In a week or so’s time, I’m going to be watching The Almighty. They are, probably, my favourite band. At some point, they’ll play “Free N Easy” and I’ll be excited. I’ve heard it a million times. I’m in my late 40s.
The reason for telling you this? Well, over the last decade, I’ve watched King King more than any other group. And, although I can’t be certain about this, every time I’ve seen them I reckon they’ve played “Rush Hour” as they do here. This must be close on 30 times, and every single time it has been stunning.
This is billed as the “Where It Began” Tour, a set of shows that see KK on the stages they’d played in their early days and it’s apt. Certainly, it feels like they’re amongst friends here, and when they’re amongst friends King King are as good as it gets.
Look, this is the same set, more or less, they’d played earlier this year. “Dance Together” from their 2020 album “Maverick”, still their most recent, opens things, “Long Time Running” and “Heed The Warning” from “Exile And Grace” make up the opening few from the more recent past.
Those songs are superb, as are everything they do. “By Your Side” – a personal song to frontman Alan Nimmo – is dedicated to the late, and still great Bernie Marsden (and aborted after a fit of the giggles).
The band are clever too. They know how to pace a set as well as anyone does, “Lose Control” – a trip back to the early days – and “Long History Of Love” underpin the middle of the set with “Waking Up” a catchy singalong.
And whatever they do, it is shot through with a class, a skill and a warmth. There’s been more line-up changes than you can count, but I’d contend that adding Stevie Nimmo and the new rhythm section a few years back, makes this line up the best they’ve had. It’s a big call, yes, but Jonny Dyke has filled Bob Fridzema’s shoes astonishingly and when they all kick in on “Whatever It Takes To Survive” (dedicated to Danny Bowes), they’re marvellous.
“You Stopped The Rain” is another from the same school as “….Hour” where familiarity breeds love. Indeed, it’s impossible not to love the band, ending their set with “I Will Not Fall”, Stevie taking centre stage and the brothers playing their best Thin Lizzy to the finishing riff.
No one’s taking Alan’s limelight in “Stranger To Love”, though. His solo – as ever – is stunning. And when he plays with no amp, as he always does, you can hear a pin drop.
As a case in point to sum up the evening that will do: you know what’s coming. It is brilliant, still.
King King are, arguably, one of the finest rock bands in the UK. They were its finest Blues Rock outfit, but these days they’re more Bad Company, Thunder or Free. They’ve got a new album out next year apparently, but that’s for the future, tonight was all about wallowing in the history of the Kings.
