The Assembly Hall had a celebratory atmosphere about the place and a keen sense of anticipation was in the air ahead of Those Damn Crows. Support came from fellow Welsh rockers, James And The Cold Gun who helped to bubble up the temperature nicely. They brought a distinctly retro 90’s alternative/grunge rock sound, reminiscent of early Swervedriver with maybe a dash more punky swagger.

The band made quite an entrance with founder members James Joseph on guitar/vocals and James Biss on lead Rickenbacker cranking out noisy, distorted riffs. The band cut some fine shapes on opener ‘Chewing Glass’. James and co have caught the attention of Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard whose Seattle-based label Loosegroove Records put out the EP of the same name late last year.

There was stacks of attitude and energy to back up the power. The most immediate track in the short set was ‘It’s Mutual’, driven by pummelling drums and a thumping bassline underneath the furious guitars. Closer, ‘Long Way Home’ was also an all action throb-monster, with the band leaving the stage to some very warm (if not ecstatic) applause.

Those Damn Crows emerged to orchestrated chants of their own name before a full-blooded, hard rock one-two from the new album: a dense ‘Fill The Void’ followed quickly by ‘Wake Up (Sleepwalker)’, where Shane Greenhall’s vocals stamped his quality vocals in proceedings. The frontman was absolutely pumped, prowling the stage left and right, looking to get in amongst the action.

In fact the singer couldn’t contain himself for long and even as ‘Wake Up’ was fading out, he was up on the riser, stage front, telling us that the new album ‘Inhale/Exhale’ had hit Number 3 in the charts. It was a moment of deep pride for the boys and the audience – the Crow family – responded in kind. The long, loud ovation was quite something and the band seemed visibly moved. They are riding the crest of a wave right now tonight felt like a victory lap.

The set plunged into some older stuff. ‘Sick of Me’ hit a high note, keyboard loops to the fore underneath smooth melodies. ‘Kingdom of Dust’ was punchy, with guitarists Ian ‘Shiner’ Thomas and David Winchurch cranking out tight, hard hitting riffs. The track has a great hook and we were invited to join in the band’s first ‘whoah-oah’ chant-a-long moments of the gig. There were plenty more to be had.

One of my faves, ‘Sin on Skin’ was up next, with Ronnie Huxford weaving some challenging drum patterns, by turns furious and complicated, over which the guitars drove a dense, rampaging signature. Shane was still all over the stage, bursting at the seams, occasionally raising three fingers to denote the album’s chart position.

TDC have built up a loyal and enthusiastic following. Tonight’s crowd was reassuringly youthful and encouragingly gender balanced. The bloke next to me was in ecstasy. ‘Here we go, oh yes, here we go’ he said as every track started. ‘Didn’t I tell yer they was the business?’ he informed anyone in earshot, and then proceeded to hug everybody around him. Me included. Stranger danger!

Shane was at the keyboard next for a set highlight, ‘Blink of An Eye’. There was a short delay whilst the correct piano setting was found. ‘Sounds like a marimba’ joked our hero before having a dart at the Nokia ring-tone.

But there was no hiding the emotional gravitas of the track once it got underway. Everyone was singing along on one of the few tracks that the band positively changes and extends for the live arena. It has become something of an epic for band that otherwise keeps things tight, sharp and modern on stage.

‘Who Did It’ sprinted along on a proper heavy chug. Lloyd Wood on bass brought some fat, dirty bottom end to the track. It was he and Greenhall constantly roving around the stage that ensured a visual impetus, whilst Thomas and Winchurch provided the pillars of guitar on either wing of the platform. The song gave another chance for audience vocalising on the rousing chorus.

‘Send The Reaper’ sent the atmosphere a notch higher, before ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Dead!’ introduced some chunky, rolling riffage and a bit of anthemic ‘Who said/Rock n roll’s dead’ chanting. It was also point in the set where Greenhall went walkabout.

Those who had seen the band before were anticipating this moment, though plenty were taken unawares. Eyes were scanning the margins of the auditorium and the stage rigging, before the main man appeared on the lip of the balcony, indeed right above my head, precariously leaning over the stalls to conduct a few more renditions of the chorus. Memorable stuff.

There was hardly a pause before ‘Go Get It’ crawled out of the PA like a blast of doom-laden angst. Huxford again excelling on the tubs and Greenhall’s tones more gravelly than elsewhere. Probably the heaviest track on view tonight.

From then until the end of the set, we were treated to a mini showcase of the new album. ‘Takedown’, the latest single, gave off insistent, layered rhythms/keyboards and boasted that rare thing, an actual TDC guitar solo. ‘Man on Fire’ then returns to the ‘oh-oh-ah-ah’ vibe of the band’s more arena-ready, radio-friendly tracks.

The final tune is the only slight disappointment of the main set. ‘Waiting For Me’ is, in my humble opinion, not the strongest moment on the album. Live I couldn’t help feeling it was too disjointed and too understated to close the show. Nothing wrong with taking chances though.

The band were away only a short time and the encore broke with ‘This Time I’m Ready’ which couldn’t be more different to ‘Waiting…’ with pop-balladry arrangements and soaring backing vocals.

‘See You Again’ is another pop-infused, upbeat commercial rocker that the band do so well. There was a lovely little guitar shuffle underneath the main riff that put me in mind of U2’s The Edge circa ‘Unforgettable Fire’. The chorus was joyous and the track a fitting end to the gig.

The band stuck around for the closing TDC chants, the extended plaudits and the regulation selfies before departing in triumph. The band are an irresistible force right now. It was a pleasure to be part of this carnival evening.

Review by Dave Atkinson
Photos by Darren Griffiths and Lindsay Smith

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 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.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 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)