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Review: Husky Tones, Crofters Rights
When you’re launching your debut LP, it’s a great idea to warm up with a few covers and it’s an essential move to play a huge chunk of said LP; but it’s an audacious move to play a Nina Simone cover as your first tune. Fortunately the Husky Tones had the chops to pull off the music and Victoria Bourne the pipes to do the song justice, even more impressive given that she’s also front and centre as the band’s drummer.
The launch of Time for a Change was always going to be a great night though – the band have honed their blues chops over numerous live gigs – and the early release of I Dare You as the lead tune suggested the LP was going to be a scorcher. But the gig itself exceeded expectations, with guest appearances, a jiving audience and nearly two hours of sizzling blues. Opening with covers not only allowed the band to warm up themselves and the audience, but also allowed them to stretch those tunes in some different directions – Chris Harper (guitar) ably demonstrating his ability to play conventional blues solos n riffs and also twisting familiar Wolf and Muddy songs in unexpected directions.
The bulk of the set was the new LP in full, albeit played in a different sequence to the recording, and the material certainly fitted in with the covers in terms of both quality and delivery. Rent Party is a sure fire set opener – keeping the crowd grooving – and the bass-less Uncle Walter made a great change of pace. Ken Pustelnik (original Groundhogs man and now fronting a 21st century version) took over the drums for a punky Fortune Seeker allowing Victoria the chance to pogo her way through the number, although with some restraint having had a “Dave Grohl” moment prior to the gig and narrowly avoiding show threatening limb damage. Of course credit also has to be given to the rest of the band: Matthew Richards an unassuming presence but bass locked in with the drums to drive the pace with fluid forceful runs. Liam Ward’s harmonica not only added texture to the tunes, but complemented and competed with the guitar for a refreshing take on the standard four piece format. Smokestack Lightning concluded proceedings, the best of the covers, twisted in to a totally new twisty shape and allowing a shattered and sweaty band chance to delight the packed crowd one last time.
is needed now More than ever
So what should we conclude from the launch? Well, the LP is worthy of your hard earned cash, the band are the best dressed blues outfit this side of Vintage Trouble and you should be nagging your local venues to put the Tones on stage before the rest of the country catches on and they disappear off on a monster tour.
Photo Credit: Marcus Way
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