Project Description

BLACK STONE CHERRY

@ The Factory (21 April 2017)

(Live Review)

 

Black Stone Cherry

 

Flannel…flannel, far as the eye can see. And trucker caps and beards. Dudes who look like they could be bikies, but aren’t. Dudes who drink whiskey from a tin. This is the crowd milling about waiting for Black Stone Cherry to begin as Chase the Sun burn the stage up with a particularly heavy brand of blues and rock n roll.

When Black Stone Cherry do hit the stage it’s with an explosion. They maintain that level of intensity from start to finish; it’s a super-energetic powerhouse performance from the first note to the last. A cover of George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone seems completely appropriate. They do a couple of other covers as well, including Hendrix’s Voodoo Child and a burst of Zepplin’s Whole Lotta Love that leads into crowd favourite Cheaper to Drink Alone.

 

Black Stone Cherry

Black Stone Cherry @ Capitol 24/04/17 – Photo Josefin Westling

 

As a frontman Chris Robertson is pretty understated but when he opens up those pipes there is little doubting that he has the chops. Robertson’s voice is both a blessing and a curse in that its so damn honey smooth that when you hear it on record you aren’t sure you’re not hearing something with a little too much pop in it. Live though, it’s a whole different story, this band are raw and gritty and soaked in whiskey and much heavier than what the stuff that comes out of the studio would suggest.

 

Black Stone Cherry

Black Stone Cherry @ The Corner Hotel 23/04/17 – Photo Andrew Basso

 

Things my Father Said was another highlight, but it’s just one among a set full of tracks that get this audience excited. Perhaps the moment that really brings everything together is the part of the show where drummer John Fred Young and bass player Jon Lawhon exit the stage and leave guitarist Ben Wells and Robertson to play The Rambler as a two piece. The lead in to the track conveys just how much it means to the band and that comes through as they belt this ballad of the road weary road dog.

When it’s Young’s time to shine he fucking nails it. His initial drum solo probably goes on much too long, but has there ever been a drum solo that didn’t? At one point Young uses one stick to smash the skins and the other to jam a blues harp in his mouth, which he uses to blow the fucking roof off the joint. The effect is nothing short of spectacular.

 

Black Stone Cherry

Black Stone Cherry @ The Factory Theatre 21/04/17 – Photo John Dehaan

 

Robertson and Wells both get their turn to solo at centre stage and there is no question this pair of good ol boys can play, Robertson ripping blistering licks out of his old Gibson that are as Southern as the Skynyrd legacy demands.

The show rounds out with Robertson, Lawhon and Wells facing each other in a tight circle playing guitars behind their heads. This is proper rock n roll showmanship like it used to taste.

 

Black Stone Cherry

 

Check out Josefin Westling’s gallery of the Perth “Capitol” show HERE

Check out Andrew Basso’s gallery of the Melbourne “The Corner” show HERE

Check out Josefin Westling’s gallery of the Perth “Capitol” show HERE

 

AMNPLIFY – DB