By Monk and The Dark Queen
Looking back through the ÜR archive, we found it hard to believe that it had been almost exactly three and a half years since we last visited this historic venue, one which we both have to pass virtually every day on our way to work. Ironically, we also found that the reason for that last visit was the debut headline show by the MMA fighter turned blues rocker Kris Barras… talk about a massive feeling of déjà vu as we undertook the short dander from home to this converted church for a night of what promised to be high quality r’n’f’r, especially with one of our favourite acts having also crossed the Oirish Sea – just for the fun of it, you understand \m/
Right from the off, openers The Jokers prove that they ain’t horsing around and that rock ‘n’ roll most definitely and defiantly is alive and kicking ass in the heart of this dirty ol’ town (or any other dirty ol’ town they play for that matter). And another thing is for sure: we’re not about to ‘Run For Cover’ from this sort of sleazy back alley rawk grooviliciousness any time soon. There’s definitely an ‘Angel’ on everyone’s shoulders tonight as the Liverpool-based quartet make a triumphant return across the Irish Sea.
Hey, they must be good, ‘cos our resident air guitar champion Drew is going absolutely feckin’ nuts, not just down the front but left, right and even on the balcony, anywhere in fact he can strut his stuff and bang his head. Testimony indeed. With Wayne pouting and strutting like a true star, and Paul wrenching the living daylights out of his Les Paul, the lad take us on on last trip down to Silver City as they deliver the sort of set that blows away the darkest of moods and densest of cobwebs in gloriously brilliant fashion. Just what the doctor ordered (and, believe me, our GP knows shit fuck all about r’n’r).
Now, if you think Kris Barras has left his fighting career behind then think again, as right from the off he comes out punching with all his weight, the massive crunch of ‘Hail Mary’ hitting us both in the face and the midriff. The last time he played this venue, he was ‘flu-ridden, but tonight he his fully battle fit and bringing all his energy to a stadium show in a side street venue, and he does just that, and in true troubadour style.
With bassist Kelpie McKenzie bouncing about the stage like a Duracell-fuelled Tigger on a trampoline, there are few opportunities to take a breath: but, when they come they are exploited to the full, such as on the ever-poignant ‘Watching Over Me’ with its ever heart-wrenching series of searing back-to-back solos, or when Barras ditches his guitar to take to the crowd to share his inner devil with this rabid, sold-out crowd.
After again proving that ‘Rock And Roll’ is definitely a force with which to be reckoned, via a rambunctious version of the Zep classic, this hard-punching blues rocker demands to know ‘Who Needs Enemies’ as he takes us on an enthusiastic parade to a suitably energetic finale: Barras may not give a fuck about what people have to say, but we do give a fuck about what he has to sing and hang on his every word and note, as he first separates the crowd and things brings it back together in classic call and return fashion, before once again diving into the audience and leaving the floor bouncing so hard it’s threatening to collapse into the basement bar below, lighting it up for one more grand finale before finally quitting the stage and leaving this sold out crowd hungry for more…
Another great show from a great showman who knows how to rip things up time and again, and proves the fact to boot… Here’s to the next session \m/
- PHOTO CREDIT: All photos © The Dark Queen. You can view our full gallery of photographs HERE.
- Kris Barras headline the Call Of The Wild festival on Friday 26 May and the Steelhouse festival on Friday 28 July. They also play the Maid Of Stone festival on Saturday 22 July and the FireVolt MCR festival in Stockport on Sunday 13 August.
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