Black Stone Cherry - Live @ O2 Academy Bristol

 

Key Facts

Country:  🇺🇸

Genre: Southern Rock/Hard Rock

Show Date: 9th September 2021

Venue: Bristol O2 Academy

Band Members

Chris Robertson - Vocals, Guitars

Ben Wells - Guitars, Vocals

John Fred Young - Drums, Vocals, Harmonica, Piano

Touring Members

Steve Jewell Jr. - Bass, Vocals

My review for The Human Condition can be found here.

Black Stone Cherry - Again (Live From The Sky)

Review

Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

It has been a long, long eighteen months. A lot has happened in the BSC camp over that time, they released their morale boosting and spirit lifting seventh studio album under the black cloud of the pandemic, performed an energetic livestream Live From The Sky back on the album's release day (30th October 2020),  sadly founding member and original bassist Jon Lawhon stepped down from BSC duties (will always miss you Jon!) and they have been playing a handful of dates across the USA. Now, they have finally crossed the pond after a significantly long wait, with Otis's Steve Jewell filling in on bass duties the band were at fever pitch to tour the UK again. What a better way to start a postponed tour than a sold out gig in Bristol! Granted, like many others, I had some anxieties going into this gig, this was my first gig since life started returning back to "normal" but I was determined to have a good time. All safety precautions were taken to put my mind at ease and it was always a pleasure to be back in my wonderful university city of Bristol. 

The Kris Barras Band kick started the evening with his brand of heavy Brit blues. With powerful riffs, action packed licks and passionate solos, Kris rocked the O2 as hard as he possibly could to get the evening off to a great start. The UK's own blues rock maestro showing that he can hang with the big dogs of southern rock. While the music is nothing groundbreaking, it certainly embedded the party spirit deep in the hearts of everyone at a sold out O2 Academy. After a break neck 45 minutes, Kris departed the stage soaked in sweat, symbolic of the high octane performance that he had just put in.

Black Stone Cherry are on of those bands that have always had a bigger and more popular following in the UK than in the US, the band looked ecstatic to be back on English soil and once again performing to sell out audience, the night was emotionally heavy but in the best way possible. After a long 24 months away, it was smiles and surrealism all round as the audience who have been deprived of some good ol' fashioned rock and roll lapped up the riffs, licks and solos the band had to offer. Throughout the show Chris made it explicitly clear how much this night and being in the UK meant to him, not the cookie cutter crowd cajoling rubbish that most bands churn out nightly but true heartfelt emotions that resonated with everyone in the room.  The set opened up with a rousing rendition of Me & Mary Jane and thundered on through the rest of the night, even surprising us by digging out a deep cut from their back catalogue Yeah Man which sent the hardcore Cherryheads (i.e. me) absolutely crazy. The band even granted the requests of many Cherryheads and played Hell & High Water, which given the times we have all gone through has an even more significant and special meaning to us all. 

The best part of a BSC gig is the fact that seemingly everyone knows the words, through the joint love of the music, the relationship with the band and audience is a special one. Whilst many of us today not doubt woke up hoarse from singing every word, it is clear that everyone was letting go of all the rubbish that has happened over the last 18 months and having a damn good, very much needed party. Now with an extensive back catalogue, the challenge must lie in what songs to choose but BSC covered all bases and the some, with new songs mingled in with crow favourites the energy never dropped throughout the performance. This was also a chance for the fans to see touring member Steve Jewell Jr. in action. Some BSC fans may already know Steve and his band Otis who supported BSC at the crazy Caerphilly Castle show back in 2019. Having stood in for the band after original bassist Jon Lawhon had to step down, Steve fitted in perfectly. Bringing his own flavour to BSC with a smile on his face, his energy was infections! Whilst the mist still gathers around a possible bassist replacement, Steve has won over the UK crowds and proved his up to the task. Ben once again blew everyones mind with his high energy performance, we will never know his secrets but it was amazing to see, whilst John Fred did what John Fred does and unleashed the beast on his drums. 

There was only one encore, and it was all that was needed. Peace Is Free is a song that is firmly placed in the hearts of all BSC fans, and the audience certainly let the band know. A sold out O2 singing with everything they had left in the tank to give the band the perfect send off to their next date. To show the world how much it meant to him Chris posted on his social media the emotional tears flowing out of him. Chris has once again proved that feeling your emotions to their full extent is nothing to be ashamed of,  he is an absolute hero to me because of how honest and open he is, something that we can all relate to. (you can view the post here). 

The night was a special one, and hard to truly put into words. After a long, long wait it was incredible to feel some semblance of normality again, they say you do know how much you love something until it's gone, this was a prime example. It seemed fitting for me to end my gig drought with my favourite dudes from Kentucky! 

Setlist

I. Me & Mary Jane

II. Yeah Man

III. Again

IV. Burnin'

V. In My Blood

VI. Ringin' In My Head

VII. Like I Roll

VIII. Cheaper To Drink Alone

IX. Bad Habit

X. Hell & High Water

XI. Soul Creek

XII. Devil's Queen

XIII. John Fred Drum Solo

XIV. In Love With The Pain

XV. Blind Man

XVI. Blame It On The Boom Boom

XVII. White Trash Millionaire

XVIII. Lonely Train

Encore

XIX. Peace Is Free