By: Andy Little
The Midnight Ghost Train | website | facebook | twitter |
Support: XII Boar | website
The Black Heart, London | August 4, 2016
The Midnight Ghost Train returned to touring action after guitarist and vocalist Steve Moss now having recovered from a hand injury which had kept the band out of action for a short while. This time around playing the smaller The Black Heart pub was a good move as they played to a compact and responsive audience. With the following day’s gig in Cardiff boasting Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard in tow, tonight also has fine support with Hampshire’s now London based XII Boar. So, two three-piece bands who not only boast frontmen with fine examples of facial hair, but head bands who possess enormous infectious energy and commitment.
XII Boar may not be breaking any new stoner rock ground, but their meaty Clutch, ZZ Top, Motörhead, inspired biker rock was heartedly delivered to an appreciative crowd. With a new album Beyond the Valley of the Triclops to be released in the forthcoming weeks (see review by fellow Echoes and Dust writer Chris Ball on our website now) and an appearance lined up at this year’s Bloodstock Festival it is with very good reason they should be excited, and they showcased this in ample bucket loads tonight. New album taster ‘Jupiter Aligns’ is the most straightforward, and therefore, slightly underwhelming rocker aired this evening compared with many of the surrounding songs, which ended with the enjoyable singalong inducing ‘Rock City’. Vocalist/guitarist Tommy Hardrocks declared his joy to be here and thanked The Midnight Ghost Train, but warned rather directly, and bluntly, using expletively hilarious terms that I could not possibly write here, that any pregnant women in attendance will prematurely give birth during MGT’s set.
From Kansas The Midnight Ghost Train’s style of stoner rock is steeped in Mississippi Delta Blues, and Tom Waits influences to give them a distinctive American band sound. Not only is this exemplified in Steve’s gravel voiced tones and delivery they also opened with Mr Waits’ ‘Make It Rain’. A cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ was also thrown in the middle of their set to further showcase their American jazz/blues inspirations. The remainder of their hour long set was mainly culled from their last album, the Napalm Records released, Cold Was The Ground, and was dispatched with ferocious energy, and an incredibly honed tightness. Aided by Brandon Burghart’s impressive pummelling rhythmic drumming, songs did indeed bounce with such purpose they inflicted an array of movement among the crowd. As a fan of the wah wah pedal it was quite refreshing to hear generous amounts being used as on ‘One Last Shelter’. Although there is no doubting MGT’s ability to rock hard the songs from said last album, at times, failed slightly to really shine through mainly due to the vocals occasionally being lost in the mix.
Fortunately, there was no sign of pregnant women’s waters breaking and tonight was a blast watching two bands who know how to rock with passion, zeal, and conviction.
