Review & Photography by Justin Marque for MPM
It’s a cold, wet night in Bedfordshire but it’s also a Friday and with South Coast blues rockers Brave Rival providing the soundtrack there’s a party going on.
Tonight was a different affair than usual, the support act not making it meant the band were on earlier than usual, playing a longer set that was split in two.
The main difference though was the absence due to illness of co-lead vocalist Chloe Josephine who been laid low during their recent northern touring dates. Having announced recently that she was stepping away from the band at the end of the year, Josephine had always been at the side of her sister in soul Lindsey Bonnick so tonight was trial by fire and one to which the be-hatted redhead had to embrace with all her might.
Thankfully, the chemistry between the band is such that they manage to support each other with aplomb and this show was no exception, the rapidly retooled set list proving just how the countless hours of playing and days on the road have sharpened them even further.
If there were nerves, they really didn’t show and the quartet dug in and tore straight into the set, the stomp of ‘Bad Choices’ and ‘Seventeen’ followed by the huge hook of singalong fan favourite ‘Guilty Love’ and assured opening. It was a good move, the four running straight through and just letting the music do the talking as Bonnick became more relaxed with each passing minute. Whilst for those many who’d followed the band for a while the absence of the twin vocals took a little adjusting to, the chance to hear Bonnick’s voice alone proved what a damn fine set of pipes she has and her confidence in talking to the audience shone, even without her usual foil by her side.
Again, this comes down to the relationship that these four individuals have with each other and crucially, with their audiences.
Another key factor in their armoury is the songwriting and the bone deep soul of ‘Stars Upon My Scars’, seductive romp of ‘What’s Your Name Again’ and drama of ‘Fairytale’ shows that this is material built to last. Over their five years together each member has grown too and to witness the swing of Donna Peter’s drums, Billy Dedman’s grooving bass alongside the sometimes fiery, sometimes soulful fretwork of Ed Clarke is to see something compelling and propulsive. Having worked together for years that stretch beyond their time since Brave Rival formed, the rhythm section duo has an almost telepathic connection and their joy is obvious but Clarke also needs to be acknowledged too, his playing full of power and nuance that sets him up as a modern guitar hero who’s only concession to anything flashy stops at his ornately styled shoes.
The semi-acoustic ‘For the Ones’ and ‘All I Can Think About’ are truly heartbreaking, again highlighting just how good the band can encapsulate real soul that communicates to every single person there and the joyous bounce of ‘Heart Attack’ and a twisted ‘Unravelling’ brings heads moving and feet shuffling with ease. Pitching their suitability for the new James Bond film theme with ‘Blame the Voices’ and then bringing the crushing Led Zeppelin-style feel to a showstopping ‘Heavy’, complete with extended instrumental outro, it was almost time to say goodbye, an encore of the dizzying wonder of ‘Sink or Swim’ drawing things to a final close.
The first show they’d done as a four piece for years, Brave Rival showed that they can rise to any challenge and overcome it with style and class. Quite what the future holds, who knows and whether they continue as a quartet or recruit another singer, this is a band with quality, class and the ability to win hearts and minds. A triumph for Bonnick and a great evening for the band, not even the pouring rain outside could damp the spirits of those filing off into the night, their hearts warmed by the experience of a night that no-one would forget.
