Blues rock, just like any musical sub-genre is a many headed beast, one where bands are often pigeonholed together into a single category for ease, often having little in common other than a shared musical DNA. And so it is with McHale’s Permanent Brew and Jared James Nichols.  Whilst both are firmly rooted in the blues each has a very different approach and sound, and it is their contrasting interpretations of the form that make this evening’s gig so intriguing. 

McHale’s Permanent Brew, are no strangers to the Waterloo, having graced its staged numerous times over the last few years, garnering an enthusiastic and passionate following along the way, so it’s no surprise that there is such a large crowd assembled anticipating their set.  As the lights go down the stage is bathed in a suitably atmospheric wash of blue and red lighting, Frank McHale standing alone soloing away, as the rest of the band enter one by one.  It’s quite the instrumental intro, drenched in keyboard fills and lovely guitar parts, building to a crescendo, before kicking into the next song proper. 

Very much in the classic vein of what you would expect a blues rock band to sound like, it’s all sinuous, pounding bass lines and wide shimmering waves of keyboards forming the perfect foundation for the guitars and vocals.  There’s an infectious groove to what they do that demands you move, with many bearded heads (mine included) nodding away, almost without even realising they’re doing it. With only forty minutes, they keep the chat to a minimum and let the music do the talking. With some gorgeous slide guitar, soulful vocals and even time to throw in a new song (whose name I failed to catch) they make the most of the time they do have, and it’s easy to see why they are so evidently revered by so many.   

Jared James Nichols is an altogether different beast.  Fresh from his support slot for Mr Big in Manchester the previous night (ROCKFLESH was there and review is here), he storms the stage with the riotous ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’, the energy practically sparking from the leonine guitar-slinger and never wavering for the duration of his set.  There is something primal in Jared’s take on the genre, mining the best of both worlds, with the excitement and showmanship of hard rock melded with the raw emotion and power of the blues.  It’s a heady cocktail really deserving to be seen on the biggest of stages, but for tonight I think everyone in the room was grateful to be present to witness something really rather special, in the intimate confines of the Waterloo.  Telling us from the outset that they intend to “play their fucking asses off” for close on two hours they do precisely that. 

Jared is a dominating presence on stage, both physically and musically, but paradoxically he’s also one of the most engaging and likeable musicians you could hope to encounter.  His drummer and bassist, tighter than the proverbial duck’s nether regions, round out the band forming a classic power trio, but Jared truly owns the space, his effortless command of the guitar awe-inspiring and inspiring in its skill, virtuosity and delicacy of touch and feel.  As you would expect there are solos galore, but they never stray into self-indulgence or excess, each one a glorious exploration of the limits of the guitar, and a reminder to the immense talent of the individual we’re all here to see.  And as with many of the greatest guitarists, during these solo interludes he seems to disappear into an almost fugue-like state, just lost in the worlds he creates, returning to Earth with an almost surprised grin, as if he’d forgotten we were there and there was only him and the music.  And this evident joy crosses the barrier between artist and audience, with that grin reflected back tenfold from the upturned faces of the crowd. 

There’s a playfulness and spontaneity in tonight’s performance that keeps us on our toes, never quite sure what’s coming next.   A shout from the crowd for a song that Jared tells us the band don’t know, somehow results in an impromptu rendition of the first few verses of ‘Freebird’, with the audience bellowing the vocals; it’s unexpected and unplanned but a joyful diversion for all concerned.  Relishing the headline spot, Jared is able to have fun, with the freedom to play what he wants and how he wants it, and it shows, throwing in a burst of ‘Smoke on the Water’ here and a bit of ‘The Pink Panther’ there, then quipping and bantering with the audience in such a natural and unrehearsed way that it’s impossible not to be captured by his charm.  The pinnacle of this is when he introduces a young fan who he met the night before in Manchester and who had made the journey to Blackpool with her Mum; he then proceeds to invite her to join him on stage for a performance of ‘Man in the Box’, as she’d told him she loved to sing.  No doubt that moment will live long in her memory and in the process endeared him even more to the crowd. 

Much of the set comes from Jared’s self-titled 2023 album, which firmly leans into the harder rock side of the blues with stunning numbers like ‘Down the Drain’ (with an almost Soundgarden -esque vibe) and ‘Bad Roots’ a driving, punchy number, driven by a relentless bassline and frenetic drumming with more balls than many a traditional hard rock band could ever hope to achieve. But it’s not all heavy; there’s a change of pace with the almost folksy blues of ‘Throw Me to the Wolves’, and the cinematic ‘Nails in the Coffin’ (surely a contender for the next Bond Theme) with its epic scope and searing lyrics. 

And as if he needed to reinforce his rock n’ roll credentials any further (and he really didn’t...) a storming version of ‘War Pigs’ buoyed along by the full-voiced crowd, leads into a final, jubilant ‘Mississippi Queen’ to draw the night to a close. 

Tonight, the Waterloo was, for one night only, reminiscent of the Double Deuce circa 1989, albeit without the need for a cage around the band, the bar brawls and Patrick Swayze.  A thoroughly joyful affair, it was one of those increasingly rare occasions which reminds you why you fell in love with this crazy rock n roll circus in the first place.  Heartfelt, passionate and honest, it was everything you could wish for in a rock n roll show.  

If you don’t think blues rock is for you, give Jared James Nichols a listen, there’s something in his music for everyone and in the live environment he’s an absolute revelation; I, like the rest of the crowd look forward to his return to Blackpool’s finest venue and will hold him to his promise that he’ll be back! 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Jared James Nichols, McHale’s Permanent Brew