I first came across Troy Redfern a good few years ago now, performing at a Mott The Hoople fan convention of all places. I think it was the shared Herefordshire connection that brought him there but, anyway, I’ve followed his career with great interest ever since. Now on to his seventh album, with the latest out last month, Tunbridge Wells was the final night of an eleven-date UK tour.
I hadn’t actually read the venue details properly when I got to Tunbridge Wells and assumed the gig was at the long-established main Forum venue. But no, turning up at a completely empty Forum, I double-checked and the gig was actually taking place in the Forum Basement, a much more intimate venue in the cellar of the Sussex Arms pub in the town centre.
I arrived just in time to see the support act take the stage. With a mixture of originals and covers, local power trio Kinky Machine dished up an exhilarating blast of blues rock. With some great guitar work and nifty rhythms they definitely got everyone in the mood for the main event. It was becoming increasingly clear, however, that in this rapidly-filling 50-capacity venue we were going to be in for one long, hot and sweaty night. And I mean that in a good way!
Redfern’s new album, Invocation, features heavily in the set, with nine of its eleven songs being played tonight. Unsurprising really, given the slew of storming reviews and near-universal praise it’s received, with the album broadening out the trademark blues rock palette and bringing forth comparisons with everyone from T. Rex to ZZ Top to Slade.
From the moment he launched his career, Troy Redfern’s guitar wizardry, his natural affinity for the blues and his rock and roll attitude were never in any doubt, but with the last trio of albums, songs from which formed the entire basis for the set on this tour, he’s taken things to another level as a songwriter. The results of that were clearly on display tonight in an incendiary gig that oozed swagger with the energy levels (and the temperature!) off the scale.
Accompanied by Nicky Watts on drums and Keira Kenworthy on bass, the three certainly make for a formidable power trio, kicking things off with the catchy and adrenalin-fuelled rocker ‘All Night Long’ from the new album. Other highlights included the stomping, glam-esque ‘Getaway’, the moody, psychedelia-tinged ‘The Calling’ and the epic heavy rocker ‘Voodoo Priestess’. There’s a smattering of songs from the two previous albums in the latter half, too, including a mammoth extended work-out in the form of ‘Sanctify’ from The Fire Cosmic album, which ends tonight’s proceedings in spectacular fashion.
In many ways, Redfern reminds me of the late, great Bernie Torme, not so much for guitar technique – although there are parallels, but more as someone who can take the power trio format, inject their dynamic personality, some ferocious guitar-playing and many, many great songs – and make it utterly their own.
Photo credits: All photography by Simon Green
Set-list:
All Night Long
Getaway
Van Helsing
Take Me High
The Fever
The Calling
Native
Ghosts
Sweet Carolina
Come On
The Last Stand
Voodoo Priestess
Dark Religion
Waiting for Your Love
Sanctify
Troy Redfern is special guest on Philip Sayce’s UK tour from November 21 – December 4th 2024. Tickets are available from https://troyredfern.com/dates and https://www.thegigcartel.com/Artists-profiles/Philip-Sayce.htm
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