It was a balmy Tuesday evening in Southampton when I turned up at The 1865 to catch the Indianapolis trio The Cold Stares on this leg of their UK tour. The support band for the evening were the local legends, The Outlaw Orchestra.
Doors were at 7 pm, and there was a steady stream of people coming into the venue, most there to see the headliners, but also there were quite a few tees on show repping The Outlaw Orchestra.
Well, 8 pm saw the local lads take to the stage where they were welcomed by a good-natured crowd, ready for some live music.
They have a brand-new album ‘La Familia’ due for release in October, so their set tonight consisted of some familiar well-known tunes and 5 from the new album. This was a bold move as there would not have been many in the room who would have heard these new tracks, but each one went down very well.
They start with ‘Done My Time’, the opening track from their 2021 album ‘Makin’ Tracks’. This is followed by the first new track ‘SOS’. We have a few classic Outlaw Orchestra songs next with the rollicking ‘Back To Georgia’ and ‘Blame It On The Horse’, before ‘Rollin’ Stone’. They finished with four from the new album, and I have to say, they were excellent.
Now anyone that knows The Outlaw Orchestra, will understand that although serious and talented musicians, they tend to play up to their pantomime villain persona, with frontman Dave, engaging the crowd with his witty humour. Well, the new songs are heavier and have a more serious vibe. The band have evolved over the years, and now with these new songs, have matured both musically and as a band. Dave’s vocals are on point with these new songs as well, and the new stuff does suit the band.
I am looking forward to the release of ‘La Familia’ in October, should be a very good listen. Great job by the local lads, warming up the crowd ready for the headliners.
The Outlaw Orchestra are Dave Roux (lead guitar & vocals), Pete Briley (guitar/banjo/lap steel/vocals) and Ryan Thundersmith (drums/vocals).
Setlist: – ‘Done My Time’, ‘SOS’, ‘Back To Georgia’, ‘Blame It On The Horse’, ‘Rollin’ Stone’, ‘Outlaw’, ‘Rotten Apples’, ‘Born To Be A Thief’, ‘Bag Of Bones’.
We had to wait until nearly half past nine before we saw three silhouettes take to the stage before the lights come up, and we got our first glimpse of The Cold Stares.
They don’t waste any time and kick off with the hard-hitting blues opener ‘Horse To Water’, from their new album ‘The Southern’. Unfortunately, Chris stops the song short and says to the crowd that he has never broken a string before on stage in all his years, until now. He had only brought one guitar with him, so had to make a hasty exit back to the dressing room to re-string quickly. In the meantime, we had some background music before Chris got back, and once again apologise for the break in the show. They go straight into the full-on ‘Nothing But The Blues’ which is a full-throttle crowd favourite without any issues. Now we could relax and just enjoy the show.
Well, a few more songs go by without incident, before the belting ‘Heavy Shoes’. Halfway through, would you believe it, yes, you’ve guessed it, Chris broke another string, this time the D string. You really couldn’t write this script. Rather than go off himself to re-string again, Pete from The Outlaw Orchestra, came out with his Gibson 335 which he lent to Chris whilst Philip the TM for The Cold Stares took away Chris’s guitar to restring. They continue from the second verse and finish the song with no further failures. By the end of the song, the guitar was re-strung and back in its cradle, ready for the next track.
The rest of the set continues without any more catastrophes, and we are treated to some amazing and heavy-hitting blues rock. The sound is phat and loud and penetrates your body with the sheer power of the music.
A couple of the new tracks we hear with Chris using his resonator guitar, and these are just so good, real back porch bluesy beasts. The entire set flows musically and effortlessly and is a wonderful mix of hard heavy-hitting fast paced monsters, to more serene but beautiful numbers. An excellent mix of old and new makes for a cracking set, and one that everyone in that building appreciated, even with the slight delays.
They finish with the fast-paced ‘Head Bent’, with a light show that was just spectacular.
A couple of things about The 1865, one the sound is always spot on, and two, the lighting is amazing. The guys know what they are doing, and how to put on a great show.
The Cold Stares were excellent as usual, and The Outlaw Orchestra were a very good support.
The Cold Stares are Chris Tapp (guitar/vocals), Bryce Klueh (bass), Brian Mullins (drums)
Setlist: – ‘Horse To Water’, ‘Nothing But The Blues’, ‘I Was A Fool’, ‘Got No Right’, ‘Third Degree’, ‘Heavy Shoes’, ‘Going Down Easy’, ‘Headstone’, ‘Confession’, ’61 Blues’, ‘Coming Home’, ‘Level Floor Blues’, ‘Prosecution Blues’, ‘Anyway The Wind Blows’, ‘In The Night Time’, ‘Evil Eye’, ‘Giving It Up’, ‘Head Bent’.
Review & Photography : Will Carter
The Cold Stares Channel the Ghosts of the Delta and Blues Legend Robert Johnson on Haunting New Single “Mortality Blues”
Watch the lyric video for “Mortality Blues” HERE
Taken From New Album ‘The Southern’
Out 6 September via Mascot Records
‘The Southern’ HERE
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