarist Kenwyn House in full flow bedecked in an outfit that would easily fit into Jefferson Airplane. They play a few new ones tonight from their album Feel the Change, kicking off with “Oz”.
It’s clear from the outset they mean business in a modern 60s kind of way. We have the amazing “Outland” from 2017’s Rising with its flowing guitars, drum and bass riffs courtesy of Colin Parkinson and Jonny Brister. The guitar heralds a trip down the “Diamond Road”, a real showcase of a track for the soaring vocals of Leah Rasmussen as she roams about the stage with her blue and gold outfit flying about her all night.
The “Eyes” are next as we trip through a psychedelic Pink Floyd/Beatles Yellow Submarine-infused number. Leah has a real mesmerising voice on this track along with the sublime guitar work from Kenwyn, a stunning song.
We have a few more tracks from the new forthcoming album including the fabulous “The Beat Inside” and “The Forest” before we sadly get to the end of a most enjoyable set now with the stunning “Soulchild” from Rising. I felt like I was transported back to the late 60s / early 70s tonight with the soaring vocals. The guitar work is worthy of Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane, or Robby Krieger of The Doors – such is the playing style of Kenwyn.
If you like your classic rock based in the past but with a modern twist then this is the band for you. Judging by the new tracks played tonight, I for one cannot wait for the new album. I would urge you all to go see them live as on stage the music takes on a whole other dimension and this was a truly fantastic night of music.
Photos by Coops Gig Photography
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