The last time Glaswegian blues rock stalwarts King King played here was exactly 3 years ago; and a lot has changed since that date- the comings and goings of various members, an album, and the welcome addition of a certain big brother into the fold. Having last caught the chaps back in October at the Leeds Stylus, I knew just what a treat the crowd of mainly middle aged folks were in for if they hadn’t seen the new expanded line up before. First though, we needed to welcome The Damn Truth to open proceedings and it was quite a stir they proved to make.
Read MoreThe red Audi screeches to a stop outside my door. I jump in, Johann is drumming the steering wheel. He is super excited and roars up the road. Manchester can’t come soon enough. I’d already been warned that Europe are a first love. Still integrity and all that. No one is fast enough and Manchester’s myriad of perma-road works aren’t helping. Doors open at 7:00pm so a 7:30 kick off isn’t unlikely and there is the usual gauntlet of getting in to run. The Academy has a large pool of staff so we don’t get recognised as press quite so quickly. There is also the matter of the little jaunt between parking and entry. All aforementioned problems evaporate, a smooth entry and we are at the bar. King King are due to start at 8:00pm. This is the start of Europe’s European tour.
Read MoreLate, early, on time! Not usually an issue for press given that access is given by the bands/promoter. Not so tonight though. We were told 19:30 doors, support starts at 20:00. Steve Hill was well under way when we arrived at 19:45. The Epstein Theatre is a weird and magical auditorium, a venue designed for dance, plays and Vaudeville. The stage is deep and wide, it lends itself to that very specific kind of stage ownership you don’t see often enough.
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