The Machine Ain’t Broke…
The Wilson Brothers – Backstage at The Green, Kinross, 11th February 2023
The Wilson Brothers – Backstage at The Green, Kinross, 11th February 2023
Remarkably The Wilson Brothers – siblings Ash (vocals, guitar) and Phil Wilson (drums) along with their 'musical brother' & 6-string bass virtuoso Roger Innis, in the company of Adrian Gautrey on keyboards – are only now undertaking their first tour in promotion of an album that’s close to six years old.
But that tells you more about how sought-after they are as individuals on the British & European blues rock circuit, followed by a pandemic scuppering the best laid touring plans, than it does the high-quality of Broken Machine (a modern rock-blues meets retro-psychedelic offering released as an Ash Wilson solo album) and just how good this band are.
All of which was evident at the intimate and always welcoming Backstage venue in Kinross, part of the band’s twelve date tour of the UK, which lent heavily on the aforementioned Broken Machine.
There was however a hint of what is to come (the band are writing for a new album) along with two different but dovetailing covers – a trippy, bass-driven rendition of Steve Miller’s 'Fly Like An Eagle' and a cool, funk-blues take on 'Cream' by Prince.
That the band also enjoy playing together (chemistry and camaraderie in equal measure) is not in question, nor is the quality of their abilities, borne out in a song such as 'Show Me How To Love You,' a big, bold psychedelic rock-blues that also sports a touch of Hendrix (no bad thing).
That particular song featured Ash Wilson’s only wah-affected solo of the evening (and a full-blown belter it was too); that's slightly unusual, but then no two Wilson Brothers shows are ever the same, with take a back seat/ take the lead variations showing how confident they are in each other’s musical company.
Indeed on this particular night Ash Wilson was as comfortable playing second fiddle (sorry, rhythm guitar) to Adrian Gautrey’s impressive organ and keyboard leads as he was stepping up to rip off some tasty lead licks of his own.
As regards the latter, Ash Wilson's guitar play was particularly impressive on the one true blues song of the evening, 'Words of a Woman,' a slow and melodically charged number that allowed Wilson to blues it out whilst also showing how much stronger (and more confident) he has become as a vocalist.
But that tells you more about how sought-after they are as individuals on the British & European blues rock circuit, followed by a pandemic scuppering the best laid touring plans, than it does the high-quality of Broken Machine (a modern rock-blues meets retro-psychedelic offering released as an Ash Wilson solo album) and just how good this band are.
All of which was evident at the intimate and always welcoming Backstage venue in Kinross, part of the band’s twelve date tour of the UK, which lent heavily on the aforementioned Broken Machine.
There was however a hint of what is to come (the band are writing for a new album) along with two different but dovetailing covers – a trippy, bass-driven rendition of Steve Miller’s 'Fly Like An Eagle' and a cool, funk-blues take on 'Cream' by Prince.
That the band also enjoy playing together (chemistry and camaraderie in equal measure) is not in question, nor is the quality of their abilities, borne out in a song such as 'Show Me How To Love You,' a big, bold psychedelic rock-blues that also sports a touch of Hendrix (no bad thing).
That particular song featured Ash Wilson’s only wah-affected solo of the evening (and a full-blown belter it was too); that's slightly unusual, but then no two Wilson Brothers shows are ever the same, with take a back seat/ take the lead variations showing how confident they are in each other’s musical company.
Indeed on this particular night Ash Wilson was as comfortable playing second fiddle (sorry, rhythm guitar) to Adrian Gautrey’s impressive organ and keyboard leads as he was stepping up to rip off some tasty lead licks of his own.
As regards the latter, Ash Wilson's guitar play was particularly impressive on the one true blues song of the evening, 'Words of a Woman,' a slow and melodically charged number that allowed Wilson to blues it out whilst also showing how much stronger (and more confident) he has become as a vocalist.
All the other Broken Machine numbers worked equally well in the live environment – 'World’s Gone Crazy' (more relevant now than it was six years ago) has grown in length to become an extended Rolling Stones meet Cheap Trick work out, while 'Peace And Love' is the kind of big, bluesy keyboard groovin’ mid-tempo shuffle no blues-rock band should be without.
Talking of keyboard grooves, Adrian Gautrey flitted from well-placed organ punctuation to some impressive solo displays, as well as some nice interplay with Ash Wilson.
The reason Wilson and Gautrey can play off each other so confidently is a rhythm section that’s as good as any on the circuit, and doesn't always play it safe (Phil Wilson and Roger Innis can explore the rhythm throughout a song yet all four still end up on the same page).
Additionally, Phil Wilson’s clever fills and rolls are an integral part of the band’s sound; Roger Innis, for his part, can hold it all down or create a melodic bass line refrain for Ash Wilson and Adrian Gautrey to play over.
Other Broken Machine highlights included the softer rhythm and blues beat of love betrayed number 'The Hitchhiker' and the ballad 'Holding Hands' (a genuinely heartfelt song that featured some mighty fine playing, and phrasing, from Ash Wilson).
Good as the songs from Broken Machine were (actually the machine ain’t broke; it just needed retuned and put back on the road) the highlight of the evening was new song 'The Hush,' a broad-scoped, shape shifting beast of a number that, on the instrumental passages, conjured images of Rush playing within a blues-rock framework.
Talking of keyboard grooves, Adrian Gautrey flitted from well-placed organ punctuation to some impressive solo displays, as well as some nice interplay with Ash Wilson.
The reason Wilson and Gautrey can play off each other so confidently is a rhythm section that’s as good as any on the circuit, and doesn't always play it safe (Phil Wilson and Roger Innis can explore the rhythm throughout a song yet all four still end up on the same page).
Additionally, Phil Wilson’s clever fills and rolls are an integral part of the band’s sound; Roger Innis, for his part, can hold it all down or create a melodic bass line refrain for Ash Wilson and Adrian Gautrey to play over.
Other Broken Machine highlights included the softer rhythm and blues beat of love betrayed number 'The Hitchhiker' and the ballad 'Holding Hands' (a genuinely heartfelt song that featured some mighty fine playing, and phrasing, from Ash Wilson).
Good as the songs from Broken Machine were (actually the machine ain’t broke; it just needed retuned and put back on the road) the highlight of the evening was new song 'The Hush,' a broad-scoped, shape shifting beast of a number that, on the instrumental passages, conjured images of Rush playing within a blues-rock framework.
As anyone who attended a show on this tour can testify, The Wilson Brothers are a very good band indeed, one that brings something a little different to the table – given they all have other duties that help pay the bills (the quartet are also the current Sari Schorr Band) they can 'afford' that luxury of a little musical exploration.
They would probably sell more tickets playing one dimensional delta blues for lowest common denominator gain, but that is not what this band is about – for that alone they should be applauded, never mind the claps of audience appreciation received across this inaugural tour.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credit: Paul May (all images from Railway Inn, Winchester, 4th February)
The Wilson Brothers Live album: https://www.manhatonrecords.com/product/the-wilson-brothers-live
They would probably sell more tickets playing one dimensional delta blues for lowest common denominator gain, but that is not what this band is about – for that alone they should be applauded, never mind the claps of audience appreciation received across this inaugural tour.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credit: Paul May (all images from Railway Inn, Winchester, 4th February)
The Wilson Brothers Live album: https://www.manhatonrecords.com/product/the-wilson-brothers-live