There’s nothing like live rock music to warm the soul and on a day when temperatures struggled to get above freezing, this gig was needed as much as the warming cups of tea and coffee that had kept the shivers at bay during the day.
I’ve eulogised about The Patriot venue before, but I make no bones about ‘bigging it up’ again. The Home of Rock as it’s titled is genuinely becoming a serious contender for the best venue in South Wales. Apart from the set-up, the incredibly friendly welcome that old friends and strangers alike receive, it’s now a top quality venue to see quality music up close and personal. A few days before this gig, the venue had received new equipment thanks to a Music Venue Trust pipeline investment fund with brand spanking new monitors making their maiden voyage at the show. It’s a sparkling setup, with superb sound and with feedback about the warmth of the welcome from bands who play here, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better venue within a 100 mile radius.
A flying visit to Wales saw Armagh’s Trucker Diablo chance the ferry across the Irish sea for two gigs, the first being Buckley in the North, before the drive south to The Patriot. This is a band who’ve graced the Steelhouse Festival stage several times, and they are well loved in these parts. A good turnout greeted the Northern Irish quartet.
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Opening the evening was another musician known to many who turned out on the night. Sam Miller was the main songwriter and guitarist for the band Bigfoot for several years, and is no stranger to South Wales. When Bigfoot sadly called it a day in 2019, Miller grasped the solo nettle, and has since released two EPs in Holy Sass and Radio Gouda. Tonight, he performs with The Sass Bandits, a tight unit comprising guitarist and backing vocalist Lucy Shevchuck, keyboardist James Thorley, bassist Benji Faith and stand in drummer Morgan Deveney, resplendent in the most horrible fluorescent Metallica housecoat over his Volbeat fleece. How he was able to drum in that much clothing was beyond me.
Miller is not only an accomplished singer, but one fluid guitarist. As the band powered through a strong seven song set, his guitar playing was at times stunning. With the typical dry humour that Mancunians possess, he also was adept at banter with the crowd. “It’s killing me not to put my foot on the monitor” he quips, “but Ang told me that if I did, she’d cut my balls off!” Knowing the Patriot’s lovely yet no-nonsense owner, I and several around me concurred he wasn’t joking!
Miller has a swagger that comes from months of practice and road time, his songs crafted radio rock that present much heavier in sound in the live setting. To his left, the frenzied headbanging of bassist Faith, clad somewhat incongruously in his Mayhem t-shirt was relentless. There is humour, fun, but a totally professional ethos underneath The Sass Bandits. Many in the audience were familiar with the band and the songs, which included the raucous opener “Human” and closed with “Strangers”. This was a set high on quality, confidence, and style. With just a little luck, big things await.
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It’s public knowledge that Trucker Diablo are partly responsible for binding my marriage together following their Steelhouse set in 2017 when the better half and I were soaked through due to torrential rain which forced us to spend the first night sleeping in the car. Our decision to drink copious amounts of beer whilst dancing in the mud to the anthems that Trucker Diablo craft with such ease was a momentous moment in our union, and we hold the band dear to our hearts.
There are a myriad of reasons why you should love Trucker Diablo. First and foremost is their music. Big, hard rocking anthems that have that delicious Southern rock flavour, huge riffs and catchier than herpes choruses. They play with an organic delivery that seems telepathic at times, for they are, underneath the banter and smiles, a finely tuned and seriously good outfit. Formed in 2008, and with five albums behind them, the quartet are irresistible live.
Opening with “The Rebel”, a firm favourite from Songs of Iron, Trucker Diablo power through a 75-minute set of 14 songs that draws from every one of their releases. There’s the punk infused “Insects”, which sees a few of the more lubricated audience members trying hard to relive their pogoing days, the thumping “Party Like They Started the End of the World” which verges on metal, and the emotional penultimate song “Drive”, one of the band’s definitive tunes and such an ear worm I was singing it a day later.
You can’t help but smile and laugh along at the banter. Rhythm guitarist Simon Haddock is a natural on the mic, regaling us with his joy at being given an oodie (I had to ask the wife what it was) for Christmas, “It’s like wearing a single bed” he informs us to howls of laughter. Frontman Tom Harte is no more reserved, and despite their Steelhouse performances seems very happy for us to start another campaign to get the boys back up the mountain. Meanwhile bassist Jim McGurk is a blur of grey hair, swirling around in his check shirt whilst adding backing vocals and the low end via his trusty Rickenbacker.
As well as plenty of laughter, Trucker soldier on through any challenge. Watching drummer Terry Crawford pull a three inch piece of his drumstick from his finger with his teeth at the end of a song, spit it aside and casually cover the wound with a plaster before hammering the kit seconds later for example, shows the commitment to the cause. By the time we got to the singalong of “Proud Mary”, the venue is in full voice. It’s tradition that Trucker slip from their ballistic “Drink Beer Destroy” anthem into a crunching thrashing version of Metallica’s “Seek & Destroy”, with the chorus “Drink & Destroy” of course, and the roof is lifting. A vibrant finish, Rock Hallelujah is the band’s tribute to Ronnie James Dio and it’s a fine way to conclude things. There is sweat, a lot of sweat on stage, and a lot of smiles in the pit. This is a band who deserve a wider audience. If you haven’t seen them, keep an eye out, for a Trucker Diablo show is one that brings the craic, the energy, and the sheer quality that the lower end of the rock circuit needs to keep music alive.
Pics by Paul Hutchings
Trucker Diablo: official | facebook | twitter | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
Sam Miller & The Sass Bandits: official | facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
