Monstrous Child [Release date 23.1o.20]
Stray’s ‘Roll Up! Roll Up!’ is a very honest warts and all document of what went down on the night.
If anything, it could have done with a few edits to bring a more mellifluous feel to a classic Stray set played to a boisterous capacity crowd.
After an abortive effort to cut a live album at The Borderline which shut down, the band found themselves playing the familiar confines of The 100 Club, with an equally familiar set.
Del Bromham’s opening spiel sets the irreverent tone for an album with few surprises, but it’s shot through with the kind of intensity and musical consistency that you would expect from a band that has flown the flag for blue-collar rock for over five decades.
In truth, Del’s solo albums have taken precedence in recent years, probably because he needed a more broad-based platform for some autobiographically driven songs.
His 2018 ‘Blues Devils Live’ was a good example of that, but Stray remains his gateway to a bigger heritage rock audience still held in the thrall of a strong back catalogue full of searing guitar work.
To his credit Bromham does vary things a little with different arrangements. And he opens with the newer, hypnotic and soulful feel of ‘Let’s Get The Show Started’, featuring a pulsating bass line from Colin Kempster (whose name is misspelt in the liner notes).
The following ‘Genevieve’ also nicely straddles the past and present, having its origins in the early Stray days, before finally ending up on Bromham’s excellent ‘White Feather’ solo album.
There’s a notably harder edge to the Stray material, with the jangling guitar driven ‘Come On Over’ retaining its potency after all this time.
But while the album gains real impetus from Del trademark ripping guitar work, a chant- along hook and even a mid-number Beatles and Stones vamp, the combination of an over extended outro and a horrible post-number edit robs us of a magical moment.
The album’s origins come from a fan who taped the set, but you’d liked to have thought someone could have tidied up the annoying cuts between between Del’s frequent humorous quips and the following songs.
There might also have been room for a more inspired choice than ‘Jericho’, which remains as powerful as ever, but now sounds a little dated. Then again as Del explains: “If I could put all these tunes in a microwave…”
All that said, ‘Roll Up! Roll Up!’ is still a fine album from an enduring band who will doubtless keep on rocking while there’s a rock audience out there.
‘1600 Pennsylvania Avenue’ from the ‘Valhalla’ album, is a much better choice. Bromham’s refreshingly relevant take on contemporary times and a full-blown rock arrangement featuring Simon Rinaldo on organ and synth make it a real highlight.
For the rest, there’s a crowd pleasing, big toned version of the anthemic ‘I Believe It’ and the ferocious wah-wah driven ‘Houdini’ which pushes up the crowd volume.
However, if you combine the following one minute 20 seconds filled with a few throwaway comments and the meandering jammed intro to ‘After The Strom’ which contributes little to the stop-start dynamics of the song, you have a very strong case for another significant edit.
Still, you could argue it all helps capture the highs and lows of a live gig, while the crowd’s booming response tells its own story.
The evening is rounded off by the triumphant ‘All In Your Mind’ and Del’s parting shot: “you ain’t seen the last of me yet.”
He delivers a welcome reminder that Stray remain an essential part of a Brit rock scene in dire need of the old school qualities of enduring songs, high-end musicianship, essential passion and the ability to make a real connection with a crowd. And it’s the latter quality that makes ‘Roll Up! Roll Up!’ feel like a timeless exhortation to rock. ***½
Review by Pete Feenstra
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.
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 3 November 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 29 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 25 November 2024
KING KRAKEN Chainsaw Saviour (indie)
BEBORN BETON American Girls (Dependent Records)
SMASH INTO PIECES Maze Of Feels (indie)
WELSH WOLF When You Cry (indie)
DREAMING OF CITRA Bitter (indie)
OFF LIGHTS Love You Sober (indie)
THUNDERMOTHER Dead Or Alive (AFM Records)
SKAM Selfish Friend (indie)
SORRY X Bring Me To Life (SBG Records)
Featured Albums w/c 25 November 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)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
