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

Garbage @ Roundhouse (Kalpesh Patel)

Garbage Celebrate Three Decades Of Defiance At London’s Roundhouse

Thirty years into a career built on challenging convention, Garbage arrive at London’s Roundhouse looking anything but content to trade on nostalgia. Despite three decades of touring the capital, tonight marks the band’s first appearance at the iconic Camden venue, and from the moment Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, Butch Vig and touring bassist Nicole Fiorentino step onto the stage, they perform with the urgency of a band still determined to push forwards rather than look back.

Nathan Leaze EP Launch @ Strand Palace Hotel (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Dreaming Of A Memory: Nathan Leazer’s Songs, Stories And Second Chances

There are album launches, and then there are evenings that feel more like an invitation into somebody’s life. Nathan Leazer’s Dreaming Of A Memory EP launch at The Strand Palace Hotel was firmly the latter.

Alison Goldfrapp @ Summer Series Somerset House 2023 (Simon Reed)

Somerset House Summer Series Gets Underway As 2026 Festival Brings Eleven Nights Of Live Music To London

One of London's most eagerly anticipated outdoor concert series returns today (16 July) as Somerset House Summer...
Lifehouse @ O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (Kalpesh Patel)

Full Circle At O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire: Lifehouse Return To London In Intimate Acoustic Triumph

There are gigs that simply entertain, and then there are gigs that transport you. Lifehouse’s long-overdue return to London at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire is very much the latter. Eleven years since their last visit to the capital, Jason Wade and longtime guitarist Steve Stout strip everything back for the second of two London acoustic shows—following the previous evening’s performance at nearby Bush Hall—and in doing so remind a packed Shepherd’s Bush Empire exactly why these songs have endured for a quarter of a century.

Metallica @ London Stadium (Neil Lupin)

Metallica Double Up For A No Repeat Weekend At London Stadium

It’s the first weekend in July and The Metal has taken over Westfield Stratford. Friday evening shoppers mingle with sweaty black clad rockers, because Metallica have brought their No Repeat Weekend M72 tour to this corner of East London. Now into it’s fourth year, the final weekend of this tour will see the metal giants play two completely different sets over Friday and Sunday night at London Stadium — an immense treat for the diehards, and introducing some deeper cuts for the casuals, providing something for everyone.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Builds On Breakthrough Success With Intimate New Single ‘Track Team’

Rising singer-songwriter Sydney Rose has returned with her latest single, Track Team, continuing the remarkable momentum that has transformed the Georgia-born, Nashville-based artist into one of alternative pop’s fastest-rising new voices.

Duran Duran @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Sienna Lorraine Gray)

Duran Duran Crown A Sun-Soaked Day Of Pop Royalty At BST Hyde Park 2026

It was yet another warm, sunny London day, the start of the country’s next heatwave, as thousands descended on Hyde Park for the final day of the second BST Hyde Park weekend of 2026. There was another event looming over the evening too: England’s World Cup Round of 16 clash with Mexico, kicking off at the decidedly unsociable hour of 1am. Football could wait though. Sunday belonged to disco legends, glam-pop icons and one of Britain’s most enduring bands as Duran Duran headlined a day that effortlessly balanced nostalgia with timeless musicianship.

The Script (Simon Emmett)

The Script Celebrate Friendship And Forgiveness On New Single ‘The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall’

The Script have shared the latest preview of their forthcoming album The User’s Guide To Being Human with the release of the uplifting new single The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall. Arriving ahead of the band’s eagerly anticipated new album on 14th August, the track follows the anthemic lead single Man In The Arena and continues to showcase a record that promises to balance heartfelt storytelling with the arena-sized choruses that have become synonymous with The Script throughout their career.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing