THE GRAVELTONES LIVE AT CAMDEN UNDERWORLD 29TH AUGUST 2014....
Musicmuso were invited to attend one of Camden's best clubs to indulge in a night of superb music from 3 acts, Mark was available so he got the ticket, here's how he got on....
Dan Dunne was the first act on, accompanied by haunting melodies from the man on the keys, a stand out track was the final song In The End. Dunne was a great opener for what we were about to receive with his mellow acoustic charm which were sensitive and warm mixed with his wonderful Hawaiian shirt!
Tax the Heat were four well-dressed gentlemen from the city of Bristol, they took to the stage and proceeded to blast through seven of their tracks, reminiscent of Blackstone Cherry. Tax The Head were onstage and announcing to the growing crowd that “they are here to spread rock n roll gospel”.
Latest single Highway Home after Caroline along with Fatal Alliance provided strong, heavy guitar riffs with blues-laden rock vocals.
A guitar solo grew silent at the end of their set; you could hear the conversations at the back of the venue (pet hate of mine along with people using mobile phones to record). These were a superb band to get the crowd warmed up for The Graveltones, be sure to check them out. Walking off stage with the immortal words “We are Tax the Heat and we play rock n roll” (Copyright Lemmy).
A crowd began to swell within the Underworld, the infamous venue located in Camden Town underneath the Worlds End pub, not the one in the Simon Pegg movie.
Down in the depths of Camden High Road are T-Shirt wearing supporters of these two ex pats who met in London and one night jumped on stage at the 100 Club and have never looked back.
This here is London’s best kept loudest secret - The Graveltones. Drummer Mikey Sorbello, a man that a mountain would envy. A beard that makes envious men shudder and many women, including my girlfriend, want to get to know more. At the front of the stage stands the guitar wielding screaming frontman Jimmy O, a man who plays like he’s possessed by the Greek God of music, Apollo.
We were treated to a set full of blood sweet and tears that included ‘Forget about the Trouble’, ‘Lightning Bolt’ ‘Bang Bang’ and ‘St Lucia’ all lifted from their record ‘Don’t Wait Down’. Their finesse is phenomenal; Mikey Sorbello holding two drums sticks in each hand pounding those drums like their lives depended on it. Jimmy O is physically feeling every chord and every note. The cohesion between the two guys is that of twins who can sense what the next is about to do.
Heaving crowds formed around the stage watching Sweat fly from the cranium of the immense performer Jimmy O, whose passionate vocals include a cover of 1931 song ‘You Rascal You’, such a great piece of art, the veins seen protruding through his neck, feeling every word.
Their fan base is steadily growing; many have been with them since 2011. Their interactions are humble and beautiful to see and hear. Their passion for small venues is huge and asking the audience to check out a venue at least once a month and help keep live music going, help create as many musicians as possible is a fabulous idea that I for one already do (probably in a weekly basis) and would encourage more to follow in my footsteps.
After the electric performance that they gave us at this wonderful venue, I hope that the due, especially Jimmy O, lies down in a darkened room and relaxes. The effort and the intensity that he portrayed are next to nothing. The energy they give to their fans live will aide them in overthrowing the musical world.
The Graveltones are ready to be heard, AND WE ARE READY to grow with the music they are delivering. Welcome to London’s newest favourite sons .
Review by Mark Wincott
The band is currently on a UK/EUROPE tour, check their website for dates.
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