The Karma Effect’s main tour is later this year but, with the release of third album ‘Cruel Intentions’ came a limited number of album launch shows including this one in Kingston, also home of Banquet Records who do a remarkable number of live and promotional tie-ins with new releases. Indeed I had seen lead singer Henry Gottelier here only a few weeks earlier supporting Chez Kane on one such. It is also a chance for three new band members who have come on board in the past year to bed in fully.

This time The Karma Effect were supported by….. themselves! Or to be more accurate just Henry and guitarist Robbie Blake. They joked the set was a mixture of ego and wanting to play around with a couple of new acoustic guitars Gibson had provided them with. The two work well as a contrasting pair, the long-haired and talkative singer and his dryer, hipster-looking guitar partner.

This short set opened with ‘Testify’ which I did think might have been saved for the electric set, then ‘Better Days’ which featured some quite intricate acoustic work. In stripped back format, it was ‘Stand’ which showed, even more than an electric set, quite how full-throated and soulful a voice Henry has, as did ‘Be My Salvation’ which he freely admitted reflected their love of southern rock and gospel.

It was now baking hot (surely it was drummer Alan Taylor’s little joke to take the stage in a Motson-like sheepskin coat) as five of them looked very cramped on the stage for a very loud electric set. I hadn’t yet heard the album which always makes it hard to pass instant judgement, but opener ‘Dangerous Love’ sounded impressive, before a couple from their previous album in ‘Wild Honey’ and ‘All Night Long’ and a trip to the debut with ‘Wrong Again’, Henry soaring on one of those big choruses that are a trademark.

The Karma Effect sound like an amalgam of many of your favourite classic rock bands, but in particular there was a strong Aerosmith vibe, particularly in the way the Les Pauls of Henry and Robbie intertwined, but always with a sense of space and groove rather than competing with each other. Interestingly the lead singer also took a decent share of the solos.

‘See You Again’ was enhanced by some rolling piano from one of the other new boys in Tom Pitt, then Henry spoke of his pride in the first single from the new album, the Crowes-like ‘Waiting On a Miracle’. There was a fun moment at the intro to ‘The River’ as he stood on top of a chair at the front of the stage to play a guitar intro and liked it so much he picked up the chair to repeat the feat all around the crowd, before the song showed their funkier side and included a drum solo from the impressive Alan.

As the set wore on there was a greater focus on the new album, Henry understandably plugging the fact that every sale counted towards their (ultimately successful) quest to get it into the album charts, and introducing key contributors present including producer Michael Charman.

‘Closest Thing to Crazy’ was a bit of an epic reflecting that love of southern rock, then with Henry joking he was scared of crashing the vintage American soft top they had loaned him for the video, ‘Ride Or Die’ mixed the Karma Effect’s trademark sound with a sharp, even AC/DC like riffing. I was also drawing comparisons in his throaty voice with the Skin debut, suitably so as he also doubles as Myke Gray’s current live singer.

I eventually twigged that the short looking setlist I had taken a snap of in the interval as a reminder was in fact only the first page of two. So I had the pleasant surprise of a longer set, indeed a generous one not far short of an hour and a half.

Old favourite ‘Doubt She’s Coming Back’ boasted a big chorus enhanced by some great backing vocals, notably from bassist Nathan Keevil. There were a couple more new songs in the southern sounding ‘One More For the Road’ and the title track of the new album which at first listen sounded as if it had a lot of depth to it. One of their signature songs in ‘Steal Your Heart’ ended matters with everyone singing along.

In these intimate surroundings, the new line up sounded great and the new songs take their already impressive career a step forward. I get the feeling the stars are aligning for the Karma Effect to make their big breakthrough.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

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Power Plays w/c 25 May 2026

BABY JANE Midnight Highway (Sped Up) (indie)
ASTRAL ROCKS The Flame In Me (Astral Rocks Prodns.)
INDIGO SYNDICATE dwn4smr (indie)
THE SKBS The Prying Eye (indie)
AGAINST THE CURRENT Dead Man Walking (indie)
ICONIC Tears Keep On Falling (Frontiers)

Featured Albums w/c 25 May 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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