Black Stone Cherry, Wolverhampton Civic - review and pictures

His was a captivating, old school voice that sounds just as good live as it does on on Black Stone Cherry's new album, Kentucky.

Chris, John Fred Young, Ben Wells and Jon Lawton brought to the venue a stripped-back evening of candle lighting, mason jars and similarly low-key stage effects, making fans feel they were listening to the quartet at the Plaza Theatre back in their hometown of Glasgow, Kentucky.

With the refreshing absence of a support act, Black Stone Cherry dominated a double set of beautiful acoustics and over an hour of roaring rock and roll riffs and solos that would give even AC/DC and Foo Fighters a run for their money.

Drummer John Fred Young told a recent interviewer that the band loved playing so much that they'd happily do gigs in their underwear. Thankfully, they were sporting more than boxers and socks at Wolves – though it was cosy, nonetheless.

BSC played a 40-minute opening set featuring hits like The Rambler, Hell & High Water and All I'm Dreaming Of. It was a rare outing for the later track, with Robertson saying they'd not played it before on tour.

The second half pulsated with enthusiastic energy emitting from guitarists Ben Wells and Jon Lawton. Both were mesmerising. Wells, meanwhile, zipped around the stage like he had taken a shot of steroids and a crate of energy drinks.

Their cover of Willie Dixon's Built for Comfort was hilarious, with Chris doing an improvised solo that entertained the fans while the members changed equipment, whilst occasionally stuttering towards the end – nerves possibly got to him a bit.

Hit including Lonely Train, Shakin' My Cage and Soul Creek and In My Blood were among the highlights of a Godlike performance.

The most positive reaction from the fans was for Young's seven-minute drum solo. Who said rock was dead?

By Michelle Martin