King King are a reliably regular touring act and this spring tour comes exactly a year after the last. If there was a sense of curiosity last year about the new line up with Alan Nimmo joined by big brother Stevie, judging by a healthier than expected crowd this time, I was not the only one who liked what they saw and wanted more, even though as Alan admitted they had not got around to writing new songs.

There was a rather left field choice of support in Glenn Tilbrook, who I’d seen not three months ago with Chris Difford and other Squeeze bandmates. One of the best singers and co-songwriters in the annals of British pop, but a fellow blues rocker – hardly. In a dapper three piece checked suit he was accompanied only by guitar, though unusually an electric one rather than acoustic.

There were a few solo numbers such as ‘Little Ships’ and ‘Still’- dedicated to his wife – but the bulk of the set was Squeeze numbers, the first familiar to me being ‘Cradle To The Grave’ and I found myself singing along to ‘Labelled With Love’. In this solo format it is also noticeable what a pure voice he has, which has barely weathered in the past 40 plus years!

Things became more offbeat when he revisited a couple of lockdown era covers in ‘My Boy Lollipop’ and ‘Don’t You Want Me’, where it was bizarre hearing that famous synth melody on guitar, not to mention a fifty something blues rock crowd who probably detested the New Romantic movement joining in on gang vocals!

By now people caught out by his early start were funnelling in, nicely in time for a run of classic Squeeze hits – among them ‘Another Nail In My Heart’, ‘Annie Get Your Gun’, ‘Pulling Mussels From A Shell’, ‘Tempted’ and a very interesting version of ‘Slap And Tickle’ with that bubbling synth melody replaced by grungey guitar.

The set closed with ‘Is That Love’ and ‘Goodbye Girl’, with one more singalong and the decision to have him as support was all in all an inspired choice.

After taking the stage to their now customary ‘Highway To Hell’ intro I became a little discombobulated as the first part of King King‘s set had been totally revamped from last year.

They opened with ‘Dance Together’, a decent effort from last album ‘Maverick’ though barely bluesy, and a pair from ‘Exile and Grace’, yet not the usual set opener ‘She Don’t Gimme No Lovin’ but ‘Long Time Running’ and ‘Heed The Warning’, where some tough riffing from the Nimmo brothers had a chap in front of me at the barrier unconvincingly dad dancing. ‘By Your Side’ was a change of pace with Jonny Dyke’s piano intro and Alan pouring everything into a soulful vocal delivery.

However the rest of the set was on more tried and tested favourites starting with ‘Lose Control’ from their very first album with its Bad Company template (with an element of the Stones); and the 10 minute epic ‘A Long History Of Love’ in which a keyboard solo from Jonny teed up the first of Alan’s lengthy but always compellingly melodic solos; and the comforting tones of ‘Waking Up’.

Their last two albums have unashamedly drawn on more commercial rock influences from the likes of FM and Thunder so it was appropriate Alan dedicated ‘Whatever It Takes to Survive’ to the former’s Danny Bowes. With big backing vocals and powerchords, and a rare harmony lead solo from the brothers as the song built to a climax, it felt grander than its studio counterpart.

It was back to two much loved old favourites in ‘You Stopped The Rain’, Alan’s tribute to his brother’s health battle where his soloing was marvellously lyrical, and ‘Rush Hour’, with crowd participation, which in the hands of the new look band had a new and more powerful lease of life.

As a fan of the newer direction one of the moments I most looked forward to was ‘I Will Not Fall’- cheekily dedicated to a fan who had travelled from afar to Glasgow only to do exactly that and miss the show!

Some funky keyboards from Jonny that drew comparison with Zeppelin’s ‘Trampled Underfoot’ introduced a song that built to a storming chorus and Stevie was warmly received as he finally took on a lead guitar solo that lost nothing by comparison with his brother’s efforts. As usual ‘Stranger To Love’ closed the set in epic fashion, Alan slowing the pace and playing almost inaudibly before winding up one more long solo.

It wasn’t even the longest song though which was reserved for the encore. The spot traditionally filled by ‘Let Love In’ was instead a cover of Eric Clapton’s ‘Old Love’ which was a guitar aficionado’s dream with a long, languid solo from Stevie before Alan weighed in with one of his own. I couldn’t help wondering if it also foretold the elder brother gradually gaining a greater slice of the pie in future shows?

With the new line-up nicely settled in, King King are on top of their game and, among some tough competition, are right up there as one of my favourite live acts right now.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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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)