“Is there anybody out there?” asks Matt Pearce before launching into “I Got A Thing Going On” – and he really has. From the very first solo, it’s clear he’s nailed the rock ‘n’ soul fusion across his records, and live it burns even brighter.
It leads seamlessly into “Never Get Away From Love”, while earlier material like “All The Gods” gets an exquisite airing, reminding you just how much depth and progression Pearce has shown across his career.
The new songs crackle with energy too. “Promised Land” is inescapably vibrant, with a Santana-esque flavour running through its veins, while “Bring It Home To Me” – from his most recent record, The Soul Food Store – slows the pace in a way that makes “From Here To The Moon” crunch all the harder. The latter, with a feel like Deep Purple down a back alley, rightly gives its name to the tour, the live version bringing a fresh twist from the studio cut.
The funk is never far away either. “A Better Way” channels Supersonic Blues Machine, right down to the harmonies, and “King Of The World” carries on that vibe with its brassy swagger. Elsewhere, “Scarecrowing” takes a sharp turn into Chicago blues territory, with a solo that’s nothing short of astonishing.
And then there’s the art of the cover. To truly own a classic is no easy feat, but Pearce and the Mutiny make Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” theirs – and it’s a set highlight.
So, if Matt Pearce were to ask me what I thought of him – to horribly paraphrase one of the song’s lyrics – I’d tell him this: he and The Mutiny are simply fantastic.
