During Preacher Stone’s set, Ronnie Riddle pauses and says something that cuts straight to the point. People keep telling him they wish there were more people here tonight. His answer is blunt: that doesn’t matter. You’re here. We’re playing for you. Hold on to that, because everything that follows — from the first note to the last — proves exactly why he’s right.
Before that, Revenant have come up from the south of England, and for a band formed in 2023 there’s already a sense of resilience about them. I’ve seen plenty of bands head out on the road running on little more than blind faith, but there’s a brightness here — a belief in what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. They’ve only seen rain on this tour so far, which feels about right for a UK tour.
They open with “Public Service Announcement”, which immediately sets the tone. It feels exactly like that — a statement. From there, “Best Medicine” backs it up, full of energy and momentum, reinforcing the idea that this kind of music can still act as therapy.
Singer Sam Lay talks openly about mental health during the set, and that theme runs directly through “The Masquerade”. It’s a superb track — driving, direct, and heavy — proving these subjects don’t need to be handled delicately to land with real impact.
That thread continues into “Black Dogs and Sad Men”, the title track of their latest EP, which carries real weight and conviction. There’s no artifice here — just honesty delivered with power.
They also play “Coming Back To Life”, which Sam explains is about his ex-wife. It’s a tremendous song, personal and unguarded, and another example of how Revenant turn lived experience into something that connects.
They finish with “I’ll Be There”, and by the end of the set it’s clear that Revenant are everything you’d want them to be at this stage — a band of real skill, with belief in what they’re doing.
Preacher Stone arrive from North Carolina as a five-piece with everything you want from southern rock: swagger, soul, and a blue-collar, working-man attitude. And yes — they look like rock stars. That’s the point. This is a band that does it properly.
Not for nothing do they open straight into “Hard Life PHD”, and you immediately get the impression these songs have come from the school of hard knocks. More than that, they revel in it. This is lived-in rock ’n’ roll, delivered with conviction.
“By The Horns”, the title track of their last album, leans hard into the good-times spirit. The crowd might be small tonight, but that doesn’t dilute it for a second — if anything, it sharpens the connection.
When Riddle talks about the audiences they play best to — working-class people who graft, who’ve lived, who’ve taken a few hits — it leads straight into “Old Fashioned Ass Whoopin’ Sum Bitch”. It’s the perfect fit: all swagger and attitude, powered by some genuinely stunning twin-guitar work.
“That’s Just The Whiskey Talking” gives way to “Dance With The Devil”, which begins with bassist Ben launching into “Blessing and a Curse” — fittingly on his birthday. It’s his moment and he ends up offstage and amongst the crowd, grinning his way through it.
As the set builds, the musicianship really comes to the fore. Wyatt’s drum solo thunders through the room, while Darrell’s riffing all night is sharp, heavy, and purposeful — the kind of playing that anchors everything else.
There’s a brief turn toward the blues with “Horse To Water”, but Preacher Stone never lose their grip. Lesser bands might drift off here; these don’t. This is still rock ’n’ roll, just with a bit of dirt under the nails.
“Think By Now” is huge fun but clearly comes from the heart. Riddle points out he’s old enough to know better — and old enough not to give a damn either — and that balance runs right through the band.
They close the night with “Day Late”. Earlier, Riddle had mentioned “Not Today” and how Sons of Anarchy gave the band a break that helped them get across the world to play nights like this. Maybe that opened a door. What keeps it open is their ability to apply songs directly to people.
Which brings it right back to where we started.
It’s never just only rock ’n’ roll. It’s more important.
It doesn’t matter how many people are in the room.
It matters that you’re there — and that this band is playing for you.
And nights like this are exactly why we still care.
