Cold Gaze/Peacock – Tufts Hall – Lowell
Rick Fleck
cold gaze Played with the Peacocks at Tufta Music Hall in Lowell, MA for immediate support.
Evansville, Indiana cold gaze They kicked off their show at destination Taft Towers in Lowell, Massachusetts with their hit song “Horse to Water.” Guitarist Chris Tapp took full advantage of the club’s impeccable sound, playing a riff reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Saturday Night Special.” “Horse to Water,” a distinctly Southern rock song with an infectious chorus and crisp guitar work, set the tone for the evening with its bluesy hard rock sound.
cold gaze In 2009, they started as a duo in western Kentucky with the aforementioned guitarist/singer/songwriter Tapp and drummer Brian Mullins. The band later moved to Evansville. In 2023, “newcomer” bassist Bryce Klueh joined, officially making The Cold Stares a blues rock trio.
Early on in the set, “I Was a Fool” was reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic,” again taking influences from classic rock and transforming it into something unique. “Got No Right” is a throwback to country funk, a genre criminally overlooked, that offers a glimpse into the band’s musical range. “The Third Degree” and “Coming Home” are two gems of Mississippi blues-inspired hard rock, while “Prosecution Blues” takes us on a boxcar journey to Memphis.
Photo Rick Fleck
“The Third Degree” showcases Tapp’s more soulful singing and is his vocal masterpiece. “Coming Home” is about a trip down a dirt road on a hot Mississippi summer day, with Joe Perry playing guitar next to you in the back of a pickup truck. “Prosecution Blues” is another example of Tapp’s deft guitar skills, with his Joe Bonamassa-like blues groove vocally evoking The Allman Brothers Band’s Gray Greg Allman. The boogie groove of “Going Down Easy” has the band going all out, including a stylish solo from Tapp. “Confession” from their newly released album southa 1970s style Barnburner.
The “tombstone” was taken away cold gaze in different directions. The song’s thick riff is reminiscent of Black Sabbath’s classic “Sleeping Behind the Wall,” and Tony Iommi’s influence is clear. However, “Headstone” retains a roots rock feel, creating a perfectly interesting mix of genres.
My favorite song of the night, and the audience’s top choice, was “The Wind Blows” from the hit Netflix series Sex Education. With a riff reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker,” “Any Way the Wind Blows” is a monster song and a real treat to listen to live. “Any Way the Wind Blows” is the song you sing to yourself on the drive home after a show.
Photo Rick Fleck
Tapp switched to resonator guitar on “61 Blues,” adding new sonic elements to the mix and conjuring the sound and feel that best suited the song. “Two Keys and a Good Book” ended the night with bombast and grit, capping off the show with the hard blues of “Horse to Water.” I would have liked to hear some songs with longer solos, but the pacing of the show was carefully crafted to create a seamless rhythm and flow.
The crowd in Lowell was loud and enthusiastic Tuesday night. Although not sold out yet, the newly renovated rooms feel full. As Tapp pointed out onstage, these fans weren’t just regular fans who heard a song on Spotify and came to see the show. For example, between songs, people shout out requests from deep within cold gaze catalog, which sometimes surprises the orchestra. cold gaze He interacted enthusiastically with fans throughout the evening, including staying after the show to sign autographs, shake hands, and take photos. Hopefully they will make the greater Boston area a regular location for all their tours.
Lowell’s own Peacocks Kick off the show. The Peacocks have had a short break and it’s great to see them back. The core members of The Peacocks are singer/guitarist Josh McDonough, bassist Ethan Whipple and drummer Graham Nasson. The Peacocks typically perform as a blues rock trio, along with a number of other artists including backing vocalists Emma and Julia, alto and tenor saxophonists Isaac and Jackson, and keyboardist/singer-songwriter Dora Mu. Composer Dom is a well-known up-and-coming artist in his own right, and Macdonald also moonlights in his orchestra.
Peacocks joined the band for four songs, including opener “Angel,” their first single “Troublesome Child,” new song “June” and show closer “Higher Ground.” “Higher Ground” is a cover of the Stevie Wonder classic, and the Peacocks play it with energy and respect. “June” departs from their tried-and-true blues-rock formula and promises exciting new directions for the future.
As a trio, The Peacocks played hit songs “Cut Me” and “Promised Land” like the well-oiled machines they are, picking up right where they left off. The eight-piece band is both an experiment and a work in progress. The group as a whole is not without its problems, but it doesn’t matter that they play with so much spirit and enjoyment together.
It’s so refreshing to be able to see new things developing right in front of your eyes and ears. I’m excited to be there to witness it, especially if it ends up being a one-off show. Peacocks and Taffeta are two of the reasons why Lowell has become a live music destination in New England and has attracted national celebrities like The Cold Stares to perform on stage.
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