Taking a break from supporting Guns N’ Roses, Californian rockers Rival Sons pulled together a summer headline tour, stopping off at Stockton’s beautiful art deco Globe Theatre. There’s something special about witnessing a full-blown rock revival in such a grand setting, and like the many fans in attendance, I was raring to go.
Opening the evening were Brighton’s Creeping Jean, a proudly retro outfit with charisma to spare. Frontman Olly Tooze, who owns a vintage clothing store, looks every inch the rock star – but this band is far more than just style. They deliver a punchy fusion of ‘70s blues rock and gritty ‘90s Britpop with real swagger. Think Primal Scream and The Faces in a musical fistfight – only far more fun. With tight harmonies, big riffs, and soulful hooks, their set was short, sharp, and seriously engaging.
As red lights bathed the stage and Rival Sons strode on, the room was electric. Barefoot but dapper in a three-piece suit, frontman Jay Buchanan commanded attention with theatrical vocals and hair-metal-worthy howls delivered with the precision of a fighter pilot.
The set opened with the soaring ‘End of Forever’, instantly setting the mood for what would be nearly two hours of relentless rock energy. One of the night’s highlights was the ten-minute epic ‘Manifold Destiny’, which had the crowd roaring in appreciation.
Guitarist Scott Holiday was magnetic – constantly swapping guitars and layering effects to push their retro sound into wilder territory. With his intricate riffs, it’s easy to draw comparisons to Led Zeppelin, but modern touches (a nod to Wolfmother, perhaps?) gave the performance freshness and flair.
The set was a generous journey through their discography, with standout tracks from ‘Feral Roots’ and ‘Great Western Valkyrie’, while also dipping into deeper cuts. ‘Sacred Tongue’ was a growling, gospel-tinged powerhouse, while a stripped-back rendition of ‘Shooting Stars’ saw Jay deliver a hauntingly beautiful solo moment that silenced the room.
By the time the encore arrived, ending with the punchy closer ‘Secret’, it was clear Rival Sons weren’t just passing through – they came to play, to impress, and to remind everyone that all Rock ’n’ Roll really needs is a stage and a band that means business.
