On Sunday, critically acclaimed Psychedelic Montreal four-piece Rock and Roll headliner's The Damn Truth, as well as Nashville-based Southern Blues rockers and 2024 WRC Award winning special guests Parker Barrow, completed their twelve-date UK tour, and last Friday we were lucky enough to be present at the tenth leg of the tour at London's The Underworld in Camden.

Indeed, Blues-soaked six-piece Parker Barrow released their new 5-track EP, 'Hold the Mash' earlier this month, marking the 2024 WRC Video Of The Year Award winner's first release since their 2023 debut album 'Jukebox Gypsies'. Arriving on stage to Robert Johnson's 'Come On In My Kitchen', the colourful outfit comprised vision in red vocalist Megan Kane, with her other half Dylan Turner on drums, as well as Alex Bender and Will Tipton on guitars, plus the tight rhythm section of Bo Howard on bass and Eric Safka on keys.

They opened their forty minute set with the first two tracks from the new EP, 'Make It' and 'Glass Eyes Cryin', before dipping back into their debut album and 'Good Time Gone Away', featuring an outstanding vocal from Kane. "Good evening London" warmly welcomed a beaming Megan, now with a guitar in her hand, as the band launched into 'Throwin' Stones', another from 'Jukebox Gypsies', with the dual guitar attack of the leopard skinned shirted Bender and white pinstripe jacketed Tipton, nicely complementing each other with superb solos on this Psychedelic highlight.

The gum chewing Kane demanded that we "Make some noise" on their latest EP single, 'The Healer', which we sure did, featuring a cool keys solo from Safka on his Nordstrom 63, before Megan asked whether any of the audience had seen them before? Cue their second EP single, the rockin' 'Novocaine', showcasing the pounding drums of the top hatted Turner, plus Howard, who couldn't help himself adding his sign of the horns to his impressive bass playing. Indeed, testament not only to why many had returned to see them again, but also why so many would be back in the future, based on this excellent support slot.

The only disappointment was the exclusion of their WRC Award winning 'Don't Tell Mama', giving they had played it on previous legs of this tour. But hey, their closer from their debut album 'Count Your Dollars' more than made up for it, and in fact was very apt given the deserved queue, sorry line, at their merchandise stall after their set. Indeed, it was great to catch up with Dylan in the break, who was also very sadly missing his dear old dog back in the States, although we are already looking forward to the sextet's return next July at Ebbw Vale's Steelhouse. Lechyd Da!

Meanwhile, Canadian rockers The Damn Truth, having released their latest self-titled album in March, were also nominated in our 2024 WRC Awards as Best International Artist. Consisting of Lee-la Baum (vocals, guitar), Tom Shemer (lead guitar), PY Letellier (bass) and Dave Traina (drums), they have extensively toured the UK and Europe for the last four years, as well as opening tours for ZZ Top, Glenn Hughes and Rival Sons, and performing at festivals such as Winterstorm, Steelhouse and Planet Rockstock.

Unlike Parker Barrow, I've been lucky enough to witness The Damn Truth before, supporting both King King and Glenn Hughes, but never as a headliner. Traditionally making their way on to the stage to Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit', they kicked off their ninety minute set with five in a row from their new album, immediately igniting this underground venue with their single, 'Be Somebody'. 'Killer Whale', their second single 'Love Outta Luck' and sixth single 'Addicted', then all followed in the same vein. Showing no let up, this fearsome opening bunch of fives ended with their third single 'The Willow', and an amazing soaring vocal from Lee-la that continues to draw understandable comparisons with the influence of both Grace Slick and Janis Joplin.

Now it was time for us to put our hands in the air to the opening track from their 2021 album 'Now Or Nowhere' and 'This Is Who We Are Now'. Cue the green psychedelic jacketed Letellier, unable to contain himself, dancing across the stage, given the adrenalin rush of power chords and a solo to boot from the red suited Shemer, as well as some impressive fast machine gun drumming from Traina, Next, it was back to the new album and their hell yeah, rabble rousing fifth single 'All Night Long', a full-throttle Rock and Roll banger, with a real Wolfmother vibe, nicely paced by the engine room of Letellier and Traina, complemented by some further audience clapping as well as another searing solo from Shemer.

Baum, wearing a cute leopard print cat ears headband, then grabbed her guitar before a roaring vocal on their punchy first single 'Just Gotta Let You Know', with the delighted crowd clapping along again. The last one to be played tonight from the new album, the slower 'If I Don’t Make It Home', was touchingly dedicated to all their growing UK followers, which included some delicious slide guitar work from Shemer.

We were now slap bang in Gospel territory with the amazing 'Lonely', that saw Lee-la preaching to her attentive congregation, "You're gonna sing of course?", which we duly did, although at the same time reinforcing her message with "Sisters, Brothers, can you hear me, feel me? Yeah!" Great fun. As was another from 'Now Or Nowhere' and 'Only Love', which included a exceptional drum solo from Traina, that began with a power ballad tempo, only to turn into an insanely catchy power Pop rocker with some superb jangling riffs.

For the romantics in the audience, poignantly introduced by Lee-la about her other half and guitarist Tom, the aptly slower 'Look Innocent', again from 'Now Or Nowhere', was followed by the first track of the evening from 2016's 'Devilish Folk', namely 'Get With You'. With Baum inviting everyone to come and say hello at the their merch stand afterwards, she duly picked up her guitar for this bouncy classic, that also gave Shemer an opportunity to say a few words to the cheering, delighted, head banging gathering.

For the final time tonight, it was back to 'Now Or Nowhere' for the set closer, 'Tomorrow', boasting an opening guitar riff from Tom that was more than a little reminiscent of Guns N’ Roses, before they returned for a fully deserved encore, rockin' out to the anthemic title track from their album 'Devilish Folk'. Awesome.

Make sure that you check out these guys when they return next year to support Europe's 40th Anniversary 'The Final Countdown Tour' on Saturday 3rd October at London's Eventim Apollo.

This really is The Damn Truth!

Review: AJ
Photos: Bruce Biege