Last year Tyketto were out on a triple co-headliner with Dare and FM which culminated here at Islington Academy. This year, on the heels of a couple of outdoor festival shows, they took top billing on another three band bill, and the tour opened in the capital at the same venue.

On this opening night in London, Dan Byrne opened proceedings. I’d been impressed with him in Revival Black and singing for Myke Gray but this was my first opportunity to see his nascent solo career. The moody opener ‘Hard to Breathe’ and ‘Hate Me’ saw him take a more alternative modern rock sound than Revival Black’s Zep and GnR inspired sound, though either side of them ‘Control’ was more mainstream, and guitarist Glenn Quinn, also from Myke Gray’s band, came up with some simple but instantly memorable downtuned riffs.

Wearing a dapper hat and winning friends with his usual modest charm, Dan took up an acoustic guitar for ‘Easier’ which showcased his vocal range. A remnant from his old band in ‘Wide Awake’ featured a singalong before ‘Like Animals’ and the radio playlisted and rather Alter Bridgian ‘Death of Me’ ended a short set. It was enjoyable and impressive although, as with Revival Black, I still think he has yet to write that killer hook.

Some people were surprised in a musical sense at Little Caesar’s place on the bill, but they had been label mates of Tyketto on Geffen back in the day and Danny Vaughn remained friends and a confirmed fan. They were also a band ahead of their time, with the full sleeve tattoos that are second nature these days relatively unusual in those days.

The lean, weathered figures of founder members, singer Ron Young and Loren Molinari were striking characters, that my friend likened to the dock workers in Marlon Brando’s ‘On the Waterfront’. However on opener ‘Piece of the Action’ it was the long haired and distinctively younger guitarist Mark Tremalgia who impressed, not for the first time, with his slide solo.

The music was excellent though, the likes of ‘Rock’n’Roll State of Mind’, ‘American Dream’ and ’21 Again’ simple but with good choruses and a lineage that ran through old fashioned rock and roll to early Blue Oyster Cult and even Cheap Trick at their most garage, or in the case of ‘Hard Times’, early AC/DC.

Ron’s voice was not the most powerful but was gravelly and perfectly pitched. After he went too soon introducing their near hit, ‘Rum and Coke’ was nevertheless extremely catchy before the intended one in their cover of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Chain of Fools’. Indeed that love of vintage soul was on view with Ron singing superbly on a medley of ‘In Your Arms’ and ‘Wish It Would Rain’, probably my favourite moment of the set.

In a generous hour-long set the rest was one enjoyable rock’n’roller after another including ‘Cajun Panther’, ‘Real Rock Time’, ‘Down to the Wire’, Merle Haggard’s ‘Mama Tried’ which showed off their southern influences, and ‘Drive It Home’. Though I could have done with more variety at that point, it was a thoroughly enjoyable set to entertain both existing fans and those of us who were freshly converted.

Unfortunately there was then a long changeover and so it was 9:50pm by the time Tyketto hit the stage to the strains of Thin Lizzy, ensuring their set would be significantly shorter than I hoped.

I’d seen them twice in the summer at festivals so was mentally braced for an extended version of that set, not least as the second in Chepstow was less than a month ago. Instead I was surprised by a radically revamped setlist, opening with ‘Nothing But Love’, with the other striking difference Ged Rylands, usually tethered to his keyboard, adding rhythm guitar. It was not to be a one off as he did so for probably three quarters of the set.

In more familiar territory, the title track of ‘Reach’ showed off some great musicianship and Danny Vaughn’s warm vocals before the first of their undoubted classics in ‘Wings’. It says much for the quality of Tyketto’s songwriting that a song of this quality could be casually tossed in so early in the set.

However they then went down the road less travelled, or indeed not travelled at all in the case of ‘Tearing Down The Sky’, played live for the first time ever. Both that and ‘Dig In Deep’ had heavier, bluesier grooves and it was pleasing to see guitarist Harry Scott Elliott show he could play equally well in that style, before Danny donned his acoustic for the Americana influenced ‘Circle The Wagons’.

There were a couple from ‘Strength In Numbers’ in ‘Rescue Me’ and one of my particular favourites ‘Catch My Fall’, but most recent album ‘Reach’ (hard to think that is now eight years old) was featured heavily including ‘Kick Like A Mule’, which did exactly that and had grooves that reminded me of Mr Big.

In more familiar territory, ‘Seasons’ is always archetypal Tyketto to me with the acoustic and electric guitars combining, but there was one more unexpected song. Preceded by a story from Danny that it was written in honour of his late Uncle, a Vietnam veteran, who achieved his lifelong ambition of doing the Sturgis Bike rally, ‘The Run’ was really impressive.

Nevertheless as the clock ticked on all too rapidly came the realisation that many of the songs that were not only in the summer sets, but are staples of any Tyketto show would be omitted, ‘Burning Down Inside’, ‘Strength In Numbers’ and ‘Lay Your Body Down’ to name just three.

While appreciating the chance to hear some of the lesser played numbers, and accepting it is easier to be more adventurous at your own show than a festival appearance, I did feel omitting so many live favourites slightly imbalanced the set and may have contributed to my perception that the crowd, while appreciative, were less rowdy and more subdued than at previous shows.

The closing trio were more familiar and I marvelled at the lyrics and Danny’s vocal delivery during ‘Standing Alone’ while ‘The Last Sunset’ had a more light-hearted feel especially with drummer Johnny Dee joining in the fun with his tambourine. Any crowd inhibitions were finally cast aside during the inevitable closer in the evergreen ‘Forever Young’, no less a classic anthem despite its over familiarity.

It was a great evening with all three bands shining, capped off by another top class live performance from one of the most reliably excellent bands in melodic rock – yet far from the set I was expecting!

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)