A bit of an out of the way venue. It's not really, but that seems to be how people regard it these days so they don't want to go there - even though it's just opposite Archway tube station at the top end of the 'Holloway Strip'. It's actually called Club Kollis and is well hidden in an upstairs ballroom at the famous Highgate pub. It's quite surprising the impressively large pub building has survived the attentions of developers and not been raised to the ground to make way for yet more (un)affordable housing. The building is not really a pub anymore, although the famous Intrepid Fox moved into the downstairs bar for a short time after being forced out of the West End. Then that bar became the Dusk Til Dawn nightclub, but that didn't last long either. Then it was supposed to be converted into a restaurant, but I think that might have fallen through as last time I looked through the window it looked like it was being converted back into a bar with Guinness taps being installed. Most of the upstairs floors have now been converted into flats which is ominous... However, this room actually makes quite a decent music venue - although the less said about the bar selection and prices the better...
The artist formerly known as Kiria has reinvented herself yet again. Once a pop/punk artist, she moved on to rockabilly - showing that she is actually a much better singer than she appeared in her previous incarnation. Now she has moved on again and become Country & Western artiste 'Sara Vista'. The focus in now less on rock & roll and more on acoustic balladry. It has to be said she does it very well.
Sara has surrounded herself with good musicians, although I think the double necked Gretch sported by the guitarist is rather OTT for a country band - I think maybe that sort of thing is best left to Jimmy Page, and even he wouldn't play a double necked guitar for the whole set.
It's good to see that some effort has been put into the visuals for the band, but the overall performance seems a bit on the
serious side and the guitarist looks like he'd be more at home playing at a jam/open mic night in a pub. He can play well enough and has a good sound, but it distracts from the singer who should be the focus on this stage. Sara sings well and has an easy relaxed stage persona, but I'm more of a rock 'n' roll guy and to be honest this doesn't really float my boat however good it may be.
Next we have a blues trio called Mudlow with a really good meaty sound.
They are more lively than Sara's band - maybe she would have been better with these guys backing her instead of her own band.
And on to the headliners. Having seen them before I already know they are going to be good.
Warner E Hodges first rose to fame as a guitarist in US country punk band
Jason and The Scorchers in the 1980's.
Although based in America Warner has a British band when he tours in Europe, and he is also recording a studio album of original songs with them as well as releasing a live album.
Although Warner is probably known more as a country/rock artist, when the
Warner E Hodges Band hit the stage the emphasis is very much on ROCK!
Although there is still a country influence Warner very much wears his heart on his sleeve and says his favourite band is AC/DC - and it shows! Although this is a band playing mostly original material they do a great cover of 'Riff Raff'. Warner also takes a step back and lets the rest of the band shine - some of you might recognise Ben Marsden of the
Main Grains and
The Spangles on guitar and Jason Knight of
The Haunting AD and
Binge Drinking on bass.
There is more of a nod to Warner's country roots with a cover of John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', but a more rocking version than played by other artists. But the
rock balance is restored with a stunning and seriously heavy version of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs'. Warner's UK band
really come into their own on this song and would give any serious heavy metal band (including Sabbath) a run for their money - the drumming in particular is fantastic!
If you are looking for a good night of thoroughly entertaining
country rock music then I
highly recommend the
Warner E Hodges Band. Keep your eyes open - they should be back in the UK soon...
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