Black Stone Cherry: Newcastle City Hall

IT'S been quite a year for Southern Rockers Black Stone Cherry. With a sell-out arena tour culminating in a triumphant appearance at Wembley Arena, a top five album and a headlining spot at the prestigious Ramblin’ Man Fair make 2016 a year that will take some beating.

The Kentucky outfit, who sold out the city hall well in advance, opened up with acoustic interpretations of songs from their debut right through to this year's album, with Hell or High Water and The Rambler representing the old and the new. Of course, it was the deeply personal Things My Father Said that brought a small tear to the eye of even the burliest of men.

The second half saw Black Stone Cherry even more animated and energetic than usual as they kicked into top gear forn the more familiar electric territory of Blind Man, Blame It On The Boom Boom, Devil's Queen and White Trash Millionaire plus their punchy riffs and towering choruses along with the bone-crunchingly heavy Killing Floor. The gags also came thick and fast as the camaraderie was clear between the whole band and crew.

Vocalist Chris Robertson's powerful whisky-soaked, gravel-hewn vocals, one part Lynyrd Skynyrd and one part Mountain, were colossal. He surely is one of the finest Rock vocalists of his generation. At the back, drummer John Fred Young was finally unshackled with a flamboyant show akin to a rabid octopus that would have made Keith Moon glow with pride. Guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon never stopped for a moment, covering every inch of the stage. It's fair to say it's been a while since this stage has seen such a level of energy. This is what rock'n'roll is all about.

Mick Burgess