Black Stone Cherry - Bristol 02 Academy - Monday 26th March 2012

Black Stone Cherry are on their way to the very top of the rock game, their third album, Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, really seeing them up their game, and step out of the shadows, to step up to the plate amongst rock's elite.

Following on from their support slot to Alter Bridge at the famous Wembley Arena last November, this headline trek, well sold out in advance, is only a brief stopping point on their way to the upper echelons of the game. Before they walk the boards tonight though, there is a solid 45 minutes from up and comers Rival Sons, who, much like I said following High Voltage last summer, are on their way to big things in their scene. As for blues rock and roll, there aren't many better than these days, with front man Jay Buchanan the clear reincarnation of Jim Morrision.

Their set is hard pounding, swaggerific, and although not really my cup of tea, they are an exceptional band, the epitome of cool, and surely the standard bearer for blues rock and roll for the new generation. You will be hard pushed to find a band doing the same thing any better at the moment. With the crowd fully warmed up, Black Stone Cherry elicit a huge response as they enter a packed out room, ready to get down with a band who are starting to find a zone that is unparalleled.

They have the songs too at this stage, and from the outset, it is hit after hit for 90 minutes of full on southern rock and roll. Packed with massive riffs, huge choruses, and a perfect combination of either bone shaking heavy rock numbers or lighter waving arena bothering anthems, this a band with huge ambition and potential, with songs ultimately destined to take them to the very top. Change is a massive opening number, with Maybe Someday and the intense Blind Man following in quick succession.

The highlights come in the form of the numbers from that third record, one of the best last year had to offer, with lead single White Trash Millionaire, Such a Shame and Killing Floor proving the bands sterling credentials. It is another track from that record which sets the place alight, with Like I Roll still one of the best songs written in the past 12 months, riding a skyscraper hook and chorus.

It is awe-inspiring tonight. Songs like this were built for stadiums, and that aspiration is certainly not out of reach for a band this good. Tonight's show is flawless, the interaction between band and crowd out of the top drawer, and the musicianship effortless.

Chris Robertson also has one of the best voices in the game right now, and tonight's showing is another juggernaut performance from the ringleader and commander-in-chief. Whether it is balls to the wall rock and roll good times (like on a massive Blame It On The Boom-Boom) or the heartfelt likes of Things My Father Said (sung mostly by the crowd, after Chris announced he was to become a father for the first time) and Stay, this band have it all.

A stripped back acoustic section shows the vocal talents of Robertson off to perfection, along with a comedic edge throwing in 30 seconds of death metal (on acoustic guitars) following run throughs of Champagne Supernova (Oasis), Rape Me (Nirvana) and Rolling In The Deep (Adele).

Returning for their encore to a heroes welcome, they finish the night off in the only way they could, with their anthem Lonely Train following on from a fantastic run through of Peace Is Free.

Catch them while you can - they won't be staying at this level for long.

Bigger things await.

Setlist - Change / Maybe Someday / Blind Man / Such A Shame / Hell & High Water / Soulcreek / In My Blood / Rain Wizard / Like I Roll / Killing Floor / White Trash Millionaire / Drum Solo / Stay (Acoustic) / 30 Seconds of Death Metal (Acoustic) / Champagne Supernova (Oasis cover - Acoustic 1st verse & chorus) / Rape Me (Nirvana cover - Acoustic 1st verse & chorus) / Rolling in the Deep (Adele cover - Acoustic 1st verse & chorus) / Things My Father Said (Acoustic) / Devil's Queen / Rehab (Amy Winehouse cover - 1st verse & chorus) / Blame It On The Boom-Boom / Peace is Free / Lonely Train


Setlist - Rival Sons - Torture / Burn Down Los Angeles / Gypsy Heart / Face of Light /All Over The Road / Young Love / Pressure and Time / Soul / Get What's Coming