Since the demise of The Cockpit, the promoters around Leeds have been scrabbling to find alternative band venues, including The Wardrobe, The Library and The Belgrave Music Hall, and tonight it was my first visit to the newly branded Key Club.
A night of Southern rock and roll was promised from Nashville’s The Cadillac Three and support band Sky Valley Mistress from, er, Blackburn…
SVM had just taken to the stage as I was descending the steps into the basement club, and one hell of a racket they were making. Comprising the classic lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and singer lineup, my first surprise was how young they were (average age 25?), and my second surprise was how damn good they were.
Channeling a crunching classic rock sound, fronted by the wonderful Kayley “Hell Kitten” Davies, they ran through they criminally short set acting as a genuine warm up to The Cadillac Three. Check out their fabulously titled EP Rivals, Hounds & Rebel Sisters, and catch them on their own headline tour during March & April.
The sold out crowd in this new venue were well and truly ready for The Cadillac Three as they took the stage half an hour later, and they bowed their caps to the crowd and launched into Party Like You, new track from the UK only newly released EP Peace Love & Dixie. The band clearly were appreciative of the crazy reception they were getting and the ovation they got announcing that this was their first visit to Leeds and that this and the entire tour was sold out nearly took the roof off.
Favourites from their only album release so far, Tennessee Mojo, such as the title track and the sing along I’m Southern mixed with other new tracks from the ep kept the crowd bouncing and the temperature rising in this small cellar shaped venue.
Just under an hour and a half later, and The South closed the set with most of us baying for more. Unfortunately, the 10pm curfew to make way for a metal night meant that was it, and after visiting the merch stall, we left happy and drenched in sweat.
Hopefully the band will be back when album number two is released, and hopefully at a much bigger venue which will be no less than they deserve.
Keith @kjsmith4082
