Tonight has a bit of a strange feeling in the room. Ginger Wildheart and the Sinners have rolled into town to make up for having to postpone the original Birmingham date last year with this one serving as a warm-up for what would turn out to be a great appearance the following night at Steelhouse. But tonight, they’re simply The Sinners since they’re missing everyone’s favourite ginger Geordie due to ill health.
There’s little more than a handful of people in the room when Carol Hodge and Ben Marsden kick the night off (which they affably acknowledge during their time on stage). But those who were there on time were thoroughly entertained. Working through each other’s back catalogue with Hodge on keys and Marsden on guitar, there’s a delightful charm to their folk-y punk tunes. Both of them know how to hold a tune on a vocal level as they take turns on lead duties but also allows for some impressive harmonies, filling out the sound. The also know how to banter with the crowd and each other and it’s just as enjoyable as the music itself. “Clean the Slate” is introduced with remarks that it should have a big metal riff with six guitars, three of which would be played simultaneously by Chris Catalyst (there’s a reason why he was a Nameless Ghoul). Meanwhile, “The Price” is dedicated to our man who is missing in action and an enjoyable rendition of Chas and Dave’s “Ain’t No Pleasing You” closes out the set – proof that you can indeed polish a turd. If Hodge and Marsden are ever touring again, it’s a night that will undoubtedly entertain you.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
The Howling Tides begin the plugged-in section of the evening with their hard rock tones. Having caught them a couple of times, I knew what to expect in terms of songs and they hit all their standards with the highlight still the raucous “12/8” named after the song’s time signature. Vocalist Rob Baynes channels Black Stone Cherry’s Chris Roberston and with the hints of Southern tones in the band’s melodies, you can tell the Kentucky band are a huge influence but not quite to same extent of being the equivalent of Airbourne to AC/DC. Instead, they have their own identity which is bolstered by the dose of blues running through their music, too. But perhaps the most noticeable element of their performance tonight is how they’ve significantly upped their game. They’re tighter, they all handle their own instruments better, there’s more confidence and know how to work a crowd much better than they did with Ricky Warwick and Anchor Lane. It’s the sort of set that makes you realise they’ve grown into the band they’re destined to be and makes you want to see them again.
Now for the time of The Sinners. Tonight, they’re led by Neil Ivison and sitting in, it’s Sam Wood (of Black Star Riders, Wayward Sons, Oli Brown & the Dead Collective and currently out with Saxon) to bring an extra set of six strings to the table whilst Ginger is out of action. His absence is acknowledged early into the performance, his guitar on stage symbolically. Ivison mentions that Ginger is on the mend and going by his latest Twitter activity (sorry, Elon, I will never call it X), it seems he’s getting there. But there’s still a ginger there in the form of drummer Shane Dixon. It’s part of the levity tonight that Ivison deals in which takes the edge off the night whilst celebrating a great album.
Indeed, the band pull much of the debut album onto the stage for tonight whilst also teasing a few other songs which might see the light of day in the future. Whilst “Code of the Road” may not have featured, there’s other smile-inducing songs like “That Smile” and “Wasted Times”. The band ably handle the material in this rejigged line-up and handle it as if it’s always been this way, Wood easily covering the material as if it’s his own (no wonder he’s in such high demand). There’s not many songs, however, which don’t encourage audience participation and even their cover of Statu’s Quo’s “Dirty Water”, which isn’t Quo’s most frantic moment (ahem) has people singing along. But it’s a good hour or so of people having a good time as they sing and dance and simply enjoy themselves. It’s one of those special nights where it’s hard to tell who’s having more fun – the band or the audience. As good time rock and roll goes, it strangely has a similar feel to seeing The Quireboys when they’re in full flow for similar reasons.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
What passes for the encore ie there’s no pissing off to come back on, sees Carol Hodge and Ben Marsden make a return for a cover of “Geordie in Wonderland” which has most of the crowd singing word perfect, too before the ensemble is joined by The Howling Tides’ Rob Baynes for a round of The Band’s “The Weight”. And with seven people up on stage for this iconic number, it feels part hoedown, part celebration and homage to the missing man. And that’s what tonight is simply all about and as everyone takes their final bows and applause for the night, you can’t help but smile. Ginger may not have been there in person but he was there in spirit and just like any time I’ve seen The Wildhearts, I leave with a smile and having been thoroughly entertained. As for what happens next for The Sinners is anyone’s guess but I sincerely hope this isn’t the last time I’ve seen them.
Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners: facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify
The Howling Tides: facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube
Carol Hodge: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | bandcamp | spotify | youtube
