The White Buffalo / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

Jul 23

Jul 23 The White Buffalo / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

A trip into town tonight and the Rescue Rooms, for another dose of American southern rock. A while back we saw the excellent Sons of Liberty and Preacher Stone onboard Thekla in Bristol, and I was really looking forward to this one.

A packed house tonight as support act L.A. Edwards tako to the stage. A new one to me, I’d not heard of them before. Luke Andrew Edwards and his band, including brothers Jay on guitar and Jerry on drums. We enjoy a set of great rock, their sound influenced by the likes of Creedance Clearwater Revival, creating a sun-kissed Californian rock tone. A great set, ending with a track dedicated to their mum, as the three brothers group round the mic to sing together. One I’ve been listening to since on Spotify and would love to see again.

A quick change round and we were ready for the man himself Jake Smith, better known as The White Buffalo. A singer/songwriter from Oregon with a baritone voice to die for, with an incredible range and pitch ! Grew up influenced by great folk musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle and Bob Dylan. With seven studio albums to his name, the latest being the excellent “Year of the Dark Horse” released in 2022, he has also produced music for a number of well known TV and movie productions including Californication, Longmire, This is Us, The Punisher and most his most well known work….

Don’t know what show I’m on about ? Remember the final scene as Jax rides his Harley into an oncoming truck pursued by a fleet of cop cars in Sons of Anarchy? Well, that final track in the show was Come Join the Murder by Jake. He provided a number of notable tracks to the show including a wonderful cover of The House of the Rising Sun, Oh Darlin' What Have I Done and The Whistler.

The set tonight is a great mix from his back catalogue with some of the ever popular SoA songs thrown in too. There’s a wonderful blend of fast and slower paced tracks, and Jake is supported by some outstanding musicians, with Matt Lynott on drums and the energetic Christopher Hoffee on bass. Indeed Christopher is strutting round the stage while Matt has an air of cool calm on the drums. He bashes out some great rhythms almost effortlessly, and it’s mesmerising to watch. It’s nice to see the drummer up front in line with Jake and Christopher. Makes a refreshing change !

It’s an energetic performance, held together by that powerful vocal tone, which resonates round the venue. There’s some chat and interaction, but tonight is all about the music and the performance…. Which is flawless.

Of course the Sons of Anarchy numbers are a big hit with the crowd, as he performs The Whistler, Oh Darlin' What Have I Done (from a key point in Series 6… give it a watch !), and not forgetting the wonderful slow and dark tones of Join the Murder the shows finale. All performed exceptionally.

For me, my highlight tracks were the opening number, taken from 2022’s latest album “Year of the Dark Horse” Not Today a faster one and rousing, just what you need to get the crowd going early on.

I loved I Got You a sad, slow ballad from 2015’s “Love and the Death of Damnation”. The lyrics are wonderfully descriptive and emotional on this tale of difficult love and relationships “It ain't about the dishes or your piles of junk, I'm just sick of you being drunk. Every solitary bone inside of me,

Telling me that it's my time to leave. But I ain't got no bones in my heart, I got you”.

For the finale, we go right back to his second album from 2012 “Once Upon a Time in the West” for Wish It Was True. Slow and dripping with emotion it has the audience stunned in silence as his story telling is shown at it’s absolute best “Mother, I tried to do right by you. To do what you asked me to. I did wrong and I knew. Mother I tried to behave for you. Now I'm a digging a grave for you. It was all I could do. Find a way back home, make everything new, But I wish it was true”.

But we have to end on something upbeat, fast and fun, so it’s right back to 2012’s “Once Upon a Time in the West” and How the West Was Won to round off the night. Southern Americana at its best, with it’s fast tempo and boot stomping tempo, it has the crowd moving one last time.

A thoroughly enjoyable night. I loved Preacher Stone, and The White Buffalo is right on up there, with something for everyone. Watch out for another tour…. It’s one not to miss.

Set List

Not Today

Winter Act 2

Set My Body Free

Problem Solution

Love Song #1

Kingdom For A Fool

Into the Sun

C'mon Come Up Come Out

Oh Darlin' What Have I Done

John Jameson

Home Is in Your Arms