By David O’Neill
This was an easy way for me to break in the new year gigging calendar, as Cardinal Black returned to their native soil for what could arguably be seen as the biggest headlining show of their career to date.
Opening up was solo guitarist Tom Jenkins from Pontypridd. His soulful vocals and acoustic guitar sound provided a gentle opening to the evening. As with many artists, his songs reflect his life and will make a connection with many. It is only an appropriate opportunity that is awaiting a breakthrough into mainstream and who knows what. His banter between songs had the audience laughing out loud.
I missed the first track but ‘A Letter From The Hill’ was a reflection on missing his girlfriend when he was on the other side of the world as a sheep shearer in New Zealand. There was also a song about his dream that he could have been the next Tom Jones (funnily enough called ‘Tom Jones’!). It was a very accomplished 30 minute set of acoustic guitar, harmonica and clear vocals. The harmonica and acoustic guitar influence was a bit Dylan-esque but with the new biopic on Dylan currently doing the rounds it may give him the exposure he deserves. With a new album release later in the year I, for one, will be looking forward to it.
Newport based indie band The Rogues were next up. A five piece band with acoustic guitar/vocals by Andrew Flannelly whose tone is unusual but nonetheless very good. Ben Slade and James Mundy provided a solid rhythm section ably supported by Rhodri Eley on rhythm guitar. However, it was the diminutive figure of Alex Ainsworth on lead guitar who really caught my eye (and ears) with his strong distorted and clean guitar sounds throughout the set that provided a counterpoint to the other instruments.
Kicking off with ‘1963’ from their current EP (which was incidentally recorded at Rockfield Studios) it was followed with a funky track called ‘Oh Gena’, with guitar tracks that reminded me of the Allman Brothers in style and tone. There wasn’t a bad track in the set taken mainly from the EP with the addition of ‘She Wants Me Dead’ and ‘Foolin Around’; there were essences of many influences but it was a good set that was appreciated by the full house. They reminded me a bit of The Kooks.
It has been a little while since I saw Cardinal Black, mainly because they have been on extended tours across Europe and the ÜS, including a headline show at the infamous Troubadour club in LA and supporting Myles Kennedy on some of his recent tour. However, this headline was locked in my diary on announcement.
Entering on the stage, Chris Buck’s guitar opened with an ethereal solo that introduced ‘Ride Home’ before the whole band gave it a warmer fuller sound when Tom Hollisters’ soulful vocals carried the song through to its conclusion.
The slightly bassier tones opened up the slightly more upbeat ‘Falling’ and whilst the vocals of Tom carried the more upbeat track, I noticed that Chris was much more animated than the last time I saw them.
‘Ain’t My Time’ returned to the more soulful style the band are known for and it gave Tom the chance to let rip with his vocal range as well as the opportunity for Chris to add his backing vocals to the track before doing what he does best, playing a superb solo at the breakdown.
Next up was one of the first tracks I heard them play just over two years ago in Cardiff Castle (which is now hard to believe was their first gig as a band) -‘Tell Me How It Feels’, full of warm lazy guitar playing with loads of space between the notes as well as the smooth chocolate vocals of Tom.
With two albums now in the bag, the obvious professionalism and gig time from the past two years coming across on stage; the band just ooze class. This was how it continued throughout the rest of the 90 minute set. There was the introduction of a new track from the forthcoming album about Tom’s daughter called ‘Adeline’. Once again the guitar playing of Chris Buck is just superb on the track. It reminds me of a quote I once read from the late great Gary Moore who said something along the lines of when you get into the habit of leaving a space, you become a much better player for it. If you’ve got an expressive style, and can express your emotions through your guitar, and you’ve got a great tone, it creates a lot of tension for the audience. It’s all down to the feel thing.
The audience can see how expressive Chris is by looking at his face. The emotion is there plain to see and it gives all the music they record that emotion, that is increasingly supported by the songs they write and the support of the rest of the band.
I said it to Chris at that first gig that this band is going to be huge. They need to get on the Joe Bonamassa Blues Cruise or support the likes of Samantha Fish or Beth Hart on a tour across the States to launch them into the stratosphere. Superb!
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