Son’s of Liberty & Preacher Stone / Thekla / Bristol
A crazy busy week with work and some top notch live music already booked in, a work trip to Bristol offered the opportunity to see what bands were in town, and I came across Son’s of Liberty & Preacher Stone at Thekla. I’d not heard of either band before and thanks to ONeillPR for the late request approval, I headed on down to the Bristol waterfront, and one of my favourite live music venues.
This is a short intense schedule co-headline tour with 9 shows in 10 nights, starting off tonight in Son’s of Liberty’s home town.
Set up at the front of the stage, the lights dimmed and out stepped Preacher Stone into the limelight. An American southern rock/classic rock band formed in 2008, in North Carolina, by Marty Hill and Ronnie Riddle and tonight’s line-up consisted of Marty Hill (Lead guitar), Ronnie Riddle (Lead vocals), Ben Robinson (Lead guitar), Josh Wyatt (Drums), and Jim Bolt (Bass).
They released their debut album in 2009, and came to the wider publics attention after one of their tracks Not Today was used on the hugely popular TV series Sons of Anarchy launched the band using their music on two seasons.
Preacher Stone have performed as headliners across the US and Europe and have supported the likes of Blackberry Smoke, ZZ Top, Black Stone Cherry, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet
Playing for an hour and 15 minutes this was a rip roaring set of high octane, loud Southern Rock. The musicianship was outstanding and the tone, although loud, was crisp and clear throughout. Ronnie is a great frontman, interacting with ease with the Bristol crowd at every opportunity, explaining the track meanings.
Highlilghts ? Well there were loads to be frank ! Probably my favourite was That’s Just the Whiskey Talking a great foot stompin’ number but before that was a great rendition of Old Fashioned Ass Whoopin’ Sum Bitch, a gnarly mix of Skynyrd and Outlaws guitar work with great vocals.
Of course Not Today is instantly recognisable and pretty damn amazing too. As Hard Life fades away, Josh Wyatt entertains the crowd with an outstanding drum solo while the rest get a break, with some great quirky drum patterns in there. Top stuff !
New track My My My and the wonderful Save My Soul were other highlights too.
As the set came to an end, the final three songs ran into each other, starting off with Remedy, Day Late and finally Come Together which is a great closer. Day Late was brilliant, and was as heavy as f*ck blurring boundaries between genres.
If you already like Southern Rock, then Preacher Stone are one of the best around full stop, and if you don’t know much about the genre, then this is definitely a band to give a listen to, and get excited about, and if you really like them, become part of the Preacher Stone’s congregation. I couldn’t fault the set if I’m honest. Great lyrics, vocals, instrument skills, fun and engaging, it had it all.
Set List
Mother to Bed
Lazarus
Can’t Keep a Good Man Down
Old Fashioned Ass Whooppin’ Sum Bitch
That’s Just the Whiskey Talking
Living Proof
Not Today
Hard Life
(Drum solo)
Dance
My My My
Save My Soul
Remedy
Day Late
Come Together
A quick change round and sound check and we’re ready for the arrive of hometown boys the Son’s of Liberty, who have established themselves as one of the best UK Southern Rock bands with a reputation for blisteringly good live performances. Sons of Liberty are Rob Walker (Vocals), Fred Hale (Lead Guitar), Andy Muse (Lead Guitar), Mark Thomas (Bass) and Steve Byrne (Drums).
They released their debut album “Animism” in 2020, followed up in 2021 by the release of “Aces & Eights”.
Lights out, the band come on to the stage to a loud cheer from a tight knit crowd. The set starts with It’s My Bad and right away you could see the differences from Preacher Stone. For me, Preacher Stone were ‘crisper’ and had a clearer sound and tone, whereas Son’s of Liberty had a heavier, fuzzy sometimes metal influenced rock feel to them. The two differing styles and approaches worked brilliantly together. Southern Rock…. The same, but different, making it a varied night and they delivered some stand out tracks.
Up Shit Creek is a gnarly rasping number with a heavy fuzzy riff to open it along with a pounding drum track. Indeed Steve Byrne’s drumming was a real highlight for me, as he almost waved his hands lightly across the skins and cymbals effortlessly somehow creating a huge sound. Mark’s bass chords give the rhythm a really groovy funky feel too. What a start so far !
With Dead Man's Hand we get a lovely, more bluesy riff intro before the track builds in intensity with Steve’s snare driving the punch. The guitar playing is sublime on this one and Fred Hale is a great entertainer, pulling shapes for the camera (thanks !) and the crowd.
“Who likes beef jerky?” shouts Rob, the crowd cheer back, which is good as the next track Beef Jerky Boogie might have been lost on some otherwise lol. It’s a slow burner to start, but kicks into life with a pounding bass kick and more fuzzy rasping guitars, there’s little boogie woogie in here, but there is a whole lot of energy and intensity from the boys. It builds to a glorious wall of noise.
Damned If You Do is a highlight of the guitar skills on offer tonight as Fred and Andy shred out the chords, Rob calls for the crowd to raise their hands and clap along as we all do. It’s an infectious one with it’s slick guitar tones and killer grooves.
Perhaps my favourite track of the set was Fire & Gasoline with it’s thundering vocals which blast out at us backed up by a killer riff. The guitars build to a powerhouse sound and the crowd eagerly join in the chorus shouts of “Fire & Gasoline”.
As the set draws to a close, we get Ruby Starr a beautiful blues rock intro before the powering beats rear up once again. The guitars growl and have a real rawness to them while the snare drum drives the rythym and punches us hard.
The vocals are rasping and raw and are full of emotion and attitude. Everything builds in intensity to a full on wall of sound, dipping momentarily or the guitars to indulge in a battle with the crowd, alternating riffs and cheers, before the wall hits us again, ending the show in dramatic style.
Set List
It's My Bad
Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man Thief
Up Shit Creek
Damaged Reputation
Texas Hill Country
Black Blizzard
Don't Hide Behind Your Weakness
Dixie Whiskey
I Come in Peace
Dead Man's Hand
Free Man
Damned If You Do
Beef Jerky Boogie
Brotherhood & Into the Great Unknown (solo)
Fire & Gasoline
Ruby Starr
So overall ? I’d not seen or heard of either band before, and to be honest I was just looking for a good night of solid music to enjoy. I’ve covered some big big shows recently, at large venues that everyone wants to cover. Tonight was something very special. I can’t quite explain it. Southern Rock is not my day to day genre of choice, but I think these two bands complement each other perfectly. Different styles and take on the genre, but both incredibly talented and engaging with their audience. I can’t think of one thing I would be critical of or want to change.
I was on the train heading to Leeds for work and for the Don Broco show tonight. As we travelled through Chesterfield, I thought about getting off and going see them again tonight at Real Time Live ! I might well drop in next week to the Leicester show !
A stunning night of entertainment, and thoroughly recommended
Son’s of Liberty / Preacher Stone 2023 UK Tour Dates
23/03 Real Time Live – Chesterfield
24/03 Hard Rock Café – Glasgow
25/03 Bannerman’s – Edinburgh
26/03 Trillians – Newcastle
28/03 The Musician – Leicester
29/03 Nightrain – Bradford
30/03 The Victoria – Swindon
31/03 Leo’s Red Lion – Gravesend
