Review by Tim Marcus with photos from Sam Conquest photography
We’re back at one of our local venues, The Cavern in Raynes Park to see a band we first saw some 4 ½ years ago when they opened up the blues stage on the final day of the final Ramblin’ Man Fair in Kent back in 2019. They did a great job of easing everyone into the day ahead of such great names as Elles Bailey, Chantel McGregor, Richie Kotzen and Beth Hart. We were very impressed by this Cambridge-based quintet on that day however for whatever reason this is the first opportunity we’ve had to see them since.
Normally when writing a review we’d kick things off with a little about the support band however not tonight as with a three hours journey home and a flight to catch for keyboard player Dom, they have done a “swap” with The 29th Funktion and it’s Sweet Crisis who’ll be playing for us first.
As I said, it’s some four and half years since I last heard this band however as they take to the stage and slide gently into their opening track it’s as if it were only yesterday. Past reviews widely quoted on their website describe them as the missing link between Free and the Black Keys. I’m not a fan of the Black Keys personally however can certainly hear the Free influences coming across in Leo’s vocals. These are a very talented quintet on display this evening.
Sharing a lot of the vocal work this evening with Leo is guitarist Piers, although not to be outdone, Leo is also pretty adept with a six-string too. Backed by Dom’s great keyboards and a solid-sounding rhythm section of Matt (bass) and Joe (drums) what you get with Sweet Crisis is a very solid unit which has developed and matured in the four and half years since I last saw them. Much more of their material (we are told that there is a new album coming later this year) and as if to emphasise that the Free Influence is still very much with them, included in tonight’s set is a great cover of 1969 Andy Fraser/Paul Rogers composition, “I’ll be Creepin”, which Sweet Crisis themselves released as a single in 2022.
The general ambience and sound of the band this evening, despite their progression, reminds me very much of how I felt on that late Sunday morning at Ramblin’ Man, hearing them for the first time; the melodic sound of the blues, with just the occasional heavier riff thrown in, the perfect way to gently ease you into a festival Sunday following an epic Saturday night. With my two favourite songs from the band’s back catalogue, “Misty Haze” and “Treading in Deep Water” also included, this evening has been a wonderful reminder of how good Sweet Crisis are and a prompt to self not to leave it another four and a half years before I see them again!
After a short break, it’s time to hear from tonight’s support band, The 29th Funktion, who for reasons mentioned earlier, have been waiting patiently for their time on the stage. I have to confess that before this evening, not only had I never heard the band’s music, I’ve never even heard of the band. Unsure of what to expect, given the “k” in the spelling of their name I’m anticipating something perhaps almost 1970s disco-like. Not that I have any axe to grind with 1970s disco music however I’m delighted to be proved incorrect as soon as they break into their opening song of the night. The 29th Funktion are a very young band (I was reliably informed that their front lady, the wonderfully charming Lulu Hensley, is only 18 years old, and the rest of the band, Tommy Orton (guitar), Sam/Sal Fisher (drums) and Alex Tickinboy (bass) appear to be not much older) however the sound coming from the stage is an incredibly mature one.
Their website describes their music as funky psychedelic soft rock blues and soul: what I’m hearing however to my ear is much more of a traditional blues sound; traditional blues music yet sounding extremely fresh and new. For someone so young, Lulu has a great stage presence. Her constant movement, command of the stage and her interaction with her fellow band members make it very difficult to take your eyes off of her; a wonderfully gifted and developed vocal too for someone so young. As well as plenty of self-composed bluesy sounds, their 65-minute set also includes a cover of Led Zep’s “Going to California” and concludes with Buffalo Springfield’s “For What it’s Worth”.
It’s been a great night. Sweet Crisis has delivered a wonderful set and lived up to the very high expectations I had when I left home this evening. The 29th Funktion on the other hand has been a great and pleasant bonus; the surprise icing on the cake of a wonderful evening. Two great bands that everyone should make the effort to see. You won’t come away disappointed, I can promise you that.
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