By David O’Neill
Those Damn Crows brought their ‘God Shaped Hole’ tour to Bristol’s newest live music venue, The Prospect Building on a wet Friday night, turning the venue into a furnace of Welsh hard rock energy.
James Bruner opened proceedings with soulful grit, his set balancing vulnerability and power.
Backed by a lean trio, he delivered a heartfelt set filled with ‘Switchblade’ ‘Can’t Keep Wanting You’, ‘Redlight’ ‘Big shot’ ‘Alibi’ and ‘I Get Everything’, a blues-kissed blending introspection with soaring, classic-rock energy. His youthful energetic presence set the tone perfectly — a blend of heart and melody that guided the crowd seamlessly toward the night’s heavier heights. He is definitely one to watch if you like typically blues-based rock with attitude.
Stripped to the waist he even took to the crowd over the barrier during his penultimate song, not an easy feat with a crowd that was shoulder to shoulder. Supported by the laid back but impressive guitar playing of Zach Mears, I will certainly be watching him for more.
Canadian rockers Autumn Kings primed the audience with an energetic barrage of arena-ready anthems. Mixing modern rock swagger with elements of rap and relentless precision, they tore through ’Sleep When I’m Dead’, ‘Terrified’, ‘Power’, ‘Aliens’, ‘Snake Charmer’, ’Bleed It Out’ and ‘Hellbound’.
The rapidfire lyrical content was equally shared among the three in front of the mics, with Joe Coccimiglio and Jake Diab blasting them out. The energy and power of the vocals and instrumental display was reminiscent of Nothing More and Of Mice and Men, (but not quite as heavy as OMNM). This was enthusiastically received by the very partisan Crow family.
Opening with the taut, defiant ’Dancing With the Enemy’, Those Damn Crows launched a set that roared with hooks and heart, powered by Shane Greenhall’s commanding vocals. Momentum surged through ’Man on Fire’, ’No Surrender’, and ’Find a Way’, tracks that showcased their knack for combining melody with explosive riffs. By the time ’Go Get It’ and ‘Sin on Skin’ and thundered through the room, the crowd was chanting every chorus.
A spine-tingling ’Blink of an Eye’ and the anthemic ’See You Again’ closed the night with unity and defiance — proof that the Crows remain one of the ÜK’s most compelling live rock acts. Having followed the band since 2015, it is difficult to write any more superlatives for this quintet. This was definitely up there with their Steelhouse Festival homecoming set. Roll on more new music!
From Bruner’s emotive blues to Autumn Kings’ high-octane charge and the Crows’ triumphant headline, the evening embodied rock’s enduring spirit and a wide variety of musical styles which were honest, loud, and unforgettable.
I have to say that the venue surprised me and my friend. We both thought the sound was superb and the staff on duty were also excellent across the board, from security to bar staff. Having only been open for live music for three weeks, I am sure it will have a long and very fruitful future in the Bristol live music scene, and we will definitely return to any future gigs.
- All photos © Bandtogs/Über Röck.