Playing at one of the last sweaty bastions of rock music, The Waterloo in Blackpool, Crobot opened the show. A band of four from Pottsville Pennsylvania they blasted the good size and receptive audience with their own recipe of hard rock. A very entertaining bunch with the singer Brandon Yeagley screaming his way through the set whilst prancing preening and grimacing like part Jagger, Axyl Rose, Freddie Mercury and even a soupcon of Ian Anderson. Guitarist Christopher Bishop whirled his guitar around his neck to great effect and timing, and brothers bassist Willie and drummer Nico showed there is nothing like family to nail a rock band to the floor. Yeagley even jumped on Bishops shoulders at one point, never seen that before in all my days.

The Damn Truth from Montreal Canada came on to Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit, why, I wondered at first but all became clear as they dove into their set with Be Somebody. They are really quite psychedelic in their arrangements delivery and style. Not just another rock band, but a band standing in their own right, drawing on 60’s and 70’s influences, and presenting them in a 21st century way.

Vocalist Lee La Baum, has an astounding range – just when you think she can’t get any higher she does. She also plays a mean rhythm guitar. But she can also invoke a tenderness and vulnerability to her voice, which adds variety to songs like If I Don’t Make It Home, which last night she dedicated to her father who passed four months ago. She wears all his rings in his honour, and said he taught her how to be a hippie, and peace and love. If there is one thing a father can teach his child it is peace and love in a world of increasing hate. Good on you Lee La’s dad.

Guitarist Tom Schemer never let up for a minute, even running through the crowd and round the venue whilst not dropping a note. Again notable psychedelics in his playing.

PY Letellier on bass and dance grooves locked in with Dave Traina on drums, to give the band the hard rock foundation which Schemer and Baum take to another level

It was a really well paced set played to a very receptive audience. It included Killer Whale, Love Out Of Luck, one my favourites, Addicted The Will, This Is Who We Are Now, another personal favourite, Lonely, Tomorrow, and encored with Better This Way and Devilish Folk. It even included a bass solo and a short drum solo, the fifth I’ve seen in as many weeks.

Tom made a speech about them being nominated for a Juno award for best album, which they didn’t win, which wasn’t his point, his point was that rock and roll is coming back big time after being written off some years ago. I agree and thank god for that, and they are one of the leaders of this new movement. RAWK AND ROWALL!!!!

A lot of artists tell the crowd they love them, but when Lee La said it last night I really think she meant it, and she received a lot of love back.

Would I go again, you bet, tomorrow and the night after.

Review by Andy Sharrocks

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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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 9 August 2026.

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). First broadcast on 4 August 2026

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Power Plays w/c 31 August 2026

JEFFERSON STARSHIP Jetpack (indie)
SHOGUN MOJO Under The Gun (Frontiers)
NOT MY WIFE Best Friend (indie)
BEN POOLE Time Has No Mercy (Gypsy Soul Records)
NIGHT TALKS Window Shopping (indie)
CHEZ KANE One Day (Is All That It Takes) (Frontiers)

Featured Albums w/c 31 August 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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