Review & Photography by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
It is amazing to see this band already headline a Blues festival in Glasgow (or anywhere for that matter). With only one album to their name it is testimony to their talent that this venue is packed to the rafters tonight and after some incredible acts throughout the day this really was the cherry on the cake.
Tonight is a celebration and also slightly sad as the band draw a line under the incredible debut album January Came Close. Tonight they play it in its entirety and put it to bed before working on a new album which will hopefully be in place for their tour at the tail end of the year.
Cardinal Black have been a surprise hit and as much as the album has stamped their name in blues circles guitarist Chris Buck done a lot of the ground work for a lot of years with his band Buck and Evans. Myself like a lot of people here tonight will have seen that band and followed the crazily talented player on his new venture. I think we all new he was ripe for stardom and Cardinal Black looks like it will be the vehicle for that, even if it is the second bite at the cherry for the band.
There is no surprise in the set tonight. It follows the album track list to the letter so the show opens with “Rise Up” and takes me back to the first time I heard the soulful vocals of Tom Hollister when I reviewed the album and this boy is pure white chocolate.
The crowd are instantly invested and for the few that had not seen the band live the eyes are wide open and we are all sold. Upbeat number “Where Do You Go?” is up next and it is here where I realise just how big this band is getting. The usual refined reticence of a blues crowd goes out the window and everyone is singing their hearts out and the roar from the Glasgow choir after every song is huge and is more akin to the Rock and Metal gigs I frequent. This band are shaking up the blues genre one gig at a time.
The stripped back feel is front and centre on “Tell Me How it Feels” and this could be Terrence Trent D’Arby in parallel universe. The audience are in rapture and awe at what is unraveling before them and the fretboard watchers are glued to Chris as he works his magic.
The Soul comes dripping back on “Terra Firma” as Hollister lets rip with those powerful pipes. The crowd singing comes back in force on the chorus and as always at this venue the sound is sheer perfection.
A show like this is hard to review as I just get caught up in the moment (people videoing every song take note and try it). “Half Way” and “On My Way” float past my ears and I am well and truly in the moment that only the most gripping of bands can do.
As I slip into my Blues element the incredible “Ain’t My Time” is next up and there is no better road sign for this band than this song. The beautiful arrangement, the sublime guitar, the melting vocals and that tremendous breakdown at the end.
The night followed the album track for track so no point reliving every moment, if you have seen the boys live you know exactly how good they are and if you have not I feel sorry that you missed the opportunity to see one of the best Blues debut albums in a decade be played in full.
Tonight I felt privileged just to be here, to witness brilliance and to sadly say goodbye to January Came Close. I know we will hear these songs again but there is something very special in visiting such an incredible album in its entirety.
Cardinal Black have paved their own path with this album and it is down to them to write chapter two and I know deep down this is only the beginning of bigger and better things for this band. They have already sold out many shows on this latest stint of shows and 450 tickets were sold for todays Glasgow Blues Rhythm & Rock Festival and I know a huge majority of those tickets were off the back of this band.
Cardinal Black, the future is yours.
