Flying high from winning ‘Best New Album’ and coming only second to Iron Maiden in the 2022 Rocks Awards ‘Best British Band’, When Rivers Meet roll into Town for their show at The Brudenell in Leeds, not in their usual dodgy VW Camper Van but in a proper (huge) tour bus as Grace explains in the show later on. I have to admit I haven’t heard much by When Rivers Meet other than a couple of songs played on Planet Rock prior to the gig tonight and yes I liked what I had heard but would they keep me interested all night. Well, before I can answer that we have the excellent Troy Redfern entertain us with his one man show. Just Troy and his guitar and yes he did keep us entertained with his short set of raw slide blues songs.
After a short break When Rivers Meet hit the stage and from the smiles on Grace’s face they were really excited to be here doing what they love. Opening the show with ‘Did I Break The Law’ from ‘We Fly Free’, one of the songs I had heard before, I knew we were going to be in for a great night. Husband and wife Aaron and Grace Bond are joined on stage by the excellent Roger Inniss on Bass Guitar and James ‘Foxy’ Fox on Drums and occasional keyboards .
Tonight’s show includes seven songs from the award winning debut album ‘We Fly Free’, with six songs coming from their latest album ‘Saving Grace’ which won ‘Best New Album’ at the Rocks Awards recently and five songs from the EP collection. So, we were certainly getting our money’s worth. Not only was the band great and clearly enjoying themselves but Grace’s voice was exceptional and Aaron’s harmony’s were spot on.
Highlights were many. ‘My Baby’ was awesome, ‘Battleground’ written about lockdown and the first song to get airplay was immense. ‘Don’t Tell Me’ which Grace introduces and tells us to take a break and calm down was a beautiful simple and emotional song, Grace’s vocals were sensational. ‘Bury My Body’ was stripped back and beautiful with Grace’s haunting vocal prowess shining through to huge applause from everyone… simply breath taking. ‘We Fly Free’, with its powerful groove was fabulous and it allowed Grace to go on an audience walkabout, with Aaron commenting on the fact that she probably got lost at the bar. Four more songs later and finishing with ‘I Want Your Love’ from their second EP and it was over all too soon. Clearly the audience wanted more and they duly delivered with an encore consisting of the excellent ‘Never Coming Home’ and ‘Testify’.
What a show and what a performance! Grace and Aaron are something special, who clearly love what they are doing and bring the audience along with them. It’s like being reacquainted with long lost friends when you are in their presence. I will definitely be catching them again soon and to keep me going until I do, I purchased all three vinyl albums which were graciously signed by them and yes they did keep me captivated and entertained all night.
Review & photos by David Pickles
TROY REDFERN – SET LIST
Scorpio, John The Revelator, Waiting For Your Love, Sanctify, Voodoo Chile (Hendrix cover)
TROY REDFERN – GALLERY
WHEN RIVERS MEET – SET LIST
Did I Break the Law, Walking on the Wire, My Babe, Battleground, Don’t Tell Me Goodbye, Free Man, Lost & Found, Innocence, Bury My Body, Tomorrow, Friend of Mine, We Fly Free, He’ll Drive You Crazy, I Can’t Fight This Feeling, Kissing The Sky, Want Your Love
Encore: Never Coming Home, Testify
WHEN RIVERS MEET – GALLERY
