As is becoming a fun and regular occurrence there's a pop up store in Clerkenwell to wet the appetite of the early risers, featuring merch and tattoos.
First to stride on to the plate is Ayron Jones, delivering a brief but entertaining set knocking out his big hitters such as 'Blood In The Water' and 'Take Me Away'. A perfect opener for a proper rock show.
With the crowd swelling, the main support of the night, Skillet enter the fray. There's an immediate rocking vibe from the purple haired Korey Cooper, the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist going wild. Heavy, loud and a big crowd, we even get a cello for 'Awake And Alive.' How to sound heavy with a "cello"? - join Skillet on stage!
John Cooper thanks the other acts of the evening and recounts, when doing summer festivals together, Black Stone Cherry saw them and said "Why aint you touring Europe?" - So they brought them along to do it.
Playing hits like 'Hero' and 'Feel Invincible' and 'Monster,’ Skillet fully got the audience moving with their signature hard rocking sound.
.png)
The night has been swinging, guitar riffs filling the air, and the headline act haven't even played a note. Black Stone Cherry grace the stage as the final act, soaking up the atmosphere and belting straight in to 'Me And Mary Jane'.
The Kentucky quartet have been playing the UK since 2007 across tiny venues to festivals and arenas, their loyal following just keep coming back and those lads just seem to love it, love the UK and get a kick out of playing London.
Ben Wells tells the crowd "Hell yeah London Town Tonight! I swear that never gets old, every time I play London, I know exactly where we are"! The affinity always comes through and the band are on top form. Delighting the arena with old classics and new tracks, loving the large stage and ramps, running wild, Wells and Steve Jewell criss-crossing the platform saluting the fans sending the 'Cherry Heads' wild.
Black Stone Cherry mix through a set of hard old school American rock and a very southern blues rock in a tried and tested fashion, with you mostly knowing what to expect. Classics like 'Rain Wizard', ‘Blind Man’, 'White Trash Millionaire', 'Lonely Train' and 'Blame It On The Boom Boom' all fill the air. During 'Cheaper To Drink Alone' John Fred Young erupts into a full body drum solo, he just gives it all, like a man possessed. Now it wouldn't be a full show if there wasn't a treat on offer, the infrequently played 'Stay' receives an outing, along with the emotional and sometimes played 'Things My Father Said'.
One of the biggest songs of the night is the recently released cover of The Cult classic 'American Horse', where Ayran Jones and John Cooper re-join the stage, blasting out the huge hit in harmony with Black Stone Cherry.
Wells brings up the topic of the tour coming to an end, Wembley being the last night of the UK and Europe leg of the Screaming At The Sky tour and the winding down of nearly two years of shows. Wells says "We chose to end this bitch in London tonight"!
To further delight the Cherry Heads the band make the breaking announcement they will be the Headline act for the Maid Of Stone festival in July 2025.
The night is rounded off on a sombre note, Chris Robertson dedicates the final song of the evening to the late and truly remarkable Michelle Kerr who recently, sadly passed away. If you don't already know of Michelle, she is responsible for a generation of bands breaking onto the UK rock scene!
Robertson stepped down off the stage and into the pit to join his people for a rendition of 'Peace Is Free'. There's always a lot of emotion from Robertson at a Black Stone Cherry gig. You really feel the moment, when the phone lights flicker and the audience goes quiet for the slower and melodic songs, your hair stands on end and you get goosebumps. The OVO was no different, it was a special night and a perfect sign off.
Rhys Tagg
Images: Aoife Hyland / @apif.e
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comment Here;
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.