Live: Cadillac Three @ Islington Academy

by | Nov 12, 2015

The Cadillac Three – O2 Islington Academy

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

Singing along at a gig is a strange phenomenon isn’t it?  We all pay hard earned cash to go and see a band we like, and rather than listen politely and earnestly to them sing, we stand there and have a go at the songs ourselves (in my case generally pretty badly).  But having spent an evening in the company of The Cadillac Three and the “Islington Academy Choir” tonight it becomes obvious why we all do it.  At the end of the night there’s a bond and camaraderie created between band and audience that’s hard to beat.  In fact tonight it was so good that the band stopped playing their final song, the anthemic The South and let the crowd take over, and they were still singing some time after the band had left the stage.  This was definitely good time sing along southern rock and roll at its best.

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The last time I saw Cadillac Three was in early 2014 co-headlining with the Graveltones, and its great to see how they’ve developed their show into a much more rock based set since then.  “We love it over here.  You guys really GET loud music” proclaims lead singer Jaren Johnston before launching into Tennessee Mojo a monster swaggering slide guitar driven song from their 2014 album of the same name.  Its difficult to see how they can be marketed in the US (and on iTunes) as a country act, and their rock style certainly seems to have found them a bigger following in the UK than in their home country.

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The set kicks off in high-octane style with an extended version of Days of Gold, originally written by Jaren Johnston for US country star Jake Owen (having listened to it, its actually an excellent song in both versions!).  But this is no lighthearted hoedown opener, this is a proper rocked up version with a real drive behind it provided by Neil Mason on drums and Kelby Ray sat down behind the lap steel guitar.  The importance of the drum groove becomes apparent half way through as Jaren loses the guitar, and leaps up on the drum riser to play an energetic co-solo with Neil which lasts a good few minutes and giving us photographers in the pit some great photo opportunities.

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

“We don’t bother with a set list taped toe floor here ‘cos we’re gonna play what we feel like playing” proclaims Jaren.  And more than once its clear that the band are having a conference about what’s up next, and what’s going to suit the energy of the night.  A lot of the songs come from the aforementioned Tennessee Mojo album with tracks including Peace Love and Dixie, I’m Southern, Back it Up and the mellow Whiskey Soaked Redemption, definitely one of music’s best drinking songs.  That said, its not all rock and roll and there’s still hints at the bands country-rock leanings on tracks such as Party like You, Life and the crowd pleasing favorite White Lightning which comes complete with the band toasting the audience with proper southern moonshine (well that’s what they said it was!!).

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

But ultimately an evening with Cadillac Three is all about a good old fashioned rock and roll show like they used to make them.  Some of the songs aren’t that complicated because they don’t need to be to get the crowd fired up, and that sing-a-long vibe that puts a smile on everyone’s face.   By the time they get to the set closer of The South, from my position stage right I can see a wall of people at the front singing every word of every track and generally having exactly the sort of time you always want to have at a gig but often never get.

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

The Cadillac Three dishing out some classic southern rock, Tennessee style. (Andy Sampson)

This was the last date in the UK, and by the time you read this, they’ll be in the US for a while, but they’re back touring here in late January and February.  I’m getting my vocal chords ready and getting my ticket.  If you want a feel-good way to escape the Winter gloom , I’d advise you to do the same

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000hGC2N_w2kuM” g_name=”Cadillac-Three” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

The Cadillac Three – O2 Islington Academy. Monday 9th November 2015

Photography & Review by Andy Sampson. Andy also has his own website at www.soundritualphotos.co.uk

Lizzie Esau @ The Grace (Kalpesh Patel

Lizzie Esau Unleashes Explosive New Single ‘Bugs’ — A Dark, Defiant Step Forward From A Rockshot Favourite

Rockshot Magazine favourite Lizzie Esau continues her rapid ascent through the UK’s alt-rock landscape with the release of her most accomplished single to date, Bugs. A darkly euphoric track filled with emotional grit and lyrical nuance, Bugs sees the 25-year-old Newcastle native confront the chaos of creative self-doubt with ferocity — and catharsis.

EMMMA (João Viegas)

EMMMA Finds Power In Heartache With Stirring New Single ‘Wednesday’s Child’

EMMMA is no stranger to vulnerability — but with her latest single, Wednesday’s Child, the rising UK-based alt-pop artist turns raw emotion into a seismic act of self-empowerment. Released as the next step toward her second EP, the track is a defining moment in her artistic evolution: darker, bolder, and more emotionally fearless than anything she’s released before.

Jon Allen (Michael Walker)

Jon Allen Unearths Gritty Past Of 18th Century London With Immersive New Album ‘Seven Dials’

British singer-songwriter Jon Allen invites listeners into the fog-shrouded streets and shadowy corners of 18th century London with his latest album, Seven Dials. Known for his earthy blend of folk, blues, and Americana, Allen trades modern-day themes for a haunting historical portrait that’s as cinematic as it is emotionally raw.

Josh Groban (Sami Drasin)

Josh Groban Shines Bright With New Career-Spanning Album ‘Gems’

Josh Groban is entering a new era of reflection and celebration with the release of Gems, a deeply personal,...
Sophie Grey (Maximilian Stafford)

Sophie Grey Is Not Waiting Anymore — She’s Putting You ‘On Hold’

Rising electro-pop artist Sophie Grey. is back with a brooding new single, On Hold, and it’s everything we’ve come to expect from the multi-talented producer, performer, and provocateur — shimmering synths, bold visuals, and an anthem for the digitally disenchanted. Out now with an equally cinematic music video, On Hold is a hypnotic blend of retro-futurism and raw emotion, delivered with Grey’s signature flair and fiercely independent spirit.

Lorde (Thistle Brown)

Lorde’s Rebirth: ‘Virgin’ Ushers In A Raw, Unfiltered New Era

In an industry that thrives on reinvention, Lorde has always moved to the beat of her own creation. Now, four years after the sun-soaked introspection of Solar Power, the enigmatic New Zealander has announced her fourth studio album, Virgin, due out on 27th June — a project that promises to be her most emotionally exposed and artistically unguarded work to date.

Blondshell @ MOTH Club (Kalpesh Patel)

Blondshell Faces The Fire With New Single And Sophomore LP ‘If You Asked For A Picture’

Alt-rock torchbearer Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) is preparing to light the fuse on her next era with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, If You Asked For A Picture, arriving this Friday, 2nd May via Partisan Records. Today, she offers one last taste before the full detonation with the release of her latest single, Event Of A Fire—a smoldering slow-burn that builds from embers to an emotional inferno.

Pistol Daisys (Matthew Pearson)

Pistol Daisys Return With Shimmering New Single ‘Calling Your Name’ — A Heartbreak Anthem For The Bold And Open-Minded

Scotland’s genre-blurring alt-pop outfit Pistol Daisys are back, and they’re diving deep into unexpected truths,...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing