We here at RPM love the underdog, we all love an underdog, right? Atlanta-born and bred singer/songwriter Tuk Smith is a survivor, a rock n’ roll renegade who breathes and sweats it from every pore. From humble beginnings playing guitar with glam punk legends The Heart Attacks, through the major label years fronting The Biters and then going it alone with The Restless Hearts, Tuk has had his fair share of ups and downs, yet he comes back stronger each time.

Last album ‘Rogue To Redemption’ went a long way to prove his knack for a catchy chorus is up there with his contemporaries. The man and his band now pay a long overdue visit to the UK with a few festival dates and club shows to give us a taste of what they have to offer.

As local punks Cyanide Pills blast through the PA, Tuk and the boys waste no time getting down to business with opener ‘Little Renegade’ and immediately, the tone for the night is set. With his Telecaster slung low, fist in the air and power chords ringing in the ears, there is already that certain feeling in the air that this is going to be special. With the songwriting suss of Butch Walker and the rock power of AC/DC and Thin Lizzy, it was never going to fail to impress. It’s already hot in this room, but the temperature has just skyrocketed in line with the rush of adrenaline. A killer opener.

Tuk Smith writes songs that have the power to fill stadiums, with hooks aplenty and choruses to die for. His band look the part and are as tight as their denim strides. ‘Ballad Of A Misspent Youth’ has an urgency live, upbeat and instant, it pounds to a relentless, high-energy beat and has a chorus that begs to be sung loud…and sing we do.

‘Sadie Mae’ from last year’s ‘Troubled Paradise’ EP is played early. Is it a power ballad? It’s certainly not Bon Jovi, but it has an instant, emotive chorus that sticks and a ripping solo to boot, it’s a highlight from the EP and from tonight’s set. Tuk and guitarist Tobin trade licks and have a good stage rapport, in fact, Tuk is more engaging than I thought he would be. Informing us that he will keep chat to a minimum as there is a curfew, Tuk proceeds to chat and joke between every song. “Do not put that on the internet!” he says between questioning UK swearing etiquette, telling dad jokes and telling us his new drummer is the illegitimate son of Freddy Mercury.

Tuk claims to have blatantly ripped off Thin Lizzy for ‘Girls on The East Side Of Town’, but we’ll forgive him as it’s a killer tune. With trademark twin guitars and a chorus many bands would die for, it was never going to fail to be a highlight tonight, and it’s one that gets the crowd fired up.

“You wanna hear Glorybound or Troubled Paradise?” he shouts after informing us they only have time for one. With an equal response for both, Tuk shrugs his shoulders and plays both anyway. The Biters ‘Gypsy Rose’ follows, it’s a welcome surprise, as is their cover of The Replacements ‘Bastards Of Young’.

They close with the righteous anthem that is ‘Take The Long Way’, sending us off into the night to mingle with the Peter Kay fans who are just leaving Leeds First Direct Arena up the road.

Nothing beats the pure raw power and adrenaline of watching a small band fighting and giving their all like their life or their next meal depends on it. And the truth of the matter is that it probably does. Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts may not be filling stadiums, but that doesn’t stop them from playing like they should be. After seeing a couple of big rock shows recently, namely Metallica and Sammy Hagar, it’s good to be back in my comfort zone. In a small club where you can see the whites of the artist’s eyes, the beads of sweat on their forehead and feel the bass reverberate through your bones. This is live rock n’ roll in its true, undiluted form, and Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts play it like they mean it. A life-affirming rock show that keeps my faith in live music alive.