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After a recent last-minute call to open for The Virginmarys in Glasgow, and having already opened for Trucker Diablo in September (and played at Bon Scott tribute weekender BonFest in April), Glasgow-based Southern Rock outfit Ivory Saints are on a bit of a roll. All of which is pretty good going considering that the four-piece only played their first gig together in September 2021. Finally, though, it was time for the long-awaited launch of their stonking new EP ‘Say My Name’, and the all-important launch gig.
Playing a muscular brand of heavy rock with Southern-Clutchy overtones, Ivory Saints drink from the same well as Black Stone Cherry (the infectious ‘Seasick’ being a prime example), and in some places (guitarist/vocalist Scott Aitken’s guitar solo on the EP title track ‘Say My Name’ for one) – Black Label Society. With Aitken (who manages to make the man bun look acceptable) at the helm, Ivory Saints don’t display any of the deer-caught-in-headlights looks that so many fledgling bands can sometimes have, and have a little bit of swagger to them that comes with confidence. If they are nervous in front of so many friends and family, then they are not showing it at all.
Drummer Connor McNeil has bazookas for arms and everything that the band creates goes through him, and he’s hitting his kit so hard that it is in danger of giving way under the abuse that it’s taking from him, especially on the ‘Jean Genie’ stomp of ‘I Don’t Mind’ which lingers on in the psyche long after the song fades out. The swing that Aitken and fellow guitarist Alex Green lay down is impressive – as are the bass lines from Stephen Logan, and it’s pretty much impossible to resist the urge to bob the head back and forth. One of those songs that come to life when played live, and makes you want to punch the air with delight…ditto the slow-burning strut of ‘Perfume & Gasoline’ which sees the band joined onstage by two female dancers decked out in ‘Perfume & Gasoline’ t-shirts. Great guitar solo from Aitken on this little beauty. Another highlight would be the grinding gears of ‘Big Dirty Tom’ which packs an almighty wallop and fizzes along building up a head of steam as it goes.
It’s always great to catch a band in its infancy and watch them as they grow and develop with time. The framework is in place, and Ivory Saints will gradually add parts to it with each gig that they play, and each rehearsal session they have. The raw, unbridled enthusiasm that they have in abundance will result in the rough edges being smoothed off over time, for now, this (and the EP itself) is a promising start.
More information on Ivory Saints here.
Review – Dave
Images – Dave Jamieson
