Gig review: PHIL CAMPBELL & THE BASTARD SONS – Thekla, Bristol, 18 November 2021

First of all, what a venue, for the uninitiated, the Thekla is a floating music venue, it was a cargo ship in days gone by. It well and truly commands its place in Bristol’s thriving music scene. The staff are friendly and welcoming, with pretty much a sell-out crowd, this is going to rock!

Hailing from Merthyr Tydfil, Florence Black are a young, hungry band taking the NWOCR scene by storm and this is confirmed as they take to the stage at 730 and command it from the start, this band are unlikely to be supporting in smaller venues for much longer, the crowd are well and truly pumped by the time they conclude their set. Stand out tracks for me ‘Sun and Mon’ and ‘Breadfan’

Opening with ‘We’re the Bastards’, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, waste no time in cranking up the volume and the delivery – the guitar work is as you would expect, tight perfection and just watching the Phil Campbell in his element feels like a privilege. ‘Spiders’ and ‘Son of a Gun’ allowing all of the band, including Phil’s three sons, to showcase their respective talents.

Originally Wolf Jaw were due to support until the untimely passing of Tom Leighton, so it no surprise when the newest member of Phil Campbell & the Bastard Sons, vocalist, Joel Peters (Bootyard Bandits) pays his respects during ‘Born to Raise Hell’. What an addition Joel is – he’s fitted right in and so quickly too, this frontman oozes confidence and looks like he’s been at the helm for years – long may this relationship continue.

The crowd get into pit mode to ‘Ace of Spades’ and then they deliver ‘Silver Machine’ – I am in rock heaven! Phil and Joel are on form and there is good engagement with the crowd and any required audience interaction is delivered with good spirits, it is a joy to behold.

Coming back to conclude their packed set with 4 more tracks, starting with ‘Going to Brazil’, ‘Dark Days’, ‘Big Mouth’ and finishing with ‘Killed by Death’, the crowd are literally eating out of their hands. The Thekla must be rocking on its moorings as the crowd are in raptures, (I wonder what the clubbers who are queuing outside make of it), I look round the venue and all I can see are very happy rockers, smiles are beaming, ears are ringing, what a fabulous gig in a superb venue, we have to support live music, in all it’s guises, we are rock family and we need this fix.

Review by Karen Clayton

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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 1 December 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 3 December 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 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)