If you were a fan of the FX series Sons of Anarchy, and let’s face it, if you weren’t then there’s something wrong, you may have noted a song by Preacher Stone called Not Today that featured in two of the early series. Being a fan of the Southern Rock vibe, Preacher Stone were soon on my radar for a while, although I’ll admit with so much music, I did drop off their progress for a while.
That changed with the release of their latest album V, which hasn’t been off the turntable since it was released in March. With the boys making a sharp return to the UK for a short run of shows leading up to their Sunday slot at Maid of Stone Festival, I’d already caught them at The Patriot on 14th July but they were so good that night that I decided to make the hour or so drive to Swindon to catch them again, alongside the superb Sons of Liberty who are always a great watch.
I’d not been to The Victoria before and was pleasantly surprised. On one of the hottest days of the year, to have a venue downstairs that had decent air conditioning was a real joy. Not that the temperature stayed cool for long though, because both bands were intent on raising the heat, which they did with style. Preacher Stone were up first, and if anything, were even better than that first show I’d seen. Frontman Ronnie Riddle is an exceptional frontman, possessing a gritty vocal that works so well with the groove and boogie that the band play. He’s humble enough to warm your heart, but with enough swagger to ensure authenticity. How you cannot like this man is beyond me.
Preacher Stone are a collective machine, with drummer Wyatt once more showing us his skill and power, especially with a dynamic mini solo that got everyone gasping.
The dual six stringers don’t mess about either. Ben Robinson and ‘new’ boy Nick Nguyen shred with a relentless passion that only those born to play can do, and it’s all anchored by the low-end drive of Jim Bolt, who is one restless soul, backing vocals the only thing anchoring him in one spot.
Set wise, it’s the same as Sunday, with songs from V bulking the list. Highlights are many, but Horse to Water, Hard Life PHD and Robinson’s favourite Save my Soul with breath-taking extended guitar workout are amongst them.
Inevitably, there are big cheers for Not Today, which still sounds as good today as it did when it first arrived. The triple salvo of Horse to Water, Remedy and Day Late conclude another stunning show, and I can only hope these boys are back soon, for I could watch and listen to their music all day.
Not to be outdone, one of the UK’s premier Southern coated outfits Sons of Liberty deliver a blistering set that leaves us breathless. It’s action for 95% of the set, with vocalist Russ Grimmett and guitarist Fred Hale rarely standing still. Grimmett is a blur, whether it be in the pit demanding everyone jumps chiding bassist Mark Thomas about the whereabouts of his microphone stand, or simply pulling the needed shapes that a singer must pull. Ironically, towards the end of the set he pulls a little too hard, a recurring muscle strain popping, but despite the pain, like a trooper, he finishes the set and ends on his knees as Hale and guitarist (and world’s worst poet) Andy Muse tower over him in a dramatic finale.
Anchored by the solidity of drummer Steve Byrne, the Sons put on a damn fine show.
Like Preacher Stone, they’ve got a 2024 album to promote, and they plunder several songs from the excellent The Detail is in the Devil, including our recently featured single Tertulia Time. Plenty of good time singalong options, including Up Shit Creek and Rich Man Poor Man, and the crowd respond in kind. I
t’s a vibrant atmosphere of diehard fans, although Grimmett establishes that one lad down the front is experiencing them for the first time. He will be back.
It’s high-octane stuff for the main, with Grimmett pulling out an acoustic for the one mellow song of the evening, Hawk Men Come. It’s a brave move amidst the high-level boot stomping rock ‘n’ roll, but it works well and earns the applause.
It’s when they open up the accelerator that Sons of Liberty really fly, and Walk with You and standard finisher Ruby Starr ensure that it’s as warm inside as the band take the final cheers.
Two excellent bands, playing with honesty and passion. There’s little else to say except that these will both remain on my ‘must-see’ lists for a long time to come.
Review by Hutch
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