Willie & The Bandits – Live – Rum Shack – centralpressr

Review By Darren McIntyre Images By Scott Anderson

Willie & The Bandits are a 4 – piece Blues / Rock / Folk outfit from Cornwall, Emgland who originally formed in 2010, they delivered their first EP Samsara which gathered them a huge following. Their roots are steeped in a landscape that breeds grit, independence & soul which you hear in every note they play, Willie’s slide guitar playing & voice are the cornerstone of the Willie & The Bandits sound, earning admiration from fans and musicians alike,

Willie is a superb slide player – Joe Bonamassa while Beth Hart praises – what a voice & some of the best songwriting you will ever hear. The boys have given us EP Samsara in 2007, LP’s New Breed in 2010, Breakfree in 2012, Grow in 2013, Steal in 2017, Paths in 2019 & When The World Stood Still in 2022, the boys are back with a blistering new album Salt Roots and to showcase this stunning new offering the boys are out on the road and tonight the breeze into Glasgow to set up shop in Rum Shack, please join me as I take us through ‘ One of the most exciting bands you will ever hear ‘ . The gig is not well attended but as Willie tells us no matter where you are in Scotland everyone turns up and makes the most noise, as the house PA fades the boys make there way to the stage and hit us with –

Wheal Jane – The tracks kicks off with a real dark, haunting groove as Willie leans in and lets his colossal, broody vocals take this blistering track off down the road. The boys are on fire from the off as the rhythm section kicks in with a punchy bass / snare beat that just allows the track to erupt and really let us know what these boys are all about, the addition of the soulful Hammond style keys just elevates this incredible opener as the crowd gets behind the boys as they take us on the journey with them as the tempo builds and builds as Willie lets the slide guitar tones wrap themselves around us as this gig bursts into life and tells us that the boys are back, heavier, dirtier, bluesier and all business as we stroll into –

King Kong – The pounding rhythm section blows the doors off with a real gritty, meaty groove that lets the boys come together and lets this foot stomping bruiser leave it’s mark as the place warms to this incredible 4 – piece groove unit that is just a pleasure to watch. The crunching guitar licks are wandering freely through the track as the cool, mellow bassline lets the tone build as the cool backing vocals let the track flourish, the killer keys are just weaving their way through the venue as they add depth, texture and real attitude to this absolute banger of a track. The soaring, dark, gritty vocals are just wrapping themselves around this awesome track as we throw our fists in the air and let ourselves be taken on the ride with the boys as we drop into –

Style Thing – The track kicks off with a real funky, mellow groove as the Huggy Bear type keys weave their way through this 70’s inspired kick ass track that just keeps giving and giving. The rhythm section comes at us with a real punchy, solid beat that lets the boys get their freak on as the place feels the energy oozing from the stage as this foot stomping monster gets us in the mood, the full on meaty, funk laden bassline is wrapping itself around this monster track as Willie asks us to join in and get the party started as we feel the groove flow effortlessly through the venue as the boys shift through the gears and let us feel the depth and kick ass lyrics that make this outfit one of the best blues, groove bands on the circuit today, we catch our breath and shimmy into –

Reina Del Mar – There is a real Cuban feel to this track as the tempo drops a little as Willie leans forward and lets the guitar do the talking as the rhythm section brings a copacobana style groove that is on fire. The blues soaked, soulful vocals are just incredible as we feel the energy oozing from the stage as the boys kick on with this fantastic toe tapping number, the piano tones are just allowing the track to tell it’s own story as the place feels the love oozing from this kick ass number. The sound is just incredible as we feel a shift in tone from the last album as the groove just grabs our attention as Willie lets the guitar leave it’s mark on us tonight as the gig just keeps getting better and better as we roll into –

Chakra – Slide guitar notes fill the room as cymbal rolls get the track off the ground as the snare punches get the groove on the move as the killer Hammond style keys ripple through the track and really let the tone build. The soulful, dark vocals are just kicking in the doors and letting the boys deliver a real thought provoking, meaty gig that has been worth the wait let me tell you, the stop start, punchy beat is just elevating the track to another level as the place watches the stage with sheer joy as the boys dig deep and give us a show that we won’t forget in a hurry, the sweet, melodic slide guitar notes are echoing all around us as this fantastic track grabs our attention. The punchy rhythm section commands the room as it hits us with a punchy bass / snare combo that really allows the track to grow, up next –

Take My Shoulder – There is a real mellow groove attached to this track as the tone drops a little as the boys bring us a real bluesy, soulful track that really grabs our attention. The real gravelly, mellow vocals are just taking the track to another level as Willie really gives it his all in this real punchy number as the fantastic, bluesy keys flow freely through the track as the boys look out into the crowd and see all the smiling faces as they bring us a raft of new songs from Salt Roots that are going down a real storm tonight. The thought provoking lyrics really stop us in our tracks as we feel the energy pulsing through the song as the boys deliver a fantastic show that is just on the money as we drop into –

4 Million Days – Sweet strings flow through the intro as acoustic chords drop on us as this melodic track comes at us. Pounding snare drum beats are hitting us with all they have as this track suddenly bursts into life as the soulful dark vocals really tell their own story. Bass grooves are pouring into this track and just give it depth, direction and a real funk beat that is just awesome, the whole arrangement is just bringing these boys to the front and letting us know what we have been missing as the track gives us attitude, and lets the boys really deliver a cool melodic number that takes us to another place as the dobro guitar delivers slide chords that are echoing all through this fantastic venue tonight. We are digging the boys and what they bring to the party and just love the diversity they bring to the set, we stroll onto –

Angel – (Track about Willie’s Mum who he sadly lost) – Killer keys make an appearance in this incredible piece that really pulls at the heart strings for sure. Willie goes about his business and works hard on delivering a real passionate driven guitar riff that is being pushed all the way with the rhythm section as it thunders away at the back of the room. This is a real melodic driven track that just builds and builds as the boys come into their own and give it all they have as the track winds up and suddenly erupts with thundering consequences that just make sense, the track is a well laid piece that is a fusion mix of slick guitar playing and colossal drums that are dropping the big guns on Glasgow tonight as Willie & the boys do his mother proud with a killer arrangement that is dark with a real energy to it that is just building and building with every note that is spilling onto the stage tonight, we have been waiting a long time for this fantastic track to appear and appear it did, we drop into –

Stand Up – A real sludgy, gritty guitar riff opens the track as the punchy rhythm section leans in and gives us a real foot stomping groove that really gives the track depth, attitude and bags of swagger. The colossal blues soaked keys really add something special to the track as a dark, meaty bassline comes through and hits us with a real delicious tone that lets Willie bring his awesome, gravelly, blues vocals to really make the track pop. The slide guitar licks are filling every corner of the room as the place claps along and gets into the beat with the boys as they simply elevate tonight’s show with ease as we are digging all the new songs that just let the boys express themselves as they kick in the doors with ease as we rumble into –

Keep It On The Downlow – This a real groove laden affair as the cool snare drum punches fill the air as we get slick gritty riffs that allow this track to really get us moving. The rhythm section is handing us cool cymbal snaps that have deep bass kicks that really give this track a real dirty funk groove that really livens this audience up. Sizzling bass lines are dropping sweet deep grooves that wrap themselves around this groover track that has sweet keys littered throughout the composition as the cool vocals rain down on us as the track sweeps into grooveville with killer bass tones that compliment the slick guitar notes that are hitting us with all they have, we flow into a little rappers delight with funky low down bass grooves that just get this audience on their feet, the audience show their appreciation as they holler loudly before we flow into –

Solid Ground – Awesome guitar chords work their way into this blues explosion as the tone comes with a dark moodhy warning from the off. Guitar chords are easing through as keys are making themselves known as they hit us with a sweet blues tone that has a blues feel written all over it. Bass chords are coming through and they really balance out this phenomenal track that depth soul and attitude all rolled into one, cymbal taps are making themselves known as this track is building to a real high as the tempo moves us with it’s intensity. We feel the emotion oozing from this blues infused piece that just stops us in our tracks. Awesome guitar solo has sweet crisp chords that are just incredible as they deliver a coolness that is so awesome, we drop into –

Caught In The Middle – The track begins with a real dirty gritty riff that lets the boys settle in and bring their infectious brand of blues rock that lights up Rum Shack tonight. There are cool keys littered throughout this classy deep blues rocker track that is just on form, vocals are a real mix of spoken lyric tones that are wrapped in deep funking bass lines that allow this track to really open and give this Glasgow crowd what they came for tonight. There is a shredding guitar riff oozing from the boys as the rhythm section hits us with all it has as the snare drum punches drive this juggernaut forwards with bass kicks and cymbal crashes that let this track kick in the doors and give us a real deep bluesy groove that is just lighting up this excited audience tonight, these boys are just bringing the heat tonight and letting us know what we have missed, we applaude and holler and let the boys know we have missed them as they take us onto –

1970 – As we near the end of the set the boys turn up the volume and hit us with a shredding riff that instantly gets this crowd moving. A full on plundering bass line is handing us sweet deep funk tones that really get this track moving, the rhythm section is coming in with cymbal snaps that bring snare drum punches as the bass kicks round off the funk section. This is a real crowd pleaser as they clap along and just watch the boys go through their paces as they kick in the doors and drive this blues rock juggernaut forward and really deliver a slick no nonsense set that is littered with slow paced pieces to full on rock tracks that are just on the money, Willie gets the crowd to sing back Good Time, Old Time 1970 which is just awesome, we come to the last song of the set in the form of –

Bad News – The place is silent as Willie brings in sweet cool guitar picks that really set the scene as this last track comes oozing in. We have awesome Hammond style keys that are telling their own story as this awesome track flows effortlessly in and brings a real dirty gritty guitar riff that is just bursting with groove. The rhythm section is coming for us with solid pounding snare drum punches that are running with bass kicks and killer cymbal crashes that are just doing it for us tonight. The combination of sweet soulful keys and the killer rhythm section is a marriage made in heaven as these boys bring the rock vibe tonight, Willie is pouring in with gritty rasping vocals that just compliment this show tonight as they are just building with every note they are hitting us with tonight, we take it down a notch or two in the mid section as cool keys fill the air as we take a journey with the boys as slick guitar licks take us home, we though this was the last track but the boys make their way back onto the stage and bring us –

Sail Away – The boys come in with a soulful backing tone that lets Willie bring sweet, melodic guitar notes that weave their way through this real thought provoking track as we stand silent. The gravelly vocals add depth to this real awesome number as the boys come in one at a time as the bass kicks fill the air as the track builds with real ease as we just lose ourselves in the lyrics that just grab our attention, the place is silent and really feeling the music wrap itself around us tonight as we close our eyes and feel the emotion pouring from the stage as Willie leans in and brings sweet, mellow guitar licks that just allow the track to take us along for the ride as the boys ready us for the last song of the night –

Trouble Round The Bend – A real dirty, gritty guitar riff opens the track as the rhythm section kicks in the doors with a solid snare / bass beat that just allows the track to breath. The killer keys are really giving the track soul and plenty to shout about as Willie lets his colossal vocals lead the charge as this toe tapping bruiser really comes at us, the dark, brooding bassline is hitting us with cool, meaty grooves that work ever so well with the church style keys that are weaving their way through this fantastic track that breaks in the middle to let the rhythm section kick in with a real meaty kick that just pops as the boys send us off in style, the place is just smiling from ear to ear as the boys came, saw, kicked ass and then some.

Willie & The Bandits –

Willie Edwards – Vocals / Electric Guitar / slide / Acoustic Guitar

Harry Mackaill – Bass / Backing Vocals

Stevie Watts – Hammond Organ / Backing Vocals

Zach O’Laughlin – Drums

Setlist –

Wheal Jane

King Kong

Style Thing

Reina Del Mar

Chakra

Take My Shoulder