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Empyre. Made up by Henrik Steenholdt on vocals/guitar, the dazzling Did Coles on lead guitar (a fellow Fender man!) and the backbone of Grant Hockley on bass (including a rather sexy five string!) and drummer Elliot Bale, Empyre are a classy four piece that play a nifty brand of contemporary, muscular rock. They offer up something more unconventional than straightforward “classic rock”, meaning you are more likely to find a Muse or Pearl Jam influence, than one from any of the “classic rock” staples. They also have their debut album ‘Self Aware’ looming large on the horizon, and if the quality of the material aired tonight is anything to go by, then it will be something rather special indeed. Henrik Steenholdt has a rich, warm voice which, during moments like new single ‘New Republic’, reminds me of Mark Tremonti on his solo material. When Steenholdt performs, he has a way of drawing the audience in; an engaging artist fronting a band with something to say. With the exception of the aforementioned ‘New Republic’ and previous single ‘Too Little Too Late’, most of the material would have been unfamiliar to the audience, but that didn’t matter. The quality of tracks like ‘Just A Ride’ shines through, and although its title sounds like an excuse that someone from the West of Scotland might offer up if their extra curricular activities have been discovered (“it meant nothing doll…it was just a ride”), it served as a fantastic taster for the forthcoming debut album. Pre-order ‘Self Aware’ here. Providing the meat in tonight’s sandwich and making their Edinburgh debut are Staffordshire’s finest, Ryders Creed. Fuelled by the twin guitars of Lee Spencer and Myles Cooper, Ryders Creed are a fast-paced hard rock band that live the 45 minutes or so that they are onstage as if it’s their last 45 minutes on earth. The energy is ramped up a notch or three once vocalist Ryan Antony takes to the stage. He actually leaves the stage after checking the mics are working, pauses in amongst the crowd, waits for the band to start up, then bounds onstage. Having the band setting up onstage themselves can sometimes take away some of the “magic”, therefore I liked the fact that Antony went all in for the big intro. Ryders Creed released their self-titled debut album last year, and many of the tracks featured on it are still rattling around in my head. Hearing them the way that they were intended to be heard: loud, fast and raw, gives the tracks an extra edge. ‘Set You Free’ has a simplistic guitar intro that really hits the spot, ‘Promise’ purrs like a finely tuned Rolls Royce engine – thanks to the funkadelic work from bassist Richard Clark and the maniac behind the kit, drummer Lee Gilbert, then there is the full-on party that is ‘Raise The Hoof’ and ‘My Life’. Lovely stuff indeed. Closing out tonight? That job fell to Cumbrian cowboys, Thirteen Stars. Cumbria by way of Southern America, Maryland rather than Maryport, South Carolina rather than Silloth and St Bees. Think of The Faces jamming with Billy Gibbons (especially on new-ish track ‘Mint Jelly’) and you’re on the right path. The throaty, rasping vocals from frontman Hoss Thompson fit this type of music perfectly, and coupled with the swaggering riffs from Thompson and fellow six stringer Jax Sedgwick, makes for quite a rarity today: a band with Southern influences that doesn’t sound like Black Stone Cherry. As Southern as Thirteen Stars aim to be, there is no denying the British influences stamped all over their sound. The bluesier side to their music hints of nights crowded around the campfire pouring over Free and Bad Company albums, as well as everything that came before, ie The Faces and Humble Pie. The same well that The Black Crowes drank from, hence you could draw comparisons between Thirteen Stars and early Crowes. It’s warm and pleasing music, forget-all-your-worries-and-just-smile music. Hard not to tap your feet and nod your head to ‘Breadline’, ‘Daddy’s Girl’, ‘Tired Of Waiting’ or the typically British response to the messed up world that we live in: ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’. Drummer Andy Bates gets his chance to impress on ‘Pull The Led Out’ (as does bassist Steve Revier), which leads into a cracking full band jam on the intro of ‘Razor’s Edge’. Riffs by the bucketload, more than enough to send those in attendance into the wet Edinburgh night with a smile on their face, and that’s all a band really, really wants. Review – Dave S Images – Dave Jamieson – Image gallery available here]]>
