Stone Broken with support from Scarlet Rebels – La Belle Angèle – Edinburgh 8th Feb 2023

This is my very 1st show of the year and I thought it would be a good way to ease myself back to shows after Xmas.  I suffer from crippling anxiety so it was a case of forcing myself out and because I absolutely loved  Stone Brokens last album Revelations the thought of a good night out got the better of me.

Sadly due to circumstances beyond their control, Scarlet Rebels didn’t appear as a band. However, to not cancel the show, vocalist Wayne Doyle made the journey from Wales to Edinburgh to play a 30-minute acoustic set.  Fair play to the guy. He was great. You could see he was totally out of his comfort zone and basically bricking it, he pulled off a lovely set. An incredibly brave man especially as it was the opening night of the tour. Hopefully, the full band will be back with him on later dates.

Stone Broken take the stage and immediately kick off with the title track of the new album Revelations. The band were obviously suffering from 1st-night nerves as they’re usually a fun band to watch who play off each other and you can tell that they enjoy what they do. Tonight they were concentrating on not fucking up. But they still put on a pretty good performance. 

The award for biggest grin of the night goes to drummer Robyn Haycock. She could not stop smiling behind the kit as she pummeled them into submission. Sadly her backing vocals were overpowered by the use of backing tracks. 

The band were tighter than Joan Rivers facelifts which was obvious during Black Rise Sun.  The voice of Rich Moss has come along way since I saw them 6 years ago.In fact the musicianship of  guitarist Chris Davis and bassist Kieron Conroy have come along way since I last saw them 6 years ago. Especially as the set contained 2 acoustic tracks.

The only gripe I have is their reliance on backing tracks. I understand they’re on the original recording. However, if I wanted to listen to the album version, I would’ve stayed home and listened to the album. Sorry, I’m old school. 

Now that the 1st night nerves are done, the band should fall in nicely with one another and start to enjoy themselves a little more. 

Stone Broken are a superb band live and are well worth checking out. If they’re in your town or near you, grab a ticket and have a night out.  It did my mental health good.

Thank you to Wayne of Scarlet Rebels for putting on  a great 30 minute acoutsic set and to Stone Broken who helped me forget about my anxiety and depression for 80 minutes.

Enjoy the rest oof the tour and hopefully it wont be another 4 years before you come back to the Scottish capital.

Stone Broken ‘Come Closer’ Tour Dates

February 2023

Thur 09              Liverpool, O2 Academy 2.

Fri 10                  Huddersfield, The Parish.

Sat 11                 Stoke-on-Trent, The Sugarmill.

Mon 13              Swansea, Sin City.

Tues 14              Nottingham, Rescue Rooms.

Thur 16              Hertford, Corn Exchange.

Fri 17                  Dover, The Booking Hall.

Sat 18                 Tunbridge Wells, The Forum.

Sun 19                Bournemouth, The Old Fire Station.

Tue 21                Guildford, Boileroom.

Wed 22              Oxford, O2 Academy 2.

Thur 23              London, 100 Club.

 

Tickets are available via www.stonebroken.com