Following on the release of the ‘Darkfighter’ and ‘Lightbringer’ albums in 2023, Californian 4-piece Rival Sons continue their non-stop touring schedule, which currently sees the band in a prime position opening arenas and stadiums across Europe for Guns n’ Roses.

8 albums into their career, and the retro rockers show no signs of slowing down. In between these big shows, they have fitted in a handful of UK headline dates; one such date brings them to York for the first time, before they head on to Wembley Stadium and beyond.

First up tonight, we have Brighton-based throwbacks Creeping Jean, who seem the perfect opening act for Rival Sons. The 5 piece certainly looks the part, they have the threads, the hair, the grooves and moves to match. Although they do have their very own Bez on tambourine and backing vocals, who seems to be trying just that bit too hard to be cool.

The tunes ain’t too shabby though, and the delivery is great, they go down well with the growing crowd. If you dig the likes of Free and Deep Purple, then you won’t go far wrong with this bunch of 70s-influenced dudes. Worth checking out for sure.

The scene has been set, and as the lights dim to great cheers, Rival Sons enter the room and deliver a masterclass of bluesy rock n’ roll, straight from a bygone era. The constant touring has made Rival Sons a well-oiled live machine, but they always have been, right? A band doesn’t get this good by luck. It’s all about putting in the hours, hard graft and loving what you do.

Opener ‘End Of Forever’ sets the scene nicely. The sound mix is pretty decent from the off, yet it takes a few songs for the vocals to bed in. Michael Miley’s bombastic drums sound massive, stage right, Dave Beste holds down the low end, stage left, the ever-cool Scott Holiday peels off effect-ridden riffs on the first of an impressive array of guitars he uses tonight. Centre stage, the suited and bare-footed frontman Jay Buchanan weaves his body, hits notes only dogs can hear and commands his audience with the stage presence and vocal delivery of all your favourite classic rock singers rolled into one.

It all wouldn’t be so impressive if they didn’t have the tunes, but Rival Sons do have the tunes. ‘Electric Man’ is one such song; it sounds fantastic and gets one of the biggest receptions of the night. Scott’s iconic riffage and Jay’s soaring vocals are the perfect pairing for this standout cut. Elsewhere, ‘Pressure & Time’ and ‘Manifest Destiny’ prove they are more than just a singles band, as they jam out album tracks with the energy and bravado of a hungry, young band on their first tour.

Although they only delve into the last two albums briefly, the new songs fit the set like a glove. I guess with 8 albums to draw on, you can’t have it all, but highlights are plentiful. ‘Rapture’ is stunning in the confines of this 1400-seater room, as is the emotive and beautiful ‘Mosaic’. Delving deeper, the likes of ‘Feral Roots’ and ‘Tied Up’ make me wanna rediscover those older albums I may haven’t given the time they deserve.

While their retro-tinged sound is drenched with modern, effect-loaded guitars, whatever they do, Rival Sons cannot escape the 70’s rock comparisons. There may well have been a drum solo tonight, just a small one. And of course, there are plenty of guitar histrionics from the dapper Holiday, as he switches guitars every few songs and peels off killer licks. It all comes across like a scene from ‘Almost Famous’, and I mean that in a good way.

Mid-set, the boys get a breather as Jay takes things down with an emotive and soulful solo rendition of ‘Shooting Stars’, just one man, one acoustic guitar and a room of fans to give the accompaniment it deserves.

There is no encore, the band preferring to end with a rousing and groove-heavy ‘Secret’ from the recently reissued ‘Great Western Valkyrie’ album.

I’ve seen Rival Sons several times over the years, and every time they own the stage the moment they walk on until the final note fades and blends with cheers of their adoring fanbase. Yes, the music is nostalgic, and you can only describe them as ‘Classic Rock’, but is that such a bad thing? In a sea of wannabe retro rock bands over the years, Rival Sons stand tall above their peers as one of the best live acts currently actively touring and releasing new albums. It’s no surprise they are opening the show for the GNR juggernaut; they fully deserve the exposure. Tonight, Rival Sons triumphed in York, and I for one hope they return sooner rather than later.

Author: Ben Hughes