Rebel Yell

Just when you think you can't possibly discover another band, that you've heard it all and your MP3 can not handle more tracks, along come a band like Rebel Yell that you have to back down to.

I first saw these Leeds lads supporting Terrorvision earlier this year and was blown away by how tight and professional their sound was. Mixing country and rockabilly with the harshness of punk, like Johnny Cash and Tiger Army pairing up with The Clash, the four guys including three brothers have the attitude, musicianship and looks to get really noticed.



The support slots for Terrorvision were plugged in, loud, brash shows featuring double bass player Ray dancing with his instrument, standing on it, spinning it around, making for a glorious sight as well as a great sound. Tonight's show is a stripped down unplugged show, and the small stage at the Hop does not have enough room for Ray to get down. This does not bother me, for it is a chance to take in the music on it's own for once. Craig is still standing whilst playing a small drum kit, Neil is powering that acoustic guitar like it really is plugged in and tonight is also different as they have a new guitarist after ten years, Davro, replacing Bowman, who is doing a grand job to say this is only his fourth show as a Rebel!

They start as the new live CD does, with 'My Primrose' about a local Leeds pub, and carry on with the country style of 'Tumbling Down'. 'Johnny B Good', originally by Chuck Berry, is a great addition to the set, and then it's back to their own rock and roll with the excellent 'A Dangerous Word', 'Tomorrow's Fish And Chip Wrapper', 'Bang Bang I'm Famous' (which could have been Billy The Kid's soundtrack) and 'Glasses, Knives And Bottles'.


After an encore of Jerry Lee Lewis' 'Whole Lotta Shaking Going On' and Eddie Cochran's 'Twenty Flight Rock', the lads are told that they are only half way through their time and can play another set! This is great for us in the cosy pub, but the lads have to now run off and put together a second set list, and they have already played most of their material!

Not to worry though, a they return shortly with a their own 'Waiting', 'Four Candles', another chance for newcomers to hear 'A Dangerous Word' and 'Tomorrow's Fish And Chip Wrapper' plus a whole host of covers; The Beatles' 'Saw Her Standing There', The Clash's 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go', 'Good Golly Miss Molly' by Little Richard, and a rousing 'Great Ball's Of Fire, again by JL Lewis. Absolutely fantastic. Davro does a great job at keeping up too on the electric guitar; he probably hasn't played these songs with the band before tonight!

Thanks again lads for a memorable night, I'm sure you have a few more fans in Wakey now as rockabilly punk never seems to hit this small city. Next time get plugged back in and rock that national grid!

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.