The economics of touring do not always make happy reading with too many bands chasing the same limited audience. So it made sense for two of the leading lights in the New Wave of Classic Rock in Bad Touch and The Dust Coda to join forces, potentially doubling their fanbase but also catering for those like me who enjoy both bands but who might have found a show by just one of them competing with other priorities.

This tour was postponed from the Spring, and I did worry for the attendance especially at such a busy time of year, but was pleasantly surprised at a turnout big enough to keep the gig in the larger room of the Academy rather than a downgrade to the Academy 2 as happens when ticket sales are poor.

A third band had also been added to the bill in the form of Leadfeather who are beginning to make a name for themselves. Curly-haired Singer Apostolos L (formerly in fellow retro rockers Hunted by Elephants) is a real star, with a big booming voice reminiscent of Ronnie James Dio or Nathan James, even if Led Zeppelin is a more obvious reference point for the band, whether songs like ‘Shoot For the Stars’, the image of guitarist Simon Hurts or the way bassist Wilson Zaidan occasionally switched to keyboards.

My biggest problem with songs like ‘Higher’ was that just when the songs were gaining momentum it was soon lost as they went into a slower breakdown or jam. ‘Why’ was something of an epic but my first impressions of a set that concluded with ‘Roll The Dice’ and ‘Troubled Man’ were that this is a crowded musical field, and I wasn’t convinced their songs matched the vocal quality and their sharp look.

I was then surprised to see Bad Touch soundchecking as I had assumed from their position on the tour poster and their more senior status they would be the closing act of the two co-headliners, but perhaps on this occasion The Dust Coda were deemed more suitable as a home gig for the Londoners, not to mention the distance to travel back to Norfolk.

With singer Stevie Westwood in usual exuberant form, they opened with ‘Come Closer To Me’, then a brand new song that I think was called ‘Don’t Look Back’ but included in its lyrics an imaginary conversation between Stevie and a green alien.

Since I last saw them on the Spring 2024 tour, original guitarist Rob Glendinning had stepped away from the band, a loss for me as I found his the tasteful tones he coaxed from his Les Paul the best thing about the band. However with some spectacularly dirty slide work on old crowd favourite ‘Good On You’, his replacement Pete Lance swiftly won me over. The former Vambo guitarist, looking like one of the original Quireboys in his black curls, white shirt and waistcoat, was a seamless replacement.

‘Nothing Wrong With That’ was one of the band’s periodic diversions into a Band/Ronnie Lane style rustic sound which I always enjoy, but in contrast ‘Lift Your Head Up’, the Duane Allman tribute ‘Sky Man’ and ‘I Get High’ all rocked with urgency. Indeed there was a sense in Stevie’s between song intros that there was no time to waste, as he seemed to get his closing remarks in rather early.

‘Let The Sun Shine’ was one for the diehards as a rarely played oldie, but as a friend remarked, every Bad Touch show is a fresh reminder what a likable live act they are, the band all flailing hair, stage movements and audience participation, and the songs straightforward but enjoyable bluesy rockers like ‘See It To Believe It’, ‘Taste This’ and the tongue in cheek ‘99%’.

That always used to be their final song but they finished off a music-crammed hour with ‘Let Go’, their now well-established cover of Alanis Morrissette’s ‘Hand In My Pocket’ and ‘This Life’ segueing seamlessly into a fun cover of ike and Tina Turner’s ‘Baby Get It On’.

Since I last saw them a couple of years ago there have been big changes in The Dust Coda camp with lead singer and co-founder member John Drake leaving and returning to his native Australia, an untimely departure just when third album ‘Loco Paradise’ was starting to attract mainstream interest.

So this was the first chance to see his replacement Andrew Knightley, formerly of Trident Waters (who sadly I never saw despite a couple of friends raving about them) and his own band AK and the Red Kites. As he came on stage with his hair a mass of corkscrew curls blown around by a fan and (initially) shades he reminded me of another man who sports that stalwart first name, Stockdale of Wolfmother. His voice was commanding and it wasn’t too incongruous to hear the old favourites with a new singer.

Opener ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘Demon’ showed the sharp, slashing riffery of both Andrew and lead guitarist Adam Mackie, either side of dropping one of their best known songs ‘Jimmy 2 Times’ early in the set. When I last saw them, the set was drawn nearly all from the latest album but this was a broader trot through all three including ‘Weakness’ off their debut album, the heavier ‘Breakdown’ and ‘Call Out The Dogs’ with a strong chorus.

Compared to Bad Touch, their music has more original twists, and is less easily pigeonholed and arguably more interesting, but though Andrew has made a difference to their stage presence, they still felt a little dry. Their Norfolk brethren had much the livelier stage show and it might have suited the pacing for them to go on last.

Like Bad Touch, they played a solitary new song, ‘Never Go Back’ with the obligatory thanks to Planet Rock, but the set had barely begun before it was rolling to a conclusion. It was a good showcase for their eclectic approach, as both ‘Love Sick’ and ‘Dream Alight’ had an unusual, country rock-ish feel. In contrast, drummer Scott Miller’s AC/DC t-shirt offered a clue to the musical inspiration for two crowd pleasing riff fests complete with audience participation in ‘Limbo Man’ and ‘Road To Hell’.

For those of us who believe the UK rock scene is thriving and deserves support, this was a very rewarding evening with a trio of bands. It was also proof that both the co-headliners have the resilience to overcome key line up changes and will continue to be key contributors to that scene.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

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