Rival Sons/Creeping Jean –
Ipswich Corn Exchange, Monday 7th July, 2025
Setlist: Ten Kisses/Rattle/Spice Rack/When’s The Blowout/Sassy Got Shakes/Big Cheese/Money Road/ Business Is Dead/Warm & Fuzzy/Bandit.
The Rival Sons are quite simply one of the best live bands on the planet! Their connection with the audience is a thing of magnificence. Before Rival Sons took to the stage we were treated to a great set from Creeping Jean, a band I had seen a couple of weeks earlier in a church just 400 yards from this venue.
Creeping Jean are a throw back to the late sixties, early seventies, both in image and their brand of music. They are a 5-piece from Brighton and influenced by the Kinks, their name comes from a track from a Dave Davies solo album.
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Their music is all about vintage equipment. The 5 members each have their own identity and image with the Frontman, Oliver Tooze constantly bobbing and weaving as he utilises the whole of the stage and beyond.
‘Ten Kisses’ opens the show the track is a pounding funky blues number and is a song you could imagine the nights headliners playing. ‘Bandit’ closes the set, it has a funky glam rock feel, the chorus makes your feet move on their own accord, the groove is so infectious.
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Creeping Jean really rose to the occasion and definitely impressed those waiting for the ‘Sons’, flares, fashion and fun, make Creeping Jean a band you need to see. They may just be playing in a high street boutique near you soon.
Setlist: End Of Forever/Electric Man/Open My Eyes/Pressure And Time/Manifest/Shooting Stars/Mirrors /Rapture/Too Bad/Belle Starr/Feral Roots/Where I’ve Been/Do Your Worst/Keep On Swinging/Electric Funeral/Oh Well.
Fresh from appearing at Villa Park as part of the bill for Black Sabbath’s final ever show, there was an immediate intensity as Scott Holiday (Guitars), Michael Miley (Drums), Dave Beste (Bass) and Todd Ogren (Keyboards) took to the stage, to be followed a few moments later by Jay Buchanan (Frontman and Vocalist extraordinaire).
‘End Of Forever’ is followed by ‘Electric Man’ as the show gets off to an exhilarating start. “The Corn Exchange, The Corn Exchange, man what sort of dodgy deals go on in the Corn Exchange we thought, Ipswich let me here you!
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Scott Holiday throws some great shapes as he dazzles with his dexterity, looking like he has been transported in time from the Wild West. The venue is sizzling as the temperature keeps on rising as each song passes. Then Buchanan is alone with his acoustic guitar, he says a few words about conflict that threatens the world and the need for greater acceptance, peace love and understanding.
Then we get 'My Love Is Stronger Than Yours' that is a spellbinding emotional moment of intense passion; everyone feels closer as ‘Shooting Stars’ is delivered. From my view point high in the balcony it is a thing of beauty, everyone singing like one enormous gospel choir. I am transfixed and find it difficult to use my camera as my eyes are blurry.
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Holiday announces that it was the Frontman’s birthday the previous day, a euphoric happy birthday is sung, Buchanan briefly leaves the stage and returns holding his son high in his arms, it is a great moment as his son salutes the adoring crowd while wearing the appropriate ear protection. The show continues with Holiday using a wide range of guitars which sees him with his twin neck, he is the epitome of a Rock star.
The show continues with all of the band’s discography being plundered to immense effect. Then we arrive ‘Back To The Beginning’ as Black Sabbath’s ‘Electric Funeral’ is played with fury, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well’ gets a great response as Buchanan dances barefoot with his hair flaying and tambourine in hand! I am exhausted! It has been stunning, but then it is no more than I have come to expect from this fantastic band from America. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
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“Thank You Ipswich”, says Jay, our cheers filling the venue. All that is left for me to say is 'My Dancing Is Better Than Yours, Better Than Your Marching Will Ever Be!' The music has 'Feral Roots' that have the tradition of Rock and Blues at its core. Superb!
By Paul Mace