Review and images by Ken Jackson
On a cold, rain-soaked night, Bad Influence brought a welcome burst of sunshine to The Tuesday Night Music Club. Earlier, as I sat trying to find the right analogy for their performance, I kept coming back to the idea of comfort food: always substantial, always tasty, always satisfying. Reliable, familiar, and somehow, every time, even better than you expect. Each time you see them, you melt into their sound and remember exactly why you love them. They never disappoint, and they always lift your spirits.
Last night exceeded even my highest expectations, and judging by the whoops, hollers, and cheers erupting behind me, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Val Cowell and Richard ‘Dickie’ Hayes have been amazing audiences since the ’80s, and this year marks an incredible 40 years of performing together. On bass, the ever-exceptional Peter Stroud delivered yet another flawless performance. I’ve genuinely lost count of how many times he’s impressed me over the years. And then there’s Jonny Brister, one of my favourite drummers; few play with such sheer joy and enthusiasm (Kevin Hicks being the rare exception, of course!).
The band glided through two sets that wove together an inspired mix of covers, from Tom Petty’s Honey Bee and Running Down a Dream to Peter Green’s Stop Messin’ Around and Etta James’ I’d Rather Go Blind. These classics sat perfectly alongside newer additions like Johnny Come Home and Frankie Miller’s Be Good to Yourself. A particularly delightful moment came with Angel from Montgomery, performed with a softer, more intimate touch than many renditions.
One of the evening’s loveliest surprises was the appearance of family member Jess Hayes, who joined the band for a couple of tracks and added a fresh, unexpected duet dynamic to the night. Bad Influence packed so much into their two sets that there wasn’t time for an encore, but when they reached the end, the entire room rose in a unified standing ovation, cheering and applauding with genuine, sustained enthusiasm. Martin and Ross Davey, working the sound desk, also did an amazing job last night.
Huge thanks to The Tuesday Night Music Club, Richard Dunning, and Rosalind Dunning-Earp for hosting. And as always, it was a pleasure catching up with both familiar faces and new friends
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