Winter Rocks - Corporation, Sheffield, Saturday December 3rd 2022
London's Dead Man's Whiskey start the standard section of the day up after the VIP part has finished, Comprised of Elliott D'Alvarez (Rhythm Guitar), James Titley (Bass), Billy Kons (Lead Guitar), Nico Rogers (Vocals) & Charlie Gray (Drums).
They who deliver 5 great tunes with a warm stadium-like loving approach and happy vibes, The set explodes with the pounding 'Sleep When I'm Dead' with the rocking 'Hoe Street' coming later which was not about gardening - Lol.
They close with the powerful 'Racing Bullet' that we get to sing along to on the bands request. These men are a great way to start the day on the main stage.
Bristol's Slyder Smith And The Oblivion Kids who feature the former Last Great Dreamer Guitarist fronting alongside Tim Emery (Bass) and Rik Pratt (Drums) took to the small stage. It's time to crank up the Telecaster much to Steve Cooper's joy - he loves them for some reason....
They provide us with a varied smattered mix of 70's New Wave, Rock and Country that has a slight punk touch at times such as the opener 'When The Rain Comes' and closer 'Oblivion Kids' that's kinda Buzzcocks & Sex Pistols meets Thin Lizzy.
We get the bluesy funkiness of I'm Done' and even a cover of that 80's kids film classic 'The Never Ending Story' by Limahl that we cannot help but completely get into and sing along. We are even treated to some Dogs D'Amour with the likeable but moody lyrics of 'Crash Course In Teenage Heaven'. Steel City seemed to dig them and it would be nice to see a headline show of theirs in here or somewhere close.
Scotland's Jason Sweeney (of The King Lot) is up next on the big stage with a band made up of himself on Vocals and Guitar alongside Scott Hannah (Guitar), Craig Rolls (Keyboards), Brian Stewart (Bass) & Chris Kip Smith (Drums).
What comes across straight away is the whiskey soaked raw throaty vocals with music that reminds me of a modern progressive Bon Jovi via 'Unknown Direction' and ply us with the head bopping 'My Wasted Heart'.
A major highlight is 'A Woman In Love' that sounds like a famous a song by Ike & Tina Turner that they mix in with it - the well loved 'Nutbush City Limits' that needs no introduction. They close with the Melodic Rock of 'She's A Fighter' that reminds me of that said New Jersey based band again which goes down well in here.
Words & Photographs By Glenn Milligan