It was a Good Friday for everyone at the Tramshed, as Reef, with solid support from fellow Britrockers, A, took to the stage of the packed Cardiff venue.
Kicking off the evening’s entertainment were bluesy rockers Valhalla Awaits. The five Piece from South Wales did an admirable job of warming up the crowd while blitzing through tracks from their new EP, The Reckoning, including their latest single, Skin and Bones. Fans of old school Rock who like bands with a singer who can wail should definitely give them a listen.
Next up were A, always a treat to see live, the Suffolk based rockers, felt a little more restrained than their usual exuberant performances as lead singer Jason Perry explained he had ‘fucked his voice’.
Regardless, Perry remains one of the most affable frontmen in rock, engaging, witty and self-aware.
The highlight of A’s set was the band getting an ‘age appropriate’ circle pit going, with everyone walking instead of running, during I Love Lake Tahoe.
Quipping people would say he can still swing his arms but can’t sing. You could tell he was struggling at points through their set that was otherwise a brilliant set pack full of hits, including Starbucks and Something’s Going On, before finishing off with their top ten hit – Nothing.
Finally, it was time for Reef, who launched straight into the barm storming title track of their upcoming album Shoot Me Your Ace.
In the previous set, A’s frontman quipped the Somerset five-piece could finally grow beards, and they weren’t lying, with Reef bassist Jack Bessant evolving into his final form as a bardic wizard.
Reef has only got better with age, and it was clear that the band were having as great a time performing as the audience was listening to them, with Stringer beaming at the crowd between songs while the rest of the band rocked out all night.
Gary Stringer remains one of the most versatile singers in rock, and his full range was on full display throughout their 22 song set. Highlights included Naked, which produced the first big sing-along of the evening, Consideration, and Wolfman.
Predictably, Hold your Hands didn’t disappoint. Everyone in the place, regardless of how casual a Reef fan, was singing along. But after listening to more of their stuff, I don’t think it’s the best showcase of their considerable talent or what the band is really about. It’s more of a catchy trojan horse for the uninitiated – it worked on me.
Reef finished their main set with Summer’s In Bloom. A song Stringer explained was about getting drunk on cider and getting in trouble with the missus – A topic anyone who has spent any time in Somerset can relate to.
The encore kicked off with Reef pulling off a phenomenal cover of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain, some would call such a move foolhardy, I think it just shows how damn good this latest incarnation of Reef is. Stringer and co then said their goodbyes, bowing out with the aptly named The End.
The Bands may be hairier, the circle pits a little slower, but time always melts away during a good gig and Reef and A proved, like a fine wine, great acts only get better with age.
