Sometimes you can go to watch a band and they sound really similar to someone else, and you go “Oh they are just like <insert band name> aren’t they”? Whereas sometimes you go to watch a band and they have captured a genre just right, and although they don’t sound exactly the same as anyone you can definitely hear their influences and get where they are coming from. Hand Of Dimes fall into that second category. There was a definite movement of British blues rock in the early 70s that gave birth to bands such as Free, Deep Purple, Bad Company and Whitesnake but that was a long time ago now and many of the icons of that era are dead, retired or still bashing it out on the circuit but in much reduced circumstances. This leaves a throne to be filled, a crown to wear, so step forward Hand Of Dimes because they can don that mantle with ease. Led by affable Welshman Neville MacDonald (formerly frontman with the band SKIN) they are natural successors to the above-named, and they give us a set of earthy, blues-based rock with just a hint of soul and something of an old-fashioned feel. Neville has an excellent voice, particularly on standout song ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ which dips a toe in the sea of prog rock but at the end features an acapella vocal scream that gives me shivers. The band are competent (despite the bass player being on temporary loan from Buck & Evans because reasons) and the songs are powerful and moving. There are occasional touches of Gary Moore about the guitars, and despite this not being my favourite genre of music I find it very enjoyable just because they do it so well. The greybeards in the audience are out in force tonight and they are loving it too, singing along and remembering when they too had good hair like Neville’s. No, they are not crossing boundaries or breaking down barriers, but they are still good to watch.

Confession time now. They have a reputation for being a bit cheesy, a bit unfashionable, but I love Cats In Space. Their sound is classic AOR tinged with just enough prog to pique my interest without boring me to death, They mix that with a hint of commercial pop and throw in just a touch of glam rock goodness and the result is a damn fine band who are (I think) woefully under-rated. They recently lost their singer to The Sweet, and have replaced him with a younger, prettier version in Mark Pascall from Departed. Shhh, don’t tell Paul but I think Mark also has the edge in terms of vocal performance too! This band are spot-on with vocal harmonies, it’s one of their greatest strengths, and Mark’s voice slots in there with ease. They have 2 full albums under their belts now, plus a recently-released mini-album “My Kind Of Christmas” and the set gives us plenty of songs from all 3.

They are the balsa wood of rock, so light that they float, and songs like “Too Many Gods”, “September Rain”, “The Greatest Story Never Told”, “Silver and Gold” “Jupiter Calling” , “Timebomb” and my favourite “Mr Heartache” have a rich, velvety feel to them. It’s like musical chocolate ganache. There are some points when it can start to feel a little samey, but then they change the tempo and go leftfield and shake it all up again. There is a touch of ELO, and occasionally a nod to Styx with the swirling pompy keyboards, but overall the sound is guitar-driven with a metaphorical foot to the floor. This is a very accomplished band and they may be a little niche for some tastes but I always enjoy watching them. They come back for the encore to do “My Kind Of Christmas”, because this is after all a Christmas show, and shower us with fake snow from a handily-placed confetti cannon. I’m glad I don’t have to clean that up later! Overall a very good night out and yet another reminder of how many quality bands are out there on the UK circuit at the moment. Will they “make it”? Who knows. But there is definitely an audience for them and I am happy to be part of it.