Review by Dave Martin and all photos by Carol Henson aka LadyGigger.
This is a special night for Lee and the gang of Pistoleros, it’s not only a local Midlands gig but it is the second launch party for their brand new single and the awakening of a new venture, Church of the Pistoleros. Released on the 25th it is now available to download and stream as well as the preorders for the new album of the same name which will be out in April next year.
There were also two support bands tonight Blanco Negra, a Wolverhampton trio comprising husband-and-wife team Gayna and Dave McCarthy; Dave guitar and vocals, Gayna drums; completing the band was Anne Blakemore on the bass. And another three-piece, this time from Coventry: Blackwater Friend consisting of Danny Starkey (Vocals/Bass), Sam Martin (Guitar) & Kurt Sidwell (Drums).
First up Blanco Negra, who were super excited tonight as they were added at late notice after a band had to pull out. They play loud punk/sleaze, with a taste of Rock n Roll. Dave has a nice growl in his voice which you notice straight away with their first song of the night Wild and Crazy. Midnight Boy is a riff laden number with Gayna at the back providing the ooooh ooohs, and playing a cool headbanging drum beat. The crowd warmed to them very quickly, leaving the bar and edging more to the front of the stage. One by One had Dave and Gayna singing the chorus together, and Dave had the chance to show us all a couple of decent guitar solos. The band were getting a good response in the room so Dave invited some of the crowd to come closer which they happily obliged with.
Sunshine Girl not only had a great vintage vibe it was a cowbell apocalypse, on the intro, middle eight and whenever Gayna felt like hitting it, (you can’t get enough cowbell) and many were dancing and really enjoying their music. Back to the sleazy sound with You Don’t Love Me, Dave bouncing around with a beaming smile on his face, and Anne and Gayna running the whole show with some deep bass and heavy rhythms.
Time for a cover and a great rendition of T Rex’s Children of the Revolution and the room roared out the chorus, while Dave and Anne had a dual guitar moment. They thanked the Pistoleros for letting them play at this special event and then Gayna had the audience sing along with a skin crashing version of Happy Birthday for the Pistoleros bassist Kerry. Ending their set with Kiss My Love Goodbye, Dave’s screaming vocal on this echoing through the room. A good start to the night and the band had got everyone in the mood for more great music to follow.
For more info, see their
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blanconegraband
Bandcamp: https://blanconegra.bandcamp.com/album/the-sunshine-girl-ep
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blanconegra_band/
The next band, Black Water Fiend, have had the honour of selling out the O2 Academy Birmingham three times. Their first few songs had a trippy ethereal vibe to them and once again the audience were into them straight away. I love the fact that the two guitarists Sam and Dan share the vocal duties on some of the numbers; frontman Dan has a really good range and terrific power to his voice and the two of them harmonise really well together.
You can tell how the guys love performing. Sam tossing his long mane of hair in the air and jumping and running around the stage, and Dan chatting and joking with the audience. Kurt is a real tub thumper, my favourite kind of drummer: beating the bejeejus out of the drum skins. I was really impressed with this band, the stage presence, the interaction, and their great musicianship, and can really see big things happening for them in the future.
If you get a chance to see these guys anywhere, take it you won’t be disappointed. Sam gave me a set list for them but he later told he had written it down wrong (No biggie). All the right songs but not necessarily in the right order. Where do we Go, Bring the Fire, Apocalypse, Catacomb, Time Won’t Wait, Lost, Wish You Well, Push, Protect You. Links:
Website https://blackwaterfiend.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BlackWaterFiend
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oaNdMIT6uz52b6bBhy91X
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blackwater_fiend
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_1dAE6fJyi7JvmPVW01HQ
Now for the headliners and who most of the people had come to see tonight: Gypsy Pistoleros, or should that now be Church of the Pistoleros?
Lead singer Lee, always wanting to keep his music and sound fresh, has decided that it is time to go back to his roots to the music he loved performing early in his career: gone is the Mariachi Flamenco sound and now the band are entering a new venture bringing us balls out no nonsense Sleazy Punk in your face rock. Dressed in their monks cloaks the band are: Lee Vocals and utter madness, Shane Lead Guitar, Kerry Bass; and Chris on the Drums. The party started off with a bang and an absolute banger with their brand-new single Church of the Pistoleros. Honestly, they have taken this sound to another level. It is just brilliant.
Following this on with the Blade Runner song Tears in the Rain and then two from their last album Duende A Go Go Loco, Maybe Tomorrow and the title song. Tonight we were also getting a taster of some of the songs from the new album, also titled Church of the Pistoleros, which will be released in April next year, and the pre-order links are at the bottom of this review.
Lee is a consummate frontman, forever chatting to the audience and joking around. I’m In Love With Myself is about a narcissist: fast and furious with a football handclap drumbeat running through it, Lee screaming out the vocal and a great anthemic chorus which many of the hall sang along with. A big fan favourite was next, the Pistoleros cover of Livin La Vida Loca which kept the singing going, Then another new one, Shadow Walker, this is a lot darker to what anyone has heard before from these guys; Lee sings with an evil growl in his voice and it is just totally out there.
Two more from the Duende album followed with I Got it All, and What’s it Like to be a Girl, and now the party was in full swing: dancing, singing, clapping: it was all going on and the crowd were enjoying every moment. The band were smashing it out the park. Then there was an absolute bonkers moment which, with Lee’s imagination doesn’t surprise me, he pulled his cape hood up and went on to produce a plastic sword with lights and a built in laser light which he called the sword of power, then shone it on a member of the audience and went into a sermon about how for five minutes the gentleman would have invincible powers. Everyone was laughing so much that Lee gave up, swore at everyone and shouted, “Now you have ruined it! That was my serious moment”.
I just love the banter and humour of Lee and it just adds to the band’s popularity. Speaking of the band we have to mention the wonderful rhythm section of Birthday girl Kerry who always lights up a stage with her beaming smile and brilliant bass work, and the marvellous rudimental stick work all night from Chris on the drums. Not forgetting Shane on lead guitar with his excellent solos and riffage.
What’s it like to be a Girl is a hand clapping gem that has everything, Hey Hey Heys, Oh Ohh Ohs, Wow Wow Wows: it has got it all the ultimate interactive crowd pleaser.
With its machine gun drum intro Wild Beautiful and Damned is a nonstop roller coaster ride of fast rock and roll that never lets up from start to finish. Lee thanked everyone for coming tonight and also the other two bands before their three-song encore. The last single, a cover of Dexy’s Midnight Runners Come on Eileen, Revolution, and allowing a chance to show off Lee’s acting abilities putting his cap on for the Peaky Blinders themed, Ballad of Tommy Shelby.
A fantastic night with great performances from all the bands tonight, and don’t forget to preorder the new album by clicking the link below.
Pre-order album bundles link: https://earache.com/collections/gypsy-pistoleros
Join the Church of the Pistoleros, a rallying cry for the outcasts, the misunderstood, and the beautifully strange souls wandering the fringes of society, whose one true religion is Rock n Roll.
Order the single here: https://earache.lnk.to/ChurchofthePistoleros
Links: Website: https://gypsypistoleros.com/ /
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Waa1UXmRMFxU
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gypsypistoleros/
/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGypsyPistoleros
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