Review By Darren McIntyre Images By Scott Anderson
Dom Martin is a Belfast born multi award winning singer / songwriter / musician who burst onto the music scene with a unique guitar style & voice that captivated audiences everywhere. Dom brought us debut album Spain To Italy and was described as a truly wonderful piece of music that is amongst the best debut album from any artist of the year. Dom has 5 European & UK blues awards to his name, caught the attention of Joe Bonamassa and has been invited to play on The Keeping The Blues Alive Mediterranean Cruise. Dom has given us Spain To Italy 2019, Savage Life 2022 & Buried In The Hail 2023, Dom has taken some time to reflect, write some new material, spend some time with the family and he is now ready to bring us some blistering blues rock and tonight. We are in Edinburgh @ Cabaret Volitaire as Dom emerges from the dark and wanders onto the stage to rapturous applause as he gets ready to bring us a night of scintilating rock n blues as he start out with –
Easy Way Out(Acoustic) – The room is silent as Dom steps forward and says hi to everyone and thanks them for coming as he checks his acoustic guitar as the track ripples into life. A mellow, soulful tone pours from the stage as the gravelly, rasping vocals ease their way into this classic number as Dom tells his own story with this fantastic opening number that oozes soul, depth and emotion that really lets us know that this incredible blues master has lost non of his sparkle as this track builds and builds as we feel the tone wrap itself around us. The boys are on stage but only Ben leans in with a cool, dark, brooding bass that controls the direction of this colossal track that just wraps itself around us as the groove takes us away on the journey with Dom as he drills down and delivers a killer piece of blues with ease as we stand and stare at the stage as this road warrior delivers a truly mesmerising opening salvo that leads us into –
Belfast Blues(Acoustic) – Dom has that knack of rolling into another track from the last one and as he says I like to confuse you(nice try fella) as the slick, spellbinding acoustic chords flow freely through the venue. The story is simple as Dom makes light work of this arrangement as the place is getting excited as he strums away and just puts a smile on your face as the track just peels away the layers that Dom brings with him, the guitar work is just immense as we see the master at work as he shifts through the gears and gives us a real soul – wrenching performance that is just incredible. The tone, depth and musicality are just incredible as Dom is one of those artists you would never tire of seeing as each time he raises the bar and brings something different to every show, the melodic tones are sailing through the venue as Dom’s killer vocals really set the tone as he just delivers song after song and then some, we drop into –
The Rain Came – The guitar intro is just incredible and really grabs our attention as the place readies itself for this incredible night of rockin blues with a real kicker as the band adds extra oomph to the show. The vocals are just telling their own story as Dom brings depth to the track with his dark, brooding tones that are just so infectious, the bassline is dropping in and adding texture to this awesome track as the night is building and building as the band just gels together and lets us feel the results of this killer gig that is just bringing back memories for the last time I saw Dom before I got my diagnosis, the crowd are standing motionless as Dom beats the guitar from within an inch of it’s life as he puts it through it’s paces right here tonight in Auld Reekie as we listen to every note, chord, groove that is pouring from the stage as we allow this Belfast crooner to bring us into his world and take us on the journey with him as we roll into –
Dealer – The riffs build and build as again we slip into another track at the blink of an eye as the boys up the anti with this riveting number that just ticks all the boxes. Dark, delicious basslines drop in and really wrap themselves around this killer track as Dom unleashes his incredible, gravelly, raspy vocals upon us as this foot stomping beast kicks in the doors and really socks it to us as we feel the energy oozing from the stage as the boys kick it up a notch with this real thought provoking piece that grabs your attention as the place is just standing watching the stage as the boys dig deep and go about their business with a phenomenal show that will be one to beat let me tell you, Dom tells us that he is nervous and feeling like he is gonna shit himself as he tells us that it has been a couple of months since he last played but by the way he stormed the stage tonight you could not tell as the place erupts in a hail of applause as we kick things up with a rock n roll rasper in the form of –
Maxwell Shuffle – Dom lets the track unfold with a real bluesy, rock lick that just sends shivers down our spine as the boys bring the funk with a solid snare drum kick as the cymbal crashes rain down on us. The delicious, meaty funky bassline brings a real cool groove to this incredible track as Dom & the boys shift through the gears and let this kick ass blues monster do it’s thing as we feel the energy oozing from the stage as these 3 titans cut loose and really give us a track that will be in our heads for a long time to come. The rhythm section is loud, on pount and driving the show from the back of the room as the funk section leans in with epic grooves that just wrap themselves around this killer instrumental arrangement. The boys are just warming up as Aaron controls the groove from the back of the room as the boys gel together and let us feel the emotion, swagger and attitude roll from the stage as we slide into –
Unhinged – Dom, Ban & Aaron chat amongst themselves as they discuss what’s next before we get a sludgy, gritty guitar riff that has a cool, mellow bassline for company as this foot stomping bruiser erupts into life. The funky rhythm section kicks in the doors with a full on snare / bass beat that has cymbal crashes that are raining down on us as this awesome guitar led monster comes at us, the tempo changes pace as Dom manhandles his guitar and hits us with a sizzling, crisp solo that really brings us to life as we stamp our feet and punch the air as this crunching number wraps itself around us. The soulful vocals are easing through the track and really let it tell it’s own story as a cool, funky, mellow bassline drops in and gives the arrangement depth and swagger as the boys are firing on all cylinders and are really putting on a show that just puts a smile on your face, up next –
Hell For You – Dom chats to us and tells us a little about this track and what it means to many people and he wants us to understand the lyrics, harmonies as he tunes his guitar to finally ready himself. The guitar strings burst into life as we get a real haunting blues groove that when you close your eyes you will be instantly taken to somewhere new, the tone is dark, mesmerising and just incredible as Dom sets out his stall and brings us mellow, dark chords that really work. Dom lets his gravelly melodic vocals roll through this fantastic arrangement as he allows us to feel the depth of this colossal track that just pulls you in and lets us wander freely through the mind of this fantastic musician as his dusky blues soaked vocals really let this fantastic track do it’s thing, next up is –
Dixie Black Hand – The crisp, clean picks wander through the intro as Dom unleashes a killer tone that readies us for what’s coming next and boy you can feel the excitement oozing from the stage. Dom comes in with his trademark vocals that just wrap themselves around this awesome number as the funking bass drops in with a real dark, melodic tone that works well with this composition, the crunching guitar riffs are just taking Cabaret Volitaire by storm as we feel the energy rising with every note that comes our way. The tempo changes pace a little as Dom brings a soft, sweetness to the mid section of this incredible track, Aaron leans in with snare drum taps, bass kicks and cymbal snaps that just allow the track to deliver a slick, clean tempo that has us all spellbound for sure as the mellow, bluesy guitar licks weave their way into this awesome arrangement as the boys dig deep and let us know they are giving everything tonight as we drop into –
Alethea(Robin Trower) – Dom begins with a story about the track and how he came to play it and what it meant to him as a musician, he begins by telling us that he was opening for Robin Trower and listened to the track and as he recorded it he had a lightbulb moment when someone told him that the song he was playing was that of his hero Robin Trower, this made the crowd giggle. A cool, rasping guitar shredding lick opens the track as the dark, sultry bassline joins in and really gives us a warm, meaty tone that lets this track burst into life as the mellow, gravelly vocals leave their mark on this classic track as the boys set out their stall as this roaring beast fills every corner of the venue as Dom steps back and delivers a sleazy, gritty, on point solo that has us all open mouthed as he rips into this classic with all he has, the rhythm section is controlling the tone of the track from the back of the room as the punchy snare drum kicks work well as a solo ensues as Aaron kicks in the doors with a soul wrenching display that really lets this track breath as we feel the energy oozing from the boys as this killer track just comes at us with all it has as we stroll into –
Blues On The Bay – A sweet, soft guitar lick opens the track as the bass kicks let the rhythm section bring snare taps and a real sultry feel to this classic piece as we watch the stage in awe of this killer trio. The full on bassline is coming through and hitting us with a real sludgy, dark groove that fits perfectly with this incredible track as Dom lets his moody, soulful vocals lead the way with this toe tapping, melodic number that is just ticking all the boxes. The place is open mouthed as we watch this power trio unleash blues hell on the fine folk if Edinburgh tonight as Dom brings the depth of his colossal guitar playing that has a cool vocal assault to really strip this track down and assemble a real gritty, blues filled number that transports us to another place to feel the energy, swagger and lyrics wrap themselves around us. The tempo changes pace a little as Dom gives his guitar a workout with precision playing that is just incredible let me tell you, the boys have done a sterling job bringing the groove to the show as we will leave tonight’s show with a huge smile on our faces as they take us into –
Used To Be – As we stroll into the business end of the show Dom dips into a couple of Rory Gallagher numbers that really put a smile on some people’s faces for sure as the boys get the groove section off the ground. A colossal shredding, power riffed lick gets the track on the move as a cool, meaty bassline brings swagger, depth to this killer cover as Dom unleashes his awesome vocals that just lifts the track somewhat, we feel the electricity pouring through the venue as the boys kick into full speed with this foot stomping monster as the rhythm section drives on with a solid snare / bass combo that really tells it’s own story as Ben drops in with a real deep, grooving tone that fits the arrangement perfectly. The place is rockin and rollin as the boys finish in a hail of glory with this classic number that I am sure will take a lot of people back to the Rory days of old as we bop around and feel the place come to life with it’s infectious tone that is taking us on the journey with Dom & the boys as we head straight into the killer –
12 Gauge – Dom says there’s no point in going off stage to come back on as the boys limber up to let the place rock out to this colossal number as Dom steps up to the mic and brings his killer vocals to this awesome track. The place is bouncing as this kick ass tempo wraps itself around us as we feel the electricity oozing from the stage as the boys just give us all they have with their take on this classic piece, the shredding, slide guitar licks are just incredible as Dom looks so comfortable up their plying his trade and putting smiles on people’s faces for sure. The rhythm section is keeping time with a pounding bass / snare kick that has cymbal snaps to control the groove as we rock out to this monster track, Ben leans in and drops incredible grooves all through this number and it just elevates the track somewhat as the place is just beaming from ear to ear as we finished on these two classics that will prepare us for the impending tour in March. The riffs are insane as we rock out to this incredible musician as he gives us all he has and then some and I will say that there is no-one better on the circuit doing what they do.
Dom is the kind of guy that you meet and would instantly spend all day in his company as he has so many stories to tell and you would not get tired of listening to him. I am proud to call him a friend as I have covered and chatted with him on several occassions and will tell you a nicer guy you would never meet, don’t take my word for it and go see him yourself and find out.
Dom Martin –
Dom Martin – Vocals / Electric / Acoustic Guitar
Ben Graham – Bass
Aaron McCloskey – Drums
Setlist –
Easy Way Out
Belfast Blues
The Rain Came
Dealer
Maxwell Shuffle
Unhinged
Dixie Black Hand
Alethea
Blues On The Bay
Used To Be
12 Gauge
+ There are no comments
Add yours