Review By Darren McIntyre
Troy Redfern is a six-string road warrior and king of the slide guitar who has certainly put in a shift when it comes to treading the stages of cities up and down the country. Troy has joined the likes of The Sweet, When Rivers Meet, Quireboys, and Robert Jon & The Wreck and graced the stage of festivals like Steelhouse, Maid Of Stone & RAWA Blues Festival. Troy has given us The Fire Cosmic, Wings Of Salvation, and Invocation, along with a couple of EPs & singles. Troy is on the road right now to showcase his new LP, Retribution, and tonight he breezes into the fabulous Oran Mor to hit us with his colossal slide guitar licks that we have come to know and love him for. the place is filling up as the lights dim and the house PA fades as Troy & Paul hit the stage and kick off with –
Shakin’ – The track unravels with a real thundering bass kick that brings us snare punches and cymbal crunches as the king of the slide guitar lets his guitar ripple through the intro as this foot-stomping groover kicks in the doors and lets us feel the energy oozing from this six-string slinger. The guitar licks are wrapped in Troy’s gravelly, rasping vocals as this fist-pumping monster fills every corner of this fantastic venue. The pounding rhythm section is commanding the flow of the track as it keeps perfect timing in this crunching rock ‘n’ roll bruiser rears its head and lets us know that Troy is back and ready to shake Oran Mor to its very foundations. we are getting that warm, fuzzy feeling as Troy really sizzles in his own space as this thundering monster comes at us. We applaud loudly and holler out as Troy asks us, ‘How We All Doin’?’ and we bellow back and let him lead us into –
Taken My Soul – A commanding punch flows from the stage as Paul gets this rocking monster off the ground as Troy brings the growling tones to the intro as he shreds on his trusty guitar. The foot-stomping arrangement really settles us into our groove as the swagger-laden track hits us with cymbal crashes that grab our attention. The place is really getting into this seasoned warrior as he shifts through the gears and really gives it his all tonight. The slick, sizzling guitar licks are giving us a real blues-soaked, sludgy feel as Troy steps back and gets into the zone as he unleashes a flurry of killer licks that have us fixed on the stage as Paul pounds away on the drums and keeps perfect time throughout. The energy in the room is just reaching fever pitch as Troy steps back to the mic and brings his soulful, blues-soaked vocals to this rousing beast as we stroll into –
Native – Troy changes his guitar to open the track with a real cool guitar riff that is followed by a punchy bass beat that allows Troy to bring his gravelly blues vocals that let the track flow. The slide element is just incredible, as we feel every note pouring from the stage tonight that is followed by a real heavy, pulsing beat as Paul really gets the juices flowing as we just let ourselves go and feel the energy coming from the stage tonight. The chemistry is just awesome as Troy leans in and lets his vocals do the talking as the crowd falls silent and watches the king of slide do his thing. We feel the rhythm section pound away and really give this track depth, swagger and bags of attitude. The place is just watching the stage as Troy bellows out with his trademark gravelly vocals that match the track perfectly as the track changes tempo and welcomes cymbal crashes that have a meaty snare drum beat that lets the track run free and lets us get to grips with this fantastic musician. Troy chats for a bit and thanks us for coming out to watch some geezer do his thing with a guitar and bring his buddy to fill the rhythm section with ease and that brings a huge cheer. we roll into-
onto – Aching Heart – The cymbal crashes let the beat come at us as the punchy bass drum beats echo through the venue as Troy leans in and brings his melodic vocals to this cool offering. The slide guitar effect is in full flow as Troy sets out his stall and unleashes a killer lick that just puts a smile on our faces as the crowd stands and watches this seasoned professional do his thing. We are punching the air as the boys are really giving it all they have with this killer new track that is being well received by this growing crowd. The boys are sweating it out as they let the slick, crisp guitar noodles roll freely through the venue. As Paul brings the noise with his precision drumming that really wraps itself around the stage tonight, we catch our breath a little as Troy does his best salesman pitch and lets us know he has some merch available to purchase to put fuel in the van. we all laugh as we move onto –
John The Revelator – Sleazy, dirty, powering riffs pour into this hall as the vocals bellow out and really deliver a gravelly rasp that just sets the tone as we move forward. The guitar is taking a beating as the riffs are just telling their own story as this enigmatic bluesman delivers faultless grooves that have the audience eating from the palm of his hand, the whole gig is a real lesson in slide guitar riffs that are handing us sleazy grooves with attitude that just allow this track to open and bring us a real sludgy groove beat that is just wrapped in dark melodic tones that come equipped with incredible dark soulful vocals that are letting this track build and build as the tone shifts from side to side as Troy lets his music do the talking as we are taken on a guitar journey as he beats his guitar within an inch of it’s life as the place stands silent as the venue falls quiet as the cool drum fills slow down and let the sizzling strings take us on the journey with the boys as we stride into –
Waiting For Your Love – Sliding into this track come incredible slick guitar riffs that are bouncing off every wall in the place as Troy sets about telling us a story that just oozes classy, soulful, dark vocals that have their own story to tell. The whole arrangement is steeped in dark bluesy grooves that are just smacking us straight in the face and lets the groove unfold as we feel the electricity come loose and really attack this track with the precision that we have come to know and love from this scintillating bluesman as he just lifts the crowd with his energy and guitar playing as we stand silent and just watch this incredible musician do his thing. It is a real pleasure watching this musician do his thing as he really takes this audience to his heart as he thanks us all for coming out and making him feel so welcome. We applaud loudly and move onto –
Sanctify – The pace quickens slightly as Troy races off and really hits us between the eyes as this gritty blues-filled rock track comes racing towards us. Vocals are just on the money as they deliver a real gravelly rasping tone that fits this awesome track to a tee, the whole arrangement is full of sizzling licks that bring us closer to this incredible musician as he shreds his way through this colossal track and hits us with slick clean fingerwork that just tells us that he is one to watch as he drives his juggernaut forward and throws us killer licks and clean crisp grooves that just deliver a faultless well written blues track that has slide guitar tones littered throughout this fantastic track, the audience is just cheering and hollering loudly as he thanks us for coming out and making him feel so welcome, we are led onto the final track of his short but electrifying set in the form of a real guitar hero. The drum fills are just kicking in the doors and really giving us a powering groove that just allows Troy to ply his trade and deliver a no-nonsense set that tells us all we need to know about this bluesman as the place erupts in a hail of applause and hollering tones that lets Troy & Paul exit the stage with smiles on their faces.
Troy Redfern –
Troy Redfern – Vocals / Guitars
Paul Annis – Drums
Setlist –
Shakin
Taken My Soul
Native
Aching Heart
John The Revelator
Waiting For Your Love
Sanctify
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