Crown-ing achievement
Eric Gales (with Danny Bryant) - Oran Mor, Glasgow, 1st April 2022
Eric Gales (with Danny Bryant) - Oran Mor, Glasgow, 1st April 2022
Touring to promote new album Crown, American blues-rock singer-guitarist Eric Gales finally made his highly anticipated (and sold-out) return to Glasgow after several cancellations (courtesy of the pandemic).
Prior to the appearance of Eric Gales and his band, British blues rock stalwart Danny Bryant, here in trio format, opened the show with a short, effective and impressive set that warmed up the crowd with a clutch of original numbers from across his career and a well-chosen cover in the shape of 'Little Wing.'
Danny Bryant also got the crowd on his side with some self-effacing humour, such as referring to his "exercise video available at the merch stall" (the big man of British blues casts a significant shadow).
Prior to the appearance of Eric Gales and his band, British blues rock stalwart Danny Bryant, here in trio format, opened the show with a short, effective and impressive set that warmed up the crowd with a clutch of original numbers from across his career and a well-chosen cover in the shape of 'Little Wing.'
Danny Bryant also got the crowd on his side with some self-effacing humour, such as referring to his "exercise video available at the merch stall" (the big man of British blues casts a significant shadow).
Interestingly The Danny Bryant Trio cut looser towards the end of the set when Bryant’s guitar solos became more adventurous (slow building, much like many of his songs, from solid and safe to seriously expressive).
Highlights of the set included a weighty 'Tired of Trying' and the slow and shufflin’ groove of 'Nine Lives' (both from the excellent Means of Escape album) and a blast from Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand past in the melodically led blues rock shape of 'Last Goodbye.'
There was a tangible sense of anticipation for the Eric Gales set, and he and his band did not disappoint right from the outset.
With a recorded version of 'O Fortuna' heightening the tension and introducing the band’s appearance on stage, the quartet launched into a spirited instrumental that led to blues standard 'Smokestack Lightning.' However, whilst Eric Gales’ music is rooted in the blues it is not an exclusive influence (more of which later).
The blues-infected, mid-tempo shuffle of 'You Don’t Know the Blues,' from new album Crown, then followed; while the song offered up great musicianship from the band the majority of the audience are in attendance to hear Eric Gales (as the gifted guitarist says himself) "play the shit out of this guitar!" (a seriously impressive player, Gales’ solo style is an amalgamation of his own virtuoso skills, Hendrix and Eric Johnson).
Eric Gales however is also an accomplished vocalist, delivering the songs with no small amount of passion.
A vocal case in point was heard on the slow and weighty 'Survivor,' a song that chronicles his own self-confessed personal struggles through autobiographical lyricism and an upbeat hook chorus.
Highlights of the set included a weighty 'Tired of Trying' and the slow and shufflin’ groove of 'Nine Lives' (both from the excellent Means of Escape album) and a blast from Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand past in the melodically led blues rock shape of 'Last Goodbye.'
There was a tangible sense of anticipation for the Eric Gales set, and he and his band did not disappoint right from the outset.
With a recorded version of 'O Fortuna' heightening the tension and introducing the band’s appearance on stage, the quartet launched into a spirited instrumental that led to blues standard 'Smokestack Lightning.' However, whilst Eric Gales’ music is rooted in the blues it is not an exclusive influence (more of which later).
The blues-infected, mid-tempo shuffle of 'You Don’t Know the Blues,' from new album Crown, then followed; while the song offered up great musicianship from the band the majority of the audience are in attendance to hear Eric Gales (as the gifted guitarist says himself) "play the shit out of this guitar!" (a seriously impressive player, Gales’ solo style is an amalgamation of his own virtuoso skills, Hendrix and Eric Johnson).
Eric Gales however is also an accomplished vocalist, delivering the songs with no small amount of passion.
A vocal case in point was heard on the slow and weighty 'Survivor,' a song that chronicles his own self-confessed personal struggles through autobiographical lyricism and an upbeat hook chorus.
Up next was the soul-funky 'The Storm,' which carried a very clear anti-racism message.
Starting the number with acapella vocal, as it does on album, made it even more powerful – emphasised by the fact that the audience was (almost) silent at this point; people talking loudly at gigs with bars has, sadly, become de rigueur but not here (that Eric Gales has stagecraft and a rapport with his audience was obvious).
'Put That Back' then raised the tempo and the funk-by-groove quotient, reinforcing the earlier comment that blues is not an exclusive influence in the Eric Gales sound; this was thrown into sharp relief when, just before he kicked in to 'Stand Up' (a soul-fuelled highlight of the set) a single heckle of "play more blues!" was heard.
Eric Gales stopped the number after just a few bars to respond with "When you have sell-out shows you can tell me what to play – I will play my music.”
He then further responded, in cheeky acquiescence, by playing a short standard 1-4-5 12 bar blues chord progression (featuring some blistering guitar) before returning to 'Stand Up,' which was delivered with a real intensity.
Unsurprisingly, the song (which featured a solo not unlike SRV in style but with Eric Gales’ fingerprints all over it), and the heckler, got the crowd on his side even more, receiving a rapturous reception.
Starting the number with acapella vocal, as it does on album, made it even more powerful – emphasised by the fact that the audience was (almost) silent at this point; people talking loudly at gigs with bars has, sadly, become de rigueur but not here (that Eric Gales has stagecraft and a rapport with his audience was obvious).
'Put That Back' then raised the tempo and the funk-by-groove quotient, reinforcing the earlier comment that blues is not an exclusive influence in the Eric Gales sound; this was thrown into sharp relief when, just before he kicked in to 'Stand Up' (a soul-fuelled highlight of the set) a single heckle of "play more blues!" was heard.
Eric Gales stopped the number after just a few bars to respond with "When you have sell-out shows you can tell me what to play – I will play my music.”
He then further responded, in cheeky acquiescence, by playing a short standard 1-4-5 12 bar blues chord progression (featuring some blistering guitar) before returning to 'Stand Up,' which was delivered with a real intensity.
Unsurprisingly, the song (which featured a solo not unlike SRV in style but with Eric Gales’ fingerprints all over it), and the heckler, got the crowd on his side even more, receiving a rapturous reception.
"When you have sell-out shows you can tell me what to play" – Eric's Gale-force retort
The mid-tempo “soul-sister” swing of 'Take Me As I Am' featured the wonderful Ladonna Gales (introduced by Eric Gales as "my wife and inspiration") on lead vocals before 'My Own Best Friend’' dropped the tempo and intensity (but, once again, expertly delivered by Gales and his band).
In an unexpected but welcome twist, the band then launched into an earlier Eric Gales number, the instrumental funk workout 'Sea of Bad Blood;' the bass parts by the mysteriously named (and masked) Smokeface were seriously top-drawer.
The Hendrix influenced slow burner 'Too Close to the Fire' is another song with a powerful anti-racism message. Eric Gales’ vocals were particularly impressive, coupled with a fittingly fiery solo.
A stunning performance and set ended with Eric Gales‘ current calling card, the rhythm and funky rock blues of 'I Want My Crown.'
If you like your blues delivered with a little funk, soul and a whole lot of swagger (and engaging personality) Eric Gales is the guy to see.
If you missed out this time, in fact even if you saw him on this spring tour, do yourself a favour and catch Eric Gales when he returns to these shores in June.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
Photos: Ritchie Birnie
Eric Gales June 2022 UK Tour (with special guest Dom Martin)
Tickets: https://bit.ly/37WsWpc
Leamington, The Assembly - Thursday 2nd June 2022
Chester, The Live Rooms - Saturday 4th June 2022
York, The Crescent Community Venue - Sunday 5th June 2022
Newcastle, The Cluny - Monday 6th June 2022
Bury, The Met Theatre - Tuesday 7th June 2022
Basingstoke, The Haymarket Theatre - Wednesday 8th June 2022
In an unexpected but welcome twist, the band then launched into an earlier Eric Gales number, the instrumental funk workout 'Sea of Bad Blood;' the bass parts by the mysteriously named (and masked) Smokeface were seriously top-drawer.
The Hendrix influenced slow burner 'Too Close to the Fire' is another song with a powerful anti-racism message. Eric Gales’ vocals were particularly impressive, coupled with a fittingly fiery solo.
A stunning performance and set ended with Eric Gales‘ current calling card, the rhythm and funky rock blues of 'I Want My Crown.'
If you like your blues delivered with a little funk, soul and a whole lot of swagger (and engaging personality) Eric Gales is the guy to see.
If you missed out this time, in fact even if you saw him on this spring tour, do yourself a favour and catch Eric Gales when he returns to these shores in June.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
Photos: Ritchie Birnie
Eric Gales June 2022 UK Tour (with special guest Dom Martin)
Tickets: https://bit.ly/37WsWpc
Leamington, The Assembly - Thursday 2nd June 2022
Chester, The Live Rooms - Saturday 4th June 2022
York, The Crescent Community Venue - Sunday 5th June 2022
Newcastle, The Cluny - Monday 6th June 2022
Bury, The Met Theatre - Tuesday 7th June 2022
Basingstoke, The Haymarket Theatre - Wednesday 8th June 2022