Photo: Facebook
The crowd at The Roundhouse were silenced as Ennio Morricone’s instantly recognizable ‘The Good, The Bad And The Ugly’ theme whistled piercingly from the speakers. The stage, emblazoned with a Rival Sons backdrop, fell blood red, as five solitary silhouettes walked on – before kicking mercilessly into the high octane ‘Electric Man’ for their first number. “Rival Sons headlining The Roundhouse,” Jay Buchanan almost whispers into the mic later on, “You think about it, then it happens – and it looks like this.”
The Roundhouse this evening seemed a port in a storm for every thirty-something male rocker in London, pints in hand, hair flowing way past their shoulders, Rival Sons t-shirts worn with excitement and pride. A calm reverence and anticipation fizzed quietly among the crowd as they filtered into The Roundhouse’s awe-inspiring structure. But, sure enough, as soon as ‘Electric Man’ ends, the venue is assailed by screams and roars.
Smash hit ‘Open My Eyes’ draws highest frenzy from the crowd, transformed into a sea of waving arms and pumping fists. ‘Secret’ is another track met with a tidal wave of whooping and jumping, fans energized by its electricity and tinny edge.
Hushed awe settled on the crowd during the unexpected acoustic interlude – drum kit, bass, and electric guitar exchanged for a Cajon, double bass and acoustic guitar – a slowed down, blues-turned-folk version of their usual hedonistic rock, with notably intricate yet ever-so-cool solos from Scott Holiday. Stylish and classically rock and roll, the band interact fluidly onstage and move enviously well to the music. They draw the audience in, moving them to sing along without a single prompt, and letting them choose when to end ‘Torture’.
In their biggest show to date, Rival Sons prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in rock – a force that can really put on a show.
Rival Sons played:
Intro (The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Theme)
Electric Man
Good Luck
Play The Fool
Secret
Manifest Destiny, Part 1
Torture
Acoustic:
Nava
Long as I Can See the Light (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
Burn Down
Los Angeles
The Man Who Wasn't There
White Noise
Electric:
Rich and the Poor
Belle
Starr
Where I've Been Tell Me Something (Radio intro)
Encore:
Open My Eyes
Drum Solo
Pressure and Time
Keep On Swinging
