Gorilla Riot, The Globe. 23rd July 2022

It’s time for another hot gig. Mercifully not as sweat inducing as the last gig I was at, but the temperatures at The Globe are rising. We’re here in this, it has to be said fantastic room to catch the laid back Manchester blues purveyors Gorilla Riot. I say laid back, they’re a chilled out bunch, but make no mistake, once everything’s plugged in and dialled up, you’d better hold on to your ears. If you like straight up no fucking around bone bruising riffs, Gorilla Riot have you covered. I’m not gonna lie, I tend to like bands with a bit more edge and danger, but when this lot lock in, they’re a shit ton of fun. They’re tight, belting out smooth blues belters, with tons of room for wonderfully indulgent soloing. When Charlie in particular lets loose, it’s arresting stuff. The songs are catchy, Arjun’s voice will surprise the uninitiated with his delta drawl, but it’s all about the riffs for me. The room is full, the crowd are into it, the band are clearly loving it too. Bouncy and brutal as it is, I would like a few more gears but that’s just me. With ‘Bad Son’ they have a genuine crowd pleaser that would prick the ears of the casual listener. I don’t think they care though. They seem to be exactly where they want to be and no one can knock that. After an hour they pull the plugs, the girl next to me finds her lost glasses on the floor and we descend the stairs in search of cooler air. Give Gorilla Riot a listen and tune in next week to their appearance on Amped, a new show hosted by my other half showcasing the best new rock and metal bands… https://youtu.be/K8KsPF1TwJU