They may come from High Wycombe rather than Detroit but Thee Hypnotics returned to action in only their second performance in 20 years and blasted their way through a scintillating body slam of high octane, Psychedelic fuelled Garage Rock’n’Roll that came straight from the bowels of Americas Motor City.
Lead singer Jim Jones may have forged ahead with his Revue and Righteous Minds bands since they originally split back in the ’90’s but somehow, it feels like he’s back home where he belongs alongside original guitarist Ray Sonic Hanson drummer Phil Staines and Jeremy Cottingham on bass.
Huge chunks of fuzzed out riffs from Hanson powered the likes of Soul Trader and Shakedown. Close your eyes for a moment and the full throttle of Preachin’ and Ramblin’ could have come straight from MC5 themselves while the gloriously sinister Kissed By The Flames tipped a nod to The Cramps. (Let it) Come Down Heavy grooved and rocked in equal measure as if Jimi Hendrix jammed with Sly Stone.
Jones and Hanson tussled and sparred, being the perfect singer/guitarist combo in the finest tradition of Jagger/Richards, Tyler/Perry and Johansen/Thunders, pulling off all the poses in the Rock ‘n’ Roll book. Jones cut a dashing figure and delivered his Rock ‘n’ Roll sermon in commanding style, falling to his knees at every opportunity
They just don’t make music like this anymore. Driven on pure raw Rock ‘n’Roll energy and extended feedback fired jams the Thee Hypnotics were welcomed back as saviours as the perfect antidote to the bland, autotuned sounds that dominate the airwaves today.
Review and Photos By Mick Burgess
Be the first to comment