Gig review: DANNY VAUGHN – Eleven, Stoke, 29 August 2019

Eleven has been going a couple of years now and although it is a converted warehouse, it has that rock club/gig venue vibe that suggests it has been here a lot longer. Excellent sound on the night too, plus a separate bar area means those who want to talk all the way through a gig don’t distract from those here for the music, often a bugbear at gigs.

Tony Mitchell (Kiss Of The Gypsy/Dirty White Boyz) opened the night with an entertaining set, and to my shame I seemed to have missed Kiss Of The Gypsy totally when they first appeared on the scene. From that album Tony did a sterling version of ‘Take This Old Heart’, however the showstopper was when fellow Dirty White Boyz (and Demon members!) Paul Hume and Neil Ogden took to the stage to join in on the Dirty White Boyz song ‘Ride With Angels’. A good warm-up for the main event and hopefully won him a few new fans.

Danny Vaughn has been playing a series of acoustic shows up and down the UK to promote his new album ‘Myths, Legends & Lies’, from which he played a few songs including ‘Black Crow’, ‘Last Ride Of The Sunset Men’ and ‘The Shadow Of King John’ (which Danny revealed was based on his time spent living in Limerick).

You do need the songs and the voice/guitar playing to succeed at an acoustic gig, which Danny Vaughn has in spades. Add to that his between song chat that was easy going, giving insights to songs and plenty of thanks to his fans who helped get his album released despite Pledge Music folding.

Certain songs grab you and come to mean a lot, none more so for me than Tyketto’s ‘Standing Alone’ which Danny is quite rightly proud of as it has travelled and meant so much to people, this reviewer included. There was definitely something in my eye during this song…

Tony Mitchell came back to the stage for a trio of covers with Danny, namely Free’s ‘Travelin’ In Style’, ‘Listen To The Music’ by the Doobie Brothers and an superb version of Bad Company’s ‘Seagull’.

Good set mix, which included some fan requests including Waysted’s ‘Singing To The Night’ – full marks to whoever suggested that one as it is a definite hightlight of the night. Tyketto fans were certainly well catered for with a couple of ‘Reach’, including the title track and ‘The Run’, along with another personal favorite ‘Lay Your Body Down’.

Finishing off with a rousing rendition of Tyketto’s ‘Forever Young’, Danny Vaughn I am sure would have carried on playing all night, and the audience would have willingly stayed. However in the ninety minutes plus of his set he entertained and enthralled in equal measure.

His singing and stagecraft gave us a masterclass in how a memorable acoustic gig should be. He is back at Eleven next year in March with his fellow troubadour Dan Reed and I would urge people to get along to this one as both are musicians at the peak of their musical powers.

Review by Jason Ritchie
Photos by Julie Bootland

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)