The last date of the last tour…..
Like the song that’s playing as King King enter the stage says, it’s “All Right Now.” For a while there, it looked a bit dodgy. Alan Nimmo – frontman and focal point in what is, quite simply, the finest blues band on planet rock right now had operations on his throat last summer. This show was postponed from last November and as he walks on tonight and the lights go up, (not down) the huge cheer is testament to just how much the four have been missed – and dare we say it is indicative of a little bit of relief too.
But we’ll get to that.Right after we’ve discussed the continual rise of Broken Witt Rebels. In the last year their improvement has been startling. Local lads, they might stroll onstage with a casual “‘ow am ya?” (hello, if you aren’t from Birmingham and the Black Country), and they do so with air of a band who is absolutely sure of its ability to make a genuine breakthrough. Their accents are the only thing that gives them away as Brummies, mind you, as the rest of what they do is as whiskey soaked and southern as it comes. In Danny Core they have a singer with rare passion and his deep tones are evident right from opener “Low”. Their added maturity is now all over work like the the old time bluesy stomp of “Turn Me On” and “Getaway Man” is perhaps even better. New tune “Snake Eyes” shows their growth and gives more weight to the argument that BWR are potentially a serious big deal. Guitarist James Tranter knows his way around a memorable lick too and “Guns” is short and sharp. Core is confident enough to call for a sing song – and gets it too. As “Shake Me Down” ends another half an hour that has won another crowd in another town, the thought crosses minds that it will not be the last and Broken Witt Rebels are only getting started.
“Yeah, so, this is the last night of the last tour”. Alan Nimmo is, as ever, addressing the crowd in the second song “Wait In Time”. He’s alluding to the fact that they should have been here four months ago, and as Paul Rodgers suggests, everything is “All Right Now”. Certainly, the beaming smiles on the collective faces of King King seems to suggest that sentiment is bang on the money. And let’s be honest, a gig like this – 700 or so punters who know just about every word is their natural habitat. And on such an evening there’s no one better.
There is something very special about this band and about these songs. The set hasn’t changed a great deal in the last couple of years. Frankie Miller’s “Jealousy” has gone, to be be replaced by “Take A Look” – apparently because it’s the Merch Guy – cum – driver, Mick’s favourite song. You can believe it too, given there is such a warmth and family feel about King King.
But none of it would matter if they hadn’t got such brilliant songs. They have, by the bucketful and they merrily play 11 of them tonight. “Lose Control” is a wonderful rock song, the aforementioned “Wait On Time” gives Nimmo the chance to show he’s one of the finest guitar players around, and then there’s “Rush Hour”. Fast becoming their – and the crowd’s – anthem, it is a stone cold modern blues classic.
“You Stopped The Rain” – as ever dedicated to big brother Stevie – is light and airy, “Long History Of Love” is, like so many others here, elevated by the incredible Hammond Organ playing of Bob Fridzema, while “Stranger To Love” is still the perfect closing number.
As is usually the case, “Let Love In” provides an uplifting encore, and like “All Your Life” from a little earlier, it gives a chance from King King to strut their funkier stuff, which they do with great aplomb, as Wayne Proctor on drums and Lindsey Coulson on bass come to the fore. They are joined for this by Broken Witt Rebels as if to exemplify the sense of camaraderie that has permeated the whole evening.
That, really, sums up King King. Four brilliant musicians, with superb songs, but also every time they play, they look like there’s nowhere on earth they’d rather be. So, all right now? You bet.
Photos by Martin Tierney
KING KING – APRIL & MAY 2017 UK TOUR
Very special guest to be announced soon
APRIL 2017
Corby, The Cube
Thursday 20 April
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01536 470470
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
George Street, Corby, Northants, NN17 1QG
www.thecorecorby.com
Tavistock Wharf
Friday 21 April
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01822 611 166
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com, www.wegottickets.com
Canal Road Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8AT
www.tavistockwharf.com/home
Wimborne Tivoli
Saturday 22 April
Tickets £20 / Venue Box Office: 01202 885 566
West Borough Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 1LT
www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk
Bristol Fleece
Saturday 23 April
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 0117 945 0996
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com,
www.bristolticketshop.co.uk, www.seetickets.com
12 St. Thomas Street, Bristol, BSI 1LT
http://thefleece.co.uk
Basingstoke Haymarket
Thursday 27 April
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01256 844 244
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Wote Street, Basingstoke RG21 7NE
www.anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on
Bury St. Edmunds, The Apex
Friday 28 April
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 01824 758 000
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
www.theapex.co.uk
Dartford, Mick Jagger Centre
Saturday 29 April
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01322 291 100
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Shepherds Lane, Dartford, Kent, DA1 2JZ
www.themickjaggercentre.com
Chinnerys Southend
Sunday 30 April
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue box office: 01702 467305
Book online: www.thegigcartel.com
21/22 Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2EJ
www.chinnerys.co.uk
MAY 2017
Kendal Brewery
Thursday 4 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01539 725133
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
122a Highgate, Kendal, Lancashire, LA9 4HE
www.breweryarts.co.uk
Glasgow O2 ABC
Friday 5 May
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0141 332 2232
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
www.o2abcglasgow.co.uk
121 Eglington Street, Glasgow, G5 9NT
Glasgow O2 AB – Official Website
Holmfirth Picturedrome
Saturday 6 May
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Market Walk, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 7DA
www.picturedrome.net
Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Sunday May 7
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 0115 828 3173
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com, www.alttickets.com
Masonic Place, Goldsmiths Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LB
www.rescuerooms.com
Newcastle Wylam Brewery
Thursday 11 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 0191 650 0651
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park, Newcastle, NE2 4PZ
www.wylambrewery.co.uk
Glenrothes Rothes Hall
Friday 12 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01592 611101
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Kingdom Shopping Centre, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX
www.onfife.com/venues/rothes-halls
Inverness Ironworks
Saturday 13 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 0871 789 4173
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
122b Academy Street, Inverness, Scotland, IVI 1LX
www.ironworksvenue.com
Aberdeen Lemon Tree
Sunday 14 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Venue Box Office: 01224 641 122
5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
Leamington Spa Assembly
Thursday 18 May
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0844 854 1358
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Venue Enquiries: 01926 311 311
Spencer St, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3NF
www.leamingtonassembly.com
Harpenden Public Halls
Friday 19 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01582 767 525
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Southdown Road, Harpenden, AL5 1PD
www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk
Southport Atkinson
Saturday 20 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office: 01704 533 333
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB
www.theatkinson.co.uk
York Fibbers
Sunday 21 May
Tickets: £20 / 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Venue Box Office:
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
3-5 Toft Green, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6JT
www.fibbers.co.uk
