Words by Alaina Henderson
As part of a huge UK tour and to promote his latest album Destination Unkown, blues-rock singer-songwriter Laurence Jones and his band are tonight playing at the Cheese and Grain in Frome.
Chatting with them ahead of the show, Laurence and the guys seem in awe of the venue which had hosted huge acts like Foo Fighters, Robert Plant and Biffy Clyro and looking at the crowd here tonight, they will be held with just as much warmth.
When things kick off with tracks from the new album (following a great opening set from Brave Rival), the sense of joy is palpable. Laurence is a smiling beacon of happiness as he shares his gift with the room. You can tell how tight the guys are - it feels like we’re witnessing friends jamming together in a front room.
Laurence really shows what his axe can do while, at one point, lying on the stage floor in a moment of pure transcendence. The show pulls you into its story from the start and each member of the band is allowed time to shine - especially Bennett Holland on the Hammond organ whose rocking out on keys really is something to be seen.
The seeming quite timid, down-to-Earth, lad, Laurence really let’s rip about half way through the set with some undiluted blues. The smile has gone - now we’re down to nitty gritty serious stuff. The drums, hammond and bass backing him up each without a hint of self indulgence. It’s like a classic blues song, but on steroids, including some perfectly controlled tone and feedback. You almost need a smoke afterwards.
Nearing the end of the set, there is a relentless energy that older bands just wouldn’t have, and yet we are treated to this classic sound. It’s infectious and the crowd could’ve carried on for hours.
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