A few years ago, two of the younger generation of classic rock bands who promised to break through were Revival Black and Bigfoot. Sadly, despite releasing two albums and one respectively they called it a day when seemingly still having much to give. However, more recently, both the former’s singer Daniel Byrne and one of the latter’s two guitarists Sam Millar have followed their muse to launch promising solo careers, and both teamed up on this tour.

Holding a gig on a cold and wet Sunday night is never a good commercial proposition yet there was more than a respectable crowd in place at the smaller of the Academy’s two venues. Both have been bold enough to move away from the styles of their former bands, and first up was Sam Millar, combining the rocker’s look of flowing hair and a Les Paul with a bright Hawaiian shirt.

His band – a rhythm section and a keyboard player with some very eighties AOR sounds- were excellent and gave the songs a somewhat chunkier feel than on his ‘Virtual Summer’ record (wisely reissued under a new title from its original ‘More Cheese Please’).

‘The Killing Floor’ and ‘Fooling Yourself’ were excellent pop rockers and his slightly fey voice with a touch of melancholy reminded me of White Lion’s Mike Tramp. However on the pop rock of ‘Something I’ll Regret’ I found myself drawing comparisons (hear me out, this is a compliment) to the 2000s and the last hurrah of guitars being present in the charts in the hands of pop punkers ranging from Bowling for Soup to (deep breath) Busted and McFly.

‘Chardonnay’ was catchy and featured some infectious power chords and a Chardonnay/meant to be rhyme that had to be tongue in cheek. Talking of which, after a couple of not quite so impressive songs in ‘Dancing On My Own’ and ‘Déjà Vu’ (I chuckled loudly as one wag shouted ‘didn’t we just hear that’?), the power pop of ‘Levi’s’ had the magnificent lyrics ‘you make me feel like/my Levi’s are too tight!’ before he ended with another catchy hook in ‘Neanderthal Man’.

Initially rather taciturn, as the set wore on the Mancunian built a rapport with the audience, many of whom I imagine were seeing him for the first time. My only criticism of a really excellent set was a reliance on taped backing vocals to support him in addition to some extra keyboard parts. I do worry whether the generally heavier NWOCR scene (he has some unlikely labelmates at Earache) is the right market to promote his different talents but let’s leave that for now.

Dan Byrne I was more familiar with having seen him a few times with Revival Black and Myke Gray’s bands, and a short solo slot opening for Tyketto in the autumn. Unlike Sam he had the disadvantage of not having released his first full-length album yet still opened in familiar style with ‘Hard to Breathe’, one of the songs from his ‘Beginnings’ EP. It was heavy yet mid tempo with a contemporary feel and I detected a little of an Alter Bridge vibe going on (though drummer Max Rhead’s t-shirt may have led me to subconsciously make that comparison).

‘Hate Me’ was faster and darker but ‘Sentimental’ more mainstream melodic hard rock closer to Revival Black. Always exuding modest charm onstage, he seemed genuinely thrilled there was such a decent turnout. Like Sam Millar’s, his band was excellent and had the added benefit of two of them supplying backing vocals, though there was the occasional taped keyboard segment to augment a very guitar heavy sound.

One of the other EP tunes ‘Easier’ began with him alone playing acoustic guitar and delivering an almost modern pop vocal complete with falsetto, but really built into a full on rocker, leading into a very heavy ‘Pull Me Under’ (no, not the Dream Theater song). I had no idea he had ever rehearsed in the studio with another late band of young hopefuls in Heavens Basement and the result, ‘Temple’, was an excellent song, complete with singalong.

He then hedged his bets by saying a cover was either associated with Lynyrd Skynyrd or Shinedown and a heartfelt ‘Simple Man’ solo on acoustic owed more to the latter’s treatment. In a couple of trips back to Revival Black days, ‘Hemispheres’ was an epic with an emotive guitar solo from Glenn Quinn, generally unflashy but his perfect foil, before old live favourite ‘Wide Awake’ complete with its ‘take me to the end of the line’ singalong.

‘Cherry and Leather’ was also heavy but cleverly arranged with sections in which he could show off acapella those impressively powerful pipes with a wide vocal range, before ‘Control’ ended the set with another singalong, no mean feat as the song was not that catchy.

He encored with the remaining songs from the EP, and during the audience clapalong in the middle of ‘Like Animals’, Dan went into the front of the crowd. Near me a Dad and his lad snapped a selfie with him and the thrilled look on the young man’s face would have warmed even the flintiest hearted of us old rockers. ‘Death of Me’ was another expertly arranged with gaps for audience participation or solo vocal slots.

Even with no album yet he still managed to play an impressive near hour and a quarter with very little padding, and this ever humble Liverpudlian singer made a point of coming down to thank everyone.

It was a really good night with two talented young rockers making their way as solo artists in contrasting, but very impressive styles. Like so many other in the new generation they need our support and I would highly recommend catching either or both on their further 2025 shows or festivals.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
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Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025

THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025

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

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