It’s been a while since I’ve been on Oxford Street, seeing as I spent almost five years working just around the corner, off Wardour Street at Trident Studios, which is where I was introduced to The 100 Club, just at the top of the road!

So it was back down there to see Hillbilly Vegas, a band I have already seen three times so far this year, and they are fast becoming one of my favourite bands of the year (and we’re only in July)! Tonight they are in town to promote their latest album: 'The Great Southern Hustle' and it’s good! More on this Oklahoma outfit later.

The evening started with a young band (actually!), The Howling Tides. This four-piece, comprising Rob Baynes (vocals/guitar), Hayden Kirk (guitar, backing vocals), Adam Brewell (bass, backing vocals) and Steve Herbert on the kit, kicked things off in style. Nice to see the kids flying the flag, so to speak.

Promoting their latest EP, 'Blue Moon', they opened with 'White Crow' before moving on to their latest single: 'Thalia'. I think these guys had been described as playing ‘muscular Rock’, yet it was not overpoweringly ‘Dark’, just good Hard Rock. The latest single was well received before they continued with their EP title track. On the strength of this track alone, they are setting their sights high, but after a few releases under their belts, they are nailing their colours to the mast and with aplomb! A good solo I might add!

The band them opted to meander down some less known tracks such as 'Fortune' and 'Seven Eyes', before they hit back with their latest material on 'He Told Me' and their first single 'Crack My Soul, that seemed to take on a new lease of life, getting the crowd to join in and sing-a-long to round off their set. Nicely done boys.

Then it was off to Hillbilly Vegas and their latest (-ish) album, 'The Great Southern Hustle', led by vocalist Steve Harris, with Stacy Thornburg (lead guitar/ backing vocals), Geraldo Dominelli (guitar/keys), Bad Company's Todd Ronning (bass) and last, but not least, rhythm powerhouse, drummer, Troy Hollinger, who holds it all together.

Kicking off with 'Let’s Get Together', introducing us nicely to both guitarists, Harris then quickly moved onto 'Mason Jars and Moonlight', a song I well remember from the last couple of gigs. It’s a song that seems to sum the band up perfectly. But these guys are no Country Bumpkins, as there’s a lot of Texas in this quintet! After a rendition of 'Steady At The Wheel', they then dropped into one of their latest released singles: 'High Time For A Good Time', to a cracking crowd response! Indeed, this is what Hillbilly Vegas are all about!

'Something Crazy' then segued into 'Can’t Go Home', slowing things down nicely into a slow groove. 'Long Way Back' another track from the latest album, kept things slowed down, but albeit very much in the Texas groove, as did the following track, '4th Of July'. In contrast, some older tracks made a welcome appearance too: namely Frankie Miller's 'Down The Honky Tonk', 'Let It Ride', 'Find Me Yesterday' plus 'Helluva Night', kept things going along nicely, before another cover, 'Ring Of Fire' (yes, that old Johnny Cash tune!). 'Shake It Like A Hillbilly' penultimately rocked things up, before they wrapped up proceedings paying a final tribute to their latest excellent album, with 'Hell To Pay'!

It wouldn’t be a 100 Club gig without a band complaining about the distance to the changing rooms, thus opting for an encore of another iconic track in the form of 'We’re An American Band', a track I’ve seldom ever heard before, save the Dead Daisies! And such an American classic that I still have my “gold” vinyl copy of the Grand Funk original!

All in all, a great night showcasing some of the great music coming from the other side of the pond, highly recommended! If you haven’t had a chance to check out Hillbilly Vegas, do yourselves a favour and make sure you do. I believe they will be back later this year, for those of you suffering from the FOMO! Indeed, their latest offering is seriously very good!

Tim Russell