I’m not the world’s biggest Southern rock fan. Give me some Blackberry Smoke or even Black Stone Cherry and that’s about as deep into the pool I’ll wade. But having caught Tom Killner a couple of times back in May and never a full set and only hearing good things about Preacher Stone (and Ben Robinson being nothing but a nice human being), it would have been rude not to pop along to Lichfield’s Feathers Inn for the final night of their trio of co-headline shows.
There’s no opener tonight but it’s not needed – by the time Preacher Stone kick off the night, the crowd is ready for them. Before the first song is finished, you can tell these guys are the real deal and that’s not just because of the accents. The North Carolinians are such a polished live act without veering into boringly pristine. Definitely on the heavier side of the spectrum, they’re more hard rock with a good helping of Southernality to bring it into their sound rather than full-on Southern rock – think Black Stone Cherry rather than full-on Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Indeed, it’s this grittier approach for the start of the night that gets everyone going and the quintet are clearly enjoying themselves, feeding off the crowd who respond in kind. There’s a confidence and swagger to them and even standing at the back of the room, they manage to make you feel like you’re right in front of them.
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Guitars are nothing short of electrifying; the dual interplay showcase a telepathic musical bond, with solos and intricate riffs which show that it’s not just metal bands who can bring the precise and technical playing whilst the rhythm section drives the band forward with a relentless groove that keeps heads nodding and feet tapping. In their tamer moments, you can definitely hear bits of The Allman Brothers Band but their harder and heavier moments can see them in the same class as Molly Hatchet or Skinny Molly. As the final three songs are introduced, they blend seamlessly into each other, showing their prowess to the fullest and ensuring it’s a tough act to follow.
Tours are never a competition, but Tom Killner easily meets the challenge before him. He may be from the UK, but he and his band are every bit as genuine as their touring partners. It’s not quite as heavy and instead, Killner and his band lean more into the Southern elements, mixing in hints of blues, Americana, and full-blown country for a softer end to the night. But it’s every bit as engaging as Preacher Stone.
Killner’s guitar work is front and centre, delivered with precision and passion, matched by his gritty and soulful vocals. He’s accompanied by a tight-knit band; it might be his name on the poster but the entire band shines, truly more than the sum of their parts. The addition of keys for this part of the night allows for extra light and shade and brings in some old school rock and roll vibes.
Given the music is a touch more sombre, it’s more about emotion with Killner than trying to create a rabble-rousing good time. However, it shows how broad the Southern rock genre can be. It engages on an equal level and there’s still enough boogie in the melodies to keep you bobbing along whilst still giving you the chance to truly focus on the band’s performance. Killner may come across mild mannered in his brief chats with the crowd but he’s one of those guys that lets the music do the talking, nuanced enough to engage without straying into pretentiousness and whilst he’s an accomplished guitarist, he never turns it self-serving.
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But it’s the final song of his set which becomes the highlight of the evening as Killner is joined by the Preacher Stone lads for a spot of line-dancing and singing. There’s a true sense of camaraderie and authenticity to their relationship which bleeds from their music with such sincerity – a reminder of the enduring power of Southern rock and the communal spirit it fosters. As both bands are incredibly great at what they do and I can’t wait to see both again, both are one tour with Blackberry Smoke away from their popularity skyrocketing.
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