It took them 30 years to get here, but it was worth it.
The Kentucky Headhunters guitarist Richard Young is spot on a lot during the evening, not least when he says this: “next time we come over”, he offers. “We are gonna be opening for Bad Touch.”
Granted, at the current rate it’ll be about 2046 when this happens, but let him off as he’s a good judge. Bad Touch are getting better and better and as time has gone by they’ve seemed to settle in to the pattern of being a kind of British Black Crowes. There’s a definite southern twang about work like “Preacher”, but there’s a lot more to them. Not least the glorious fun of new song “99%” which swaggers and swings a little like The Rolling Stones halfway through a hell of a session. They’ve also got a fine front man in Stevie, and if he’s not quite as dapper as he used to be, then he’s still a brilliant rock n roll singer. Their 45 minute set, which ends with “Down”, is one with so much to commend it that surely Bad Touch must – as Young predicts – be set for a breakthrough.
Richard Young, it turns out, is a central figure to the proceedings. And the man who’s son thumps the tubs in Black Stone Cherry – a tshirt he sports tonight – is the reason that this is the band’s first ever tour of Europe. A crippling fear of flying means he’s setting foot outside the US for the first time.
But happily now here, they are clearly anxious to make up for lost time and just enjoy the time on stage. Certainly the four piece are evidently thrilled to be on these shores and their loose limbed, bluesy countryfied rock n roll is shot through with tremendous quality and a sense of excitement.
With a new album out, the set swings cheerfully from the new to old with abandon. The brilliant “Stumblin'” which sounds like something Dan Baird would cook up, and the classics “Have You Ever Loved A Woman” and “House Of The Rising Son” are all here, as well as some things that TKH have had in their arsenal for decades, like “Chitlin’ Time”.
Just immensely good fun, a cardboard cut out of Eric Clapton is brought out for “Crossroads” and returns for “Spirit In The Sky” and when avuncular singer Doug Phelps – who had earlier joked “I’ve been in the band 30 years so I’m the new boy” – sings the line about “you’ve got a friend in Jesus” guitarist Greg Martin merrily lifts it up and shouts “and he’s here Bilston…..”
It’s that kind of night, this is that kind of band. Snippets of “Favourite Things” and “Eleanor Rigby” are played , seemingly just because, and the encore of “Don’t Let Me Down” which morphs into “Hey Jude”, is says Young – who’s brother Fred makes up the quartet and had earlier played a skilful solo – a homage to the music of this country he’s been enthralled with for over 50 years.
It’s trite to say you hope they don’t leave it as long next time, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Even if they don’t ever make it back here, however, The Kentucky Headhunters were on stage tonight and it was glorious.