Rival Sons bring their blues rock back to Luxembourg

by Patrick Cameron

Wednesday night saw the return of Rival Sons to den Atelier. They’ve played Luxembourg a lot over the years, well actually they’ve played everywhere a lot over the last few years.

They’ve been touring solidly ever since their self released debut album back in 2009. This includes tour supports with Alice Cooper and AC/DC, who they supported again just a couple of nights ago in Belgium, as well as a European tour support with Deep Purple later this year.

Their latest album ‘Great Western Valkyrie’ has been their most successful to date and they’re now ready to capitalise on that success.

They opened proceedings with ‘Electric Man’ off the new album and what a way to start the evening, full power, blues rock at its finest with the attitude and swagger flowing out from every chord. There is something quite honest and primal about blues rock that makes those hairs on the back of your neck tingle.

There was no let up as they dropped in the heavier riffs of ‘Secret’, which then meandered into a nice blues jam. Frontman Jay Buchanan looked like a man possessed for the first few songs, eyes shut and with his body jolting to every beat.

Then ‘Manifest Destiny Pt.1’, it moved from stoner rock to an all out psychedelic jam, with guitarist Scott Holiday showing us just how good a guitarist he is, Buchanan takes this time to lean against the light rigging at the side of the stage, eyes closed just feeling the whole experience.

It was then back to straight up blues, with Holiday holding the attention of the crowd as he took us through the ever effective use of blues riffs with the band slowly coming in to build up ‘Torture’, they got the whole crowd singing along at that point and after the band finished, the crowd continued to sing back to the them. Nothing was stopping them whilstin full flow,even Todd Ögren-Brooks on keyboard took this moment to take his phone out and film the audience.

It was apparent from the beginning that Buchanan’s vocals came across better live than on record and with ‘Tell Me Something’ he seemed to channel Paul Rodgers of Free.

They seemed toenjoy themselves last night and as a result Buchanan told the crowd why waste time with the encore ritual when the momentum is so good, I couldn’t agree more.

They finished the night with the energy they started with, on ‘Open My Eyes’ & Keep On Swinging’ it’s was an onslaught of blues rock that was most welcome.

For years a friend of mine has championed Rival Sons and told me to see them live but for some unknown reason their albums have just never connected with me, bearing in mind I love my blues rock but I can well and truly say it all clicked last night.

They had what you want from a true rock and roll band, searing guitar and soaring vocals. Think I’ll revisit those albums again.

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