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With the onset of February we are getting a little busier. 2nd, Protest The Hero, 6th Del Amitri, 9th Molly Hatchet, 14th Monster Magnet, 15th Dream Theater, 19th, Sons Of Icarus, 20th Skyclad, 25th Soulfly, 26th Cadillac Three

And maybe a couple more to be added.

Sunday 21 July 2013

SUGAR MAMA, The Mighty Young, Temporary @The Roadhouse, Birmingham 12/7/13

Temporary stepped in at the last moment. Answering a plea to be the opening band, the impossibly young group are evidently enjoying themselves onstage tonight. Resolutely retro, “Cold Inside” owes a debt to the Black Crowes, while “Madness Love And Fear” has a fine solo. For a band clearly in its infancy they have plenty of potential and if they learn to connect with their audience slightly better they really could do decent things. Keep your eye on them.

The Mighty Young list themselves on their Facebook page as a three piece (you suspect that Solomon Hotcoals might not be his real name) but tonight – if he exists at all -  they are one short. As everyone knows there is something inherently odd about two-piece bands. From the obvious ones like the White Stripes to newer ones like The Graveltones, they are perhaps by their very nature, outsiders.  Drummer Robb Cartin bashes away and singer/guitarist Joseph Gatsby chucks out the riffs.

The style might be a trifle limiting, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with tracks like “Goodbye Blues” or “The Science Of Love” in fact the only tiny criticism of the group is – rather like the openers – they struggle to make any connection. Again, ones to have a look at – and you suspect that they would be better with a bassist.

RTM is here tonight because we saw Sugar Mama support Gerry McAvoy last November and very good they were too. This should have played this show in January but the snow put paid to that. So the question is: was it worth the wait?

The answer, happily, is yes. By far the most polished band of the evening, the band isn’t trying to change the world. Billing themselves as “dirty, filthy, stinking rock n roll” they don’t quite get into that territory, but they are a very decent heavy blues band.

Like the other groups on show this evening Sugar Mama are very young but they are much more professional than the duo that had preceded them. They have honed some decent tunes too, “Love Nor Money” and “Bullfight Blues” are self-penned but exciting nonetheless.

In common with most bands of this type there are plenty of covers. “Louie Louie” sounds excellent, as do “All Over Now” and “Maggie’s Farm.” That said, there is a suspicion that perhaps they overdo the medleys. The band are talented, though, and finish with an entertaining version of “Money.”


An interesting rather than stunning evening, but you suspect that all three of these groups can have their say in Blues circles in years to come.

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