Rock Regeneration

Nov21

Black Stone Cherry

on November 21st, 2016 at 20:15

Portsmouth Guildhall

Tonight we are all gathered on a very damp winter’s evening at the Guildhall in Portsmouth for the return of American rockers Black Stone Cherry who return to the UK of the back of the release of their fifth self-produced album “Kentucky”. The band momentum seems to escalate every time they visit these shores gaining a growing army of fans each time.

Tonight’s gig is absolutely packed as the band had put word out that this show would be slightly different from previously calling it the Black Stone Cherry “Experience”. The band decided instead of having a support act they would support themselves with an acoustic set before coming back out with the full electric set after the interval.

The band arrive on stage to fantastic welcome and despite it being a Monday night the crowd seemed to have saved all their energy from the weekend for tonight. The band are positioned on stools in front of a huge black curtain and they waste no time in getting started with a track from their latest album “In Our Dreams”.

The band seem really relaxed and provide plenty of banter in between songs as well as heart-felt thanks to the audience for their continued support. We are treated to a few stripped bare older tunes which including reworked version of “Hell of High Water” as well as the emotional “Things My Father Said” dedicated to anyone that you may have lost.

The band then upstage themselves by bringing on a guy onto the stage with his rather nervous girlfriend, the guy then gets down on one knee and proposes in front of 2500 screaming rock fans. The girlfriend thankfully with a tear in her eye accepts and they embrace much to the delight of everyone including the band who offer their sincere congratulations. The proposal can be seen on a mobile phone video here:

With such a feel good factor in the air the atmosphere in this historic venue could not be any better as the band return fully plugged in for the electric onslaught. They hold no prisoners with the amplifiers turned up to the max without any loss of impact. The band seem to have endless amounts of energy with guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon covering every inch of the stage whipping up the audience with every opportunity.

Black Stone Cherry 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9

Their set contains something for everyone with the ever popular “Soulcreek” and the rib-cage rattling “Me and Mary Jane”. The new tracks which include “Soul Machine”, “Darkest Secret” and the awesome “Shaking My Cage” keep to their Southern rock roots showing the fruits of returning to their hometown to record them.

The show ends on a massive high with a massive audience sing-a-long to ìLonely Trainî as well as a tribute to the dearly departed Lemmy with a rip-roaring version of ìAce of Spadesî. The band bid their farewells and say that they will take a year off to refresh and then they will be back performing in front of their adoring UK audiences.

Acoustic Set
In Our Dreams
Hell & High Water
Like I Roll
The Rambler
Things My Father Said
Stay
All I’m Dreamin’ Of

Electric Set
Devil’s Queen
Soul Machine
Bad to the Bone (George Thorogood & the Destroyers cover)
Soulcreek
Please Come In
Darkest Secret
Killing Floor
White Trash Millionaire
Cheaper to Drink Alone
Me and Mary Jane
Built for Comfort (Willie Dixon cover)
In My Blood
Blind Man
Drum Solo
Shakiní My Cage
Blame It on the Boom Boom
Lonely Train
Ace of Spades (Motorhead cover)