Tyketto – Nightrain, Bradford, Monday 27th, November, 2023
Tyketto are regulars on the Rock/Metal scene on and off for the last 30 years having formed in 1991 and disbanded shortly after.
Sadly their success was short lived despite two fantastic albums 'Don’t Come Easy' and 'Strength In Numbers'. Most bands would be history at this point but with a singer like Vaughan you can’t keep them down. Playing to a full house in Yorkshire’s home of rock bands, 'Nightrain' for the second time in a year. Last time was an acoustic show.
With long grey hair, Danny Vaughan is a striking figure and a power house of a performer, opening with 'Strength in Numbers', a song that set the mood for the night: Straight Up Good Time Rock Music. Along the way he regaled the crowd with stories of his career from life on the road to home town family BBQs. This was a musical autobiography of sorts.
Second song in and it was time for a singalong with one of their hit songs circa 1991 'Wings' with Danny explaining he liked the crowd to singalong, not because it saved him the work but because that’s what he did at gigs. So we all obliged.
The set went from head down rockers, 'The Fastest Man Alive' to Funk Country rock with 'Circle The Wagons' that saw Guitarist, Harry Scott Elliot weave the sonic tapestries so well and joined on drums by Jonny Dee and Chris Childs (from Thunder) on bass. Filling in the melodies was keyboardist, Ged Rylands completing a tight band line up.
From sad news about former band member, Brooke St James (struggling with long covid) to amusing stories of Danny’s Dad who also told them that 'Standing Alone' is the best song ever written. It is very good and one Bon Jovi would die to write now.
A run of songs ploughed us to the end of the set including the fastest song of the night from Danny Vaughan’s first band Waysted: 'Heroes Die Young'. In the crowd, arms were held high while a glittering array of phone screens recorded the band taking their bow as they left the stage.
Obviously they weren’t finished yet of course; no Tyketto gig would be complete without the classic anthem, 'Forever Young'. It's actually on this note where I disagree with Mr Vaughan Senior as this song is possibly the best song ever written. The cheers from the crowd and deafening sing-along would seem to confirm this.
Jonny Dee earlier introduced Vaghan as “The Voice Of Gold”. Well tonight, he and the band were 24 carat solid gold.
10/10
Review By Mark Bedford
Photographs by John Mather