Anyone familiar with the sweet sounds of Californian rock 'n' soul quartet Vintage Trouble will no doubt already have formed a mental image regarding the best possible venue in which to experience the band's smoking hot musical tour de force. Be it a sweaty nightclub or a seedy backstreet gin joint, this is a band that demands you to get up close and personal and most importantly get involved.  So, that is why tonight's venue wasn't exactly high on my list of those most suited for my first live encounter with the band.  You see at St David's Hall, even on a good night the management really doesn't like people to stand up during a performance... Oops!!!! Someone better tell Ty and the gang, and quick

Tonight then was a night for me to put aside my aversion to seated venues, because when a band has released a record as life affirming as Vintage Trouble have in their 'The Bomb Shelter Sessions' album, nothing is about to put me off seeing the band, not even the prospect of them being support to show tunes diva Kerry Ellis and Queen guitarist Brian May.  I mean...can this get any bloody weirder?

Well maybe not, because as the best dressed band in Rock 'n' Soul took to the stage via the stirring call to arms that is 'Blues Hand Me Down', I was blown away by how many of the Ellis/May audience were not only already in their seats but were also clapping along.  Ok it may not have been the Welsh equivalent to Altamont but this was a good start.... right? 

'Still and Always Will' and 'Nancy Lee' followed in lightning quick succession with frontman Ty Taylor prowling the stage edge shimmying and swaying like he'd just woken from hibernation following the Stax Volt Tour of '67.  This iconic imagery, helped along by the minimalist back lighting that whilst a nightmare for photographers actually added a sepia tinged complexion to the deep soul blues of 'Nobody Told Me', a song custom made to reach out and touch the hearts of everyone in one way or another.  Whilst Ty may have taunted his crowd with the refrain of "I can't even hear you" throughout much of tonight's show, the pin drop silence afforded to 'Not Alright By Me' was testament to the integrity of the band's delivery and the growing sense of love emanating from the crowd. I could certainly sense something special happening here tonight and I obviously wasn't alone.

A tight as Charlie Watts legendary snare drum (but nowhere near as flaky of complexion) Vintage Trouble's other members, namely Nalle Colt on guitar, Richard Danielson on drums and Rick Barrio Dill on bass were the pitch perfect heartbeat to the turbo charged preachings of Ty Taylor. Which when he left the stage to be amongst his people for the set closing non-album track 'Strike Your Light' caused the unthinkable to happen, as the whole audience rose in one joyous celebration to scream  "Right On Me" back at the band and give the venue's security minor heart failure in the process. 

Making their way straight from the stage to the merchandise stall to meet and greet, and sign as many new found Troublemaker's CDs as they could squeeze into the changeover between bands, you have to hand it to Vintage Trouble as these guys are suit and tie motherfuckers both on and off stage, and boy does that make a lasting impression.... just like their awesome music did here tonight.

Catch Vintage Trouble in a club somewhere near you soon because trust me they are just about to explode and you won't get that chance ever again!

Photo Kudos; Russ P