When people tell you to get yourself down to a grass roots venue to support the scene the Tap N Tumbler is exactly what they are on about. Nestled a street away from the mighty Rock City it is one of those pubs with a stage area that we need so desperately. Tonight, it’s great to see it pretty much packed out.
Early on Blackwater bring their southern infused blues rock to the heart of Nottingham. The sound is familiar even though they are an originals band. The enthusiasm with which they play is admirable too. The music is infectious and conjures up images in the mind of the kind of setting featured in Roadhouse, just with a midlands accent. Reinforcing this are the strong vocals delivered with impressive tone and gusto. The band end with a flourish and as they depart you can’t help but want to think they’re loading their gear into a 56 Chevy pick-up for the trip home.
If the first act tonight sound like they belong in a pick-up truck then The Soul Revival must surely have a mid 60s Pontiac GTO parked out front. They hit the ground running and don’t let their collective feet off the gas until the last note. This is fuel injected hard rock at its finest. The band dynamic fits really well with the drummer and frontman both highly animated entertainers while the bass player is the anchor. This allows the guitarist real freedom which he makes the most of. Interestingly it’s a slower near ballad that shows the quality of this band. It’s a beautifully written piece performed to perfection.
We can’t really think of a car Star Circus would travel in. To be honest they look like they’ve arrived by Learjet, and they sound like a million dollars too. The music hits a sweet spot between hard rock and a kind of feisty bluesy rock and roll. This isn’t your classic done by the numbers fair either, the writing is clever, well nuanced and in many ways brave. As individuals you can tell this is a group of fine musicians, but together where often cogs don’t quite mesh these four do supremely well. This means those subtle little timing changes and extra flourishes add to the experience rather than bogging it down. We get some great vocal harmonies too with the lead pitched just right for the music. This is a band who are offering something a little different in a saturated part of the market, and that alone means they are well worth watching.
Review and photos by Gary Trueman