Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
Exeter Phoenix Theatre
Sunday 16th March
Just a few short months ago I was in a massive arena watching Those Damn Crows playing their biggest ever headline gig in the Capital City of Wales. It was a triumphant “Coming of age” show that demonstrated just how ready the Bridgend boys are to step up to a level unthinkable just a few short years ago.
Now, I am popping down to Exeter, to the far smaller and more genteel Phoenix Theatre, to catch the band on an album launch tour of grassroots venues.
The warm-up act tonight comes all the way from Nashville in the shape of James Bruner and his band.
They come out of the blocks at pace, ripping into ‘Switchblade’, and ‘Endless’ before introducing the latest single that has been lauded by Kerrang: ‘Eye in the Sky’. The delivery is intense and energetic, but there is a “getting to know you” period that takes time compared to a support band better known in the UK scene. ‘Wait for You’ starts to generate audience involvement, and Bruner strips to the waist, definitely catching the attention of a section of the crowd!
‘Alibi’ gets the crowd involved with a clap-along and then segues into ‘Redlight’ and ‘Big Shot’ before the set is closed by the dirty southern slide of ‘Better Days’ and Bruner heading to the barrier to communicate with his new fans. For me, the set held a lot of potential and interest, but the crowd energy was lacking, mainly due to unfamiliarity with the material and band! A name to watch out for, though!
So to the Crows
Ronnie Huxford salutes the crowd and takes his place behind his drum kit, almost within touching distance of the crowd rather than in another postcode as he was in Cardiff. Bassist Lloyd Wood vaults onto the stage, showing the energy the band have brought with them. Guitarists David Winchurch and “Shiner” Thomas take their places, and as the charismatic Shane Greenhall announces the familiar welcome of “We are: THOSE. DAMN. CROWS.”, the band rip into ‘Let’s Go Psycho!’, the first song on display from the imminent new album ‘God Shaped Hole’. It’s a superb set opener and accelerates us into the show with almost whiplash speed.
There isn’t an inch of space in the venue. 500 are crammed in as, like every other show on the tour, the venue sold out easily, and the synergy between band and crowd is matchless. ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘Find a Way’ keep up the pace, and before we know it, almost a quarter of the 14 song set is complete.
‘Kingdom of Dust’ is supported by lyric notes on the floor to support Greenhall’s memory, but he sears through unaided before a return to its roots for ‘Blink of an Eye’. Bringing this song back to how it was first performed, without the stadia embellishments, supports my feeling that this isn’t Crows without fire and staging; this is simply “Eau de Crow”, the raw, unenhanced essence of the rock and roll band’s heart.
Things are slowed down for the trio of songs from ‘God Shaped Hole’: ‘No Surrender ‘ ‘Glass Heart’, and ‘Dreaming’. All three are big, bold, and commercial and show the maturity that is to be expected as songwriting prowess develops. Having been taken through the new, it’s back to the classics with ‘Who Did It’ (with admirable supporting energy from the Exeter faithful), ‘Sin on Skin’ and ‘Go Get It’ from 2020’s ‘Point of No Return’ before a breather with ‘This Time I’m Ready’ and a sea of quietly expressed emotions.
Leave ‘em wanting more is the motto, and the short set comes to a close with the pairing of ‘See You Again’ and the classic ‘Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Dead’ sending a sweaty and happy Devon audience into the night.
The final night of this low-key tour is Thursday, 27th March, at the famous 100 Club in London. After a short break, it is back out on the road for a tour of record stores. More information HERE.
‘God Shaped Hole’ is available April 11th via Earache Records. Pre-order HERE
Interview with Lloyd Wood, HERE.
Review and photos – Rob Wilkins/Danni Wilkins
