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

The XCERTS (Luke Bovill)

The XCERTS Confront Grief And Growth On Powerful New Single ‘rinse repeat’

Scottish alternative rock trio The XCERTS have unveiled emotionally charged new single rinse repeat, the latest track lifted from their forthcoming sixth studio album i think i want to go home now., due for release on 10th July.

The HU @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

The Hu Announce New Album ‘HUN’ And Unleash Powerful New Single ‘Lost Soul’

Mongolian folk-metal trailblazers The Hu have announced their highly anticipated third studio album HUN, set for release on 24th July, alongside the arrival of a brand-new single, Lost Soul, featuring Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More.

Xiu Xiu (Joe Stewart)

Xiu Xiu Reimagine David Lynch’s Eraserhead With Haunting New Album And Live Experience

Experimental icons Xiu Xiu have announced an ambitious new project titled Eraserhead Xiu Xiu, an immersive reinterpretation of Eraserhead set for release on 10th July.

Smithfield (Press)

Smithfield Announce UK Return With Headline Tour And New Single ‘Let You’

Texas-raised, Nashville-based country duo Smithfield have announced a string of UK headline dates for later this year, marking their long-awaited return to British stages following their breakout appearances at C2C London in 2023. The tour will see the duo perform across England alongside a headline slot at the British Country Music Festival in Blackpool.

Cherry i (Zero Poffenroth)

Cherry i Announce Debut EP ‘Yes, but I could never tell that lie’ And Share Haunting New Single ‘Arctic Sun’

Emerging London art-rock outfit Cherry i have unveiled their gripping new single Arctic Sun while announcing details of their debut EP Yes, but I could never tell that lie, set for release on 17th July.

Jenny Gillespie Mason (Press)

Jenny Gillespie Mason Illuminates With New Single ‘Medicine Of Light’ Ahead Of Upcoming Album

Jenny Gillespie Mason has unveiled her evocative new single Medicine Of Light, the latest preview of her forthcoming album In The Safety Of The Light, arriving on 12th June via Native Cat Recordings.

Lowertown (Reno Silver)

Lowertown Unveil Final Ugly Duckling Union Preview With ‘Mice Protection’ And Announce UK & Ireland Tour

New York duo Lowertown have shared the final preview of their upcoming album Ugly Duckling Union with the release of new single Mice Protection, arriving ahead of the record’s release this Friday via Summer Shade. Alongside the single, the band have also confirmed a fresh run of UK and European live dates for September, including appearances in Dublin, Manchester, Bristol and London.

ATEEZ (Press)

ATEEZ Announced As BST Hyde Park 2026 UK Exclusive Headliners

South Korean global phenomenon ATEEZ are set to make their biggest UK festival appearance to date after being announced as UK exclusive headliners for BST Hyde Park 2026 on Sunday 28th June.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing