Live Review: Rival Sons @ Scala

by | Jun 12, 2014

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

The Rival Sons is the kind of band that doesn’t need you to be an extreme fan or for you to have all their albums or know all the lyrics to succumb to their charming rock alchemy, blues, funky & soul. The Californian band has been on the road since 2009, bringing strong influences from blues rock from the 60’s-70’s, particularly Led Zeppelin, The Animals and Free.

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

It’s easy to compare vocalist Jay Buchanan with Jim Morrison. His sizzling and obscure performances and his incredible stage presence, are dramatised by a scene composed in  very low light and dry-ice. Guitarist and co-songwriter Scott Holiday makes no secret of his love for Led Zeppelin and his non stop riffs are mesmerising often using his Gibson Firebird 99.

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

With six shows in England, two of them in major festivals, Download and Isle of Wight, London was indeed rewarded. On the same day of their fourth album titled Great Western Valkyrie been released fans had the opportunity to attend a free pocket show in the HMV record store in Oxford Circus.

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

The band is well adept to the face-to-face relationship with their audience whenever they are, and in London, they did the same last year and in 2001, performing at a charity event at St Pancras train station.

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

The band’s sold out gig at the Scala, venue in Kings Cross, London, was literally hot. At first glance the audience seemed contained and contented not to move around but the truth is that the audience of 1,000 people barely had room to dance. The deal was just trying to dance with arms glued to body and neck, in languid and sinuous movements, orchestrated by Jay Buchanan’s hypnotic body moves .

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

The Californian quartet started the moist and misty night with the brand new swing and retro beats of Electric Man, pushing everyone’s bodies to react involuntarily to the soul beats, and the lyrics: “Electric man how you shine bright, How you shine bright, You are so electric man!” Left no one standing still even in the limited space.


From the fifteen songs presented in London, nine were from their new album Great Western Valkyrie but we couldn’t leave out mentioning the ‘pinch’ of Led Zeppelin in the shape of the gut busting Nobody’s Fault But Mine.

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Rival Sons (Thanira Rates)

Setlist:

Electric Man (Great Western Valkyrie)
Good Luck (Great Western Valkyrie)
Secret (Great Western Valkyrie)
Play the Fool (Great Western Valkyrie)
Good Things (Great Western Valkyrie)
Torture (Heart Pressure & Time)
Nobody’s Fault But Mine (Led Zeppelin <trecho>)
Gypsy (Heart Pressure & Time)
Jordan (Head Down)
Rich and the Poor (Great Western Valkyrie)
Open My Eyes (Great Western Valkyrie)

Encore
Manifest Destiny, Part 1 (Head Down)
Pressure and Time (Heart Pressure & Time)
Drums solo
Keep On Swinging (Head Down)
Face of Light (Heart Pressure & Time)

More information about the band and tour in the official website: http://www.rivalsons.com
[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000jVBgF_gsF7o” g_name=”Rival-Sons” 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” ]

Rival Sons at the Scala, London, 9/06/14

Review by Stella Bruk and Thanira Rates.  Photos by Thanira Rates www.thanirarates.com

Jess Ball (Press)

Jess Ball Confronts The Reality Of OCD On Powerful New Single ‘Kiddin’’

Australian alt-pop artist Jess Ball continues her emergence as one of the most intriguing new voices in the genre with the release of her latest single, Kiddin’, a deeply personal track inspired by her experiences living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

James & Steven (Sam Vermeulen)

James Bourne And Steven Sater Unveil Dark New Musical ‘Murder At The Gates’ As First Track Featuring Gaten Matarazzo Arrives

James Bourne and acclaimed playwright Steven Sater have joined forces for Murder At The Gates, a brand-new musical more than a decade in the making, with the concept album set for release on 1st July 2026.

Ferris & Sylvester (Press)

Ferris & Sylvester Confront Insecurity On New Single ‘Jealous’ Ahead Of Third Album ‘It’s A Joy To Be Alive’

Ferris & Sylvester have unveiled their latest single, Jealous, offering another heartfelt preview of their forthcoming third album It’s A Joy To Be Alive, due for release on 14th August via the duo’s own Archtop Records label.

Basht. (Polocho)

Basht. Share Powerful New Single ‘Keira Knightley’ Ahead Of Debut Album ‘Poor Advice’

Dublin’s fast-rising post-punk outfit Basht. continue their impressive ascent with the release of their latest single, Keira Knightley, the newest preview of their forthcoming debut album Poor Advice, due for release on 9th October via LAB Records.

TV Priest (Charles Gall)

TV Priest Return With Ferocious New Single ‘The Mud Never Dries’

London post-punk provocateurs TV Priest have made a powerful return with their first new music in four years, unveiling the blistering new single The Mud Never Dries.

Lzzy & Joe Unplugged @ Islington Assembly Hall (Kalpesh Patel)Lzzy & Joe Unplugged @ Islington Assembly Hall (Kalpesh Patel)

Lzzy & Joe Bring Halestorm’s Heart To London’s Islington Assembly Hall

Just days after tearing up Download Festival with the full Halestorm line-up, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger strip everything back for a sold-out evening at Islington Assembly Hall. The result is not a quiet, polite acoustic set. Instead, Lzzy + Joe Unplugged feels like an intimate gathering where stories, songs and decades of shared history are placed front and centre.

Borderline (Tom Grut)

Borderline Announce Self-Titled Debut Album And Share Infectious New Single ‘That Girl’

Rising New Zealand quartet Borderline have unveiled details of their long-awaited debut album, Borderline, alongside the release of their vibrant new single That Girl and an accompanying music video inspired by classic Saturday morning mystery cartoons.

Blossoms (Press)

Blossoms Announce Sixth Album ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’ And Their Biggest UK Arena Tour Yet

Stockport favourites Blossoms have unveiled details of their sixth studio album, Songs From The Wedding Cake, dropping on 2nd October. Alongside the album announcement, the band have shared the infectious new single Meet Me In Love and confirmed a major UK arena tour for late 2026 – their largest headline run to date.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing