Rust for Glory

RUST FOR GLORY

Musician Pub 13th October 2023

Another of those glorious nights at The Musician Pub... this time delivered by Rust For Glory - Neil Young Tribute Band.

This band is simply wonderful... Tonight they delivered the best part of 2-1/2 hours of Neil Young classics with an energy, spirit and style which is rarely seen. The bass and drums of John "Billy" Russell and Nick "Ralph" Brown respectively lay down a solid beat and drive throughout which along with the superb guitar played by Dave "Poncho" Pearce form a perfect foundation for the guitar pyrotechnics and vocals of Alex "Shakey" Curtis (Neil Young!) he has Young's guitar style and vocals down to a fine art

And what of the set list? Young has a recording career stretching back for more than half a century and so has a huge long list of classic songs for the band to choose from... so i think whichever numbers are played there is likely to be one of your favourites missing... for me the omission of "Cortez the Kiiler" was a disappointment, but they played it last year so no complaints from me!

The set list concentrated on the most rocking end of the back catalgue starting with a superb "Love and Only Love" followed quickly by "Powderfinger","Ohio", "the Loner", "Fuckin up", "Cinnnamon Girl" , "Down by the River", "Barstool Blues'' and "Over and Over"... a couple of less familiar, but still terrific, songs alongside the bona fide Young classics.

The interval saw Alex come back solo with a banjo to deliver 3 pieces solo acoustic. I didn't recognise the first, then followed by "Comes the Time" and "Old Man"

As that song ended the band came back out and launched into the second set...following the same course as the first half, a couple of less familiar pieces and a clutch of veritable classics... "Tonghts the Night", Cowgirl in the Sand", "Dont be denied". "Winterlong", "Time Fades Away", Hey hey my my" and ending with a breathtaking 11 minutes version of "Like a Hurricane"

Inevitably there were encores, "Roll another number for the road" and ending finally with the almost inevitable "Rocking in the Free World" which really steamed along ending with Alex laying assault on his guitar...ending by grabbing the string by the fretboard and ripping them out as the guitar screamed

This was no ordinary tribute band... this was a group of magnificent musicians delivering a set of classic Neil Young songs... songs with fire, energy, commitment and massive skill... an outstanding performance by a outstanding band... delivering the songs of one of the greatest artists we have ever had the privilege to hear... Rust for Glory playing Neil Young... on this occasion very much the rock'n'roll end of the repertoire, and the band were really on fire. Simply superb

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues