Cannock's Piston in Stafford Christmas gig
Cannock rockers Piston are hopping across Cannock Chase for a gig at Stafford's Redrum venue on Saturday.
Having gone out on tour with their debut self-titled album, released in September, and supporting The Cult, Glenn Hughes and Phil Campbell - the latter at KK Downing’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton - the band are returning to their home county this weekend.
The band will be top of the bill at Redrum with support from Juliet Falls, Blackwater Souls and Just Like Monsters.
More coverage:
Drummer Brad Newlands, who is the proprietor of Jolly Roger barbers in Stafford town centre, said: “The past two years have been very intense, but all the guys in the band are so committed to what we are doing. Whenever we find things getting tough we get back on stage and put our hearts and soul into playing live and the response we get from the fans is fantastic, which really lifts our spirits.
"At each gig we can see more and more of the crowd singing along.”
Singer Rob Angelico added: “Our feet have barely touched the ground this year. The Redrum is a great venue to get up close and personal with the fans.”
Guitarist Jack Edwards, who this year signed a major equipment deal with Gretsch Guitars, added: “Everyone is looking forward to returning to the Redrum, it’s one of our favourite live music venues, and a home from home for Piston.
"We have just been the support act for Cannock’s former Deep Purple, Trapeze and Black Country Communion bass player Glenn “The Voice of Rock” Hughes."
Likely to be on the set is their recent Christmas single, a cover of Slade's Mama Weer All Crazee Now from 1972. It was recorded, mixed and mastered in October at Long Wave Studios in Cardiff with Romesh Dodangoda, who has worked with the likes of Motorhead, Bring Me The Horizon, Funeral For A Friend and more.
Fellow guitarist Luke Allatt explained the reasoning behind the cover, saying: “We were talking to Glenn Hughes and he advised us to release an interim cover song as we get such a great crowd response to our set closer Proud Mary. So while working on ideas for our second album, we had a jam session and decided to give the fans an insight into our influences – and Slade always get played around Christmas. Like Brussels sprouts on your plate, it’s the law!”
And bassist Stuart Egan enticed fans to get dressed up for the occasion, adding: “We are encouraging everyone coming to wear their Santa hats, tinsel, Christmas T-shirts and jumpers as we will be playing more than one Slade song.”
Tickets to Saturday's show are available from the TicketSource website for £8, plus a booking fee.
