Live Review: Wagons Cross Eyed Cats

For one night only, a hundred people crammed into the back of Studio Bomba to enjoy some fine local beverages and food with entertainment from some great local and national performers.

As the sun went down over the warmly lit venue, local blues four-piece Cross Eyed Cats kicked things off with a smooth, relaxed set. Starting with Leavin’ In Song, singer and guitarist Cap’n Carps traded some fine Clapton-style guitar licks with harmonica player Sweetlips Fitzpatrick over a creeping bass line and laidback drum beat. After the Yardbirds-esque rave-up of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Hug You, Squeeze You, Fitzpatrick started blasting out the notes to BB King’s Thrill Is Gone before Carps performed a spacey, echo-laden solo that got a good response from the crowd. The guys rounded out their set with My Baby’s Cooking and the jazz-tinged Reconsider Baby.

Shortly afterwards country-rockers Wagons arrived on stage to a big cheer from the audience, with Henry Wagons decked out in a leopard-print jacket sporting thick mutton chops and a headband. The band got the crowd energised with Goodtown, which displayed their strong harmonies and duelling guitar solos from Wagons and lead guitarist Long John Guscott. Wagons entertained between songs with his hilarious banter and self-deprecating humour, but it was the great interplay within the band that was the most impressive. Each member busted out a solo during Chase The Eclipse, and the lads proved their versatility with Mark Dawson and Si Francis trading drum and bass duties throughout while keeping the rhythm tight.

Redwoods and ballad Search The Streets showed their ability to traverse a wide range of dynamics, but it was a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s brooding epic, State Trooper, that was a highlight of the night, delivered with a thrashing punk rock energy that lit up the stage. Wagons ventured into the crowd at various points during the set to jump around and steal beer off the patrons, at one point leading them through a stirring rendition of Willie Nelson. The band finished with a foot-stomping version of Beer Barrel Bar before Francis swapped the drums with Wagons so he could bust out some sweet freestyle hip hop for the encore and the band wrapped things up with Drive All Night Till Dawn, capping off a great set and a fantastic night.