Wow! What a wild few days it was hanging out with Geordie aces Strays on the first part of their UK tour. The line-up for the tour comprised Barns Teasdale (frontman and rhythm guitar), Evan Adamson (bass and backing vocals), Aidan Elliott (drums) and Dean Parker (lead guitar).
The emphasis of the Strays sound for each of their sets was on the heavy pelting sonic assault, coupled with tasty and infectious guitar hooks to really get the crowds jumping. As musicians, Barns (whose tasty Gretsch kit with the huge toms was used for the tour), Evan (who smashes the skins in Idle Hands and other projects), and Aidan (Strays actual sticksman), are all particularly renowned for their heavy hitting drumming skills. This clearly had an edgy impact on the rhythmic quality of their sound in this band with rhythm guitar, bass and drums all beefed up and bold in the mix.
THURSDAY NIGHT: LITTLE BUILDINGS, NEWCASTLE
SUPPORTS: WEAVE AND BUSES
Thursday night at Little Buildings was an absolute homecoming triumph for the Strays boys. They had two ace support bands, Weave and Buses, to really warm up the crowds in an already jam packed and sweltering venue. Sadly a third support, raucous Leeds faves, Stageminus, called in sick ahead of this one, after really winning over Strays in Hull.
Up first, awesome Sheffield band, Weave, were absolutely tremendous. They have a broadly post-punk vibe to their sound which is deliciously dark and vibrant. Zak on bass played it harsh and menacing with powerful rip chords. Definite Gurriers and The Murder Capital vibes among others. Jonah on lead guitar created some incredible wizardry on his fretboard that sounded unreal. Alex absolutely thrashed and pounded the skins. And then up front, Tom was a superb frontman with incredible presence and vocal attack.
I became a fully signed up fan of Weave when they supported Split The Ticket last year. It was awesome to see them again. Dirt and Napoleon especially are two knockout tracks of their set. Cardinal is hugely infectious too. Evan was well impressed by them. And Conall from Central Arcade who was also in the crowds is also a huge fan. I look forward to their headline tour later in the year.
With a highly original chant of “if I say Bus, you say Ses”, the highly entertaining local band, Buses, came next. This was the first time seeing these guys and they were class. Really raw, in your face punk. This was the true meaning of three chords and a vibe. No frills, but plenty of energy. Plus the drummer clearly enjoyed absolutely pulverising the skins.
The two lads up front for Buses were particularly good fun. I enjoyed their banter between tracks. They were firm faves with many in the crowd. Barns from Strays was absolutely in his element watching them.
When the Strays lads came on for their headline, it really was the best bouncing and moshing from a crowd that I’ve seen at a local gig for some time. The band totally responded to the huge energy with a frenetic set. Barns was totally fired up; he ditched the tshirt and went Iggy Pop style bare chested part of the way through in what was a fiery furnace.
With regular lead guitarist, Kez de Wessington unavailable for this tour, this was the first gig that I had seen the hugely talented Dean Parker fulfil his dues. And he was absolutely class, bringing real energy and some mean guitar licks into the mix. Looking uber cool in his trilby, he instantly became a favourite of the Geordie crowds, with chants of “Deano” ricocheting through the venue between tracks.
The Strays rhythm section is always pretty raging and ferocious. Evan on bass delivered with real passion, blasting out heavy licks and even jumping into the crowds for final track, Easy Come, Easy Go. His backing vocals proved impressive too, especially on best track on the set list, Show Me The Real You. Aidan on drums absolutely pulverised the skins with particularly epic tom grooves to get the crowds bouncing.
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FRIDAY NIGHT: THE SHIP ISIS, SUNDERLAND
SUPPORTS: RISCO AND KIDPUNK
At the Sunderland gig at Ship Isis on Friday, the Strays lads were joined by the awesome Risco and Kidpunk. This was a smaller, but still vibrant crowd. And the acoustic treatments in the room made it particularly impactful.
Risco were an inspired choice as first support to really rev up the energy. They’re so much fun to watch and they really got the crowd moving with their blend of garage rock, glam and various other fused zany styles.
As a three piece, they really do make a glorious racket. Ralph cuts an awesome frontman with some wild guitar vibes. The original material sounded ace, but I also loved his lead with the cover of The Sonics classic, Have Love Will Travel.
Maya on bass was incredibly cool and energetic. There’s a lot of thumping attack in many of the Risco tracks, which really added to the energy. She was into the crowds at one point. And ended the set with her ace vocal outro of Fatboy Slim’s Rockerfella Skank.
And then there was Fergus who as ever was an absolute machine on the drum kit. He’s such a versatile drummer and always a pleasure to watch. He’s clearly loving rocking out with Risco… those rhythms were pretty wild. Keith Moon would have been proud. He’s a busy man with both drumming and photography duties. Just hoping his valuable drumstick bag which sadly went missing here turns up sometime soon.
Another cool Strays support were Kidpunk. Again they brought a huge amount of energy with their early noughties inspired punk/nu-metal vibe; an inspired choice.
These guys really were heavy hitters on stage. The guitars were really dialled up and raucous. The bass was ferocious. And the double kick drumming was super impressive. They really got the crowds moving and energised.
There were newer tracks introduced which were impressive and broadened their sound. But I would say among their best was final track MIB (Men In Black), which really got everyone jumping ahead of the main act.
Good to catch up with Adam from Sunderland band Wool after this set. He did an ace job as tech. Wool subsequently joined Strays for their Sheffield and Nottingham dates at the end of the tour.
The Strays lads were once again in hyped up mood, storming on stage to deliver another epic headline set. Barns decked out in T. Rex T-shirt looked cool as hell. The band were tight throughout with big tracks, Crash And Burn, Got A Grudge, Over The Edge really lacking in the punches.
Again Show Me The Real You was a real highlight. As was penultimate track, Summer Feeling, which went down especially well as excitement grew for the long Bank Holiday weekend. The crowd demanded the encore of Easy Come, Easy Go, to which Evan made a hilarious spontaneous joke which went down a treat.
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SUNDAY NIGHT: THE FENTON, LEEDS
SUPPORTS: PARLE AND FROGG
In Leeds, there was a slight setback, with Stageminus lads still poorly, and now Weave too out of action (Weave returned later in the tour). Luckily two impressive young bands were drafted in last minute in the form of Parle and Frogg. This proved to be a winner as the crowds were treated to a pretty diverse range of music. And as The Fenton is a key spot on the Otley Run, there were plenty of revellers (some in costume) to check out this gig.
Up first, North Lincolnshire lads, Parle, were an absolute treat. I leaned over to Barns from Strats after they had done their first couple of tracks to say “great choice”.
These guys brought exactly the kind of energy that was needed to open up the gig. They performed as a three piece, though I think they are usually four. They are young lads who really brought a lot of passion and vibrancy to their original material. Nice infectious guitar hooks. Excellent vocals. And drummer Max was especially impressive with some tasty rhythms and awesome fills… he clearly had a lot of fun on the last track especially with a near drum solo to finish things off.
It has to be said that an experimental indie/prog rock band would not necessarily have been the most likely support for Strays. However, all of us loved Frogg; a towering six piece outfit from Leeds who delivered a brilliant set. Their frontman had a stunning and pretty unique singing voice. Soulful, passionate. Maybe a bit Jeff Buckley inspired among others.
The band created some impressive soundscapes. The keyboards were pretty atmospheric. The drumming was dynamically driven. There was some cool guitar sonics; both acoustic and electric. These guys presented something enchanting, which was juxtaposed humorously with chants of “ribbit” for their band name by Otley Run revellers between tracks. The guys found this fun and took it in their stride.
Strays headline set was a pretty wild and raw performance that the lads were buzzing about afterwards. It really showed off their harsher, punkish edge. Their intro to local Virtuous beer downstairs in the venue was a hit too which clearly fired them up.
Only the biggest Strays fans noticed that Aidan, who is always steady as a rock on the kit making a delicious racket with those huge toms, extended the groove on Wired… but these guys give it the full punk spirit so who cares! He was incendiary during the rest of the set… this was the noisiest set of the tour.
There was a slight lull in the crowds a few songs in as the Otley Run guys grabbed another pint. But this was soon rescued by Strays tour manager, who beckoned them upstairs to join the epic mosh pits for big hitters like Got A Grudge. Evan again got stuck into the action of the crowds giving it real attitude and energy with his bass on final track, Easy Come, Easy Go.
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The Strays lads have done themselves proud. This has been an epic adventure for them on a mission to rock out with crowds both in the north east heartland and beyond. They have absolutely smashed it every time!
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