The Karma Effect/Silveroller/Damp Matches –
Portland Arms, Cambridge Wednesday 9th April, 2025
The Portland Arms can only be described as a grassroots venue. It is small and compact; it should be perfect for the bands playing tonight from a punter’s perspective. Let’s get ready to ROCK
Setlist: Sin/Parasite/Honey/3’s/Lyli/Tantrum/Choke/Milky.
First up are the Damp Matches who make the 60-mile journey from Norwich. They give it their best shot as they fire off an aggressive brand of Punk Rock. I feel they struggle from the off, largely because of what is to follow. I mean Silveroller are pure old school Blues Rock like Bad Company and the headliners Karma Effect are Dirty Honey meets Aerosmith. Quite where they fit in musically with what is coming after them, I don’t know.
Out front and centre is powerhouse vocalist, Helena Lewis. She has stacks of attitude and energy, lack of space prevents her from being as demonstrative as she would normally be. On pink guitar we have Dom Clarke who rips out the riffs alongside Steven Spires. Bassist, Will Calvert adds throbbing Hip Hop beats with Lee Jaggard on the drum stool, together they provide the oomph which gives the band a clear identity.
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They are quite visceral as they deliver via edgy songs about modern issues. For example, ‘Sweet Nothing’ is about struggling with substance abuse. I will see them again, but tonight is all about exposure, whether being part of this bill helped them make an impact I am not sure, it doesn’t matter.
They are creating a noise of their own and are sure to become a significant attraction. The songs are short and sharp without clutter but plenty of fire, something you don’t get usually from damp matches.
Setlist: Other Side/Trouble/Nobody’s/Black Crow/Come On, Come In/Hold.
Silveroller are a group I have seen twice previously and I am really looking forward to seeing Jonnie Hodson pull out all his Paul Rogers / David Coverdale poses. More importantly I want to hear his Blues drenched vocals which bring back the feel of the early 70’s when everything was Free and you never kept Bad Company.
Just prior to starting I realise that Silveroller have undergone major line-up changes. Whether that will be for better or worse, only time will tell. Rebuilding a band that were really getting noticed and, on the way, up can never be easy. The 3 departures must have been a massive blow. Well done to Jonnie and Joe for keeping it all rolling. The ‘At Dawn’ EP, was, amazing, breath-taking even, it is surely time for a full album.
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How did it go at the Portland Arms? With not much room to move Hodson was the focal point as ‘Other Side’ transports us back to flares and flamboyant attire. Hodson immediately in his stride with his magnificent mane. We have to wait until the 4th song before something from else is played from At Dawn, that is in the shape of the superb ‘Black Crow’.
For me that is a mistake and the gig loses momentum. All the musicians play their part but it really feels like a new beginning. ‘Come On, Come In’ helps regain familiarity, but now we have reached the final song of a way to short set. ‘Hold’ closes things with pulsating power, but as we reach the finish line I am left wanting more, much more.
I don’t know how this tour came about but I think retro rockers, Silveroller needed longer to introduce the new members, like a quick one night stand it is over before it has begun. The addition of Damp Matches added nothing and to my mind was to the detriment of Silveroller who struggled to impose the personality of the band in such a short space of time.
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I can’t wait for the next time when I am sure it will all ‘Turn To Gold’!
From the moment The Karma Effect take to the stage the Portland Arms is transformed and transfixed their brand of Hard Rock taking the roof off! The music, their image reflects exactly who they are, they are a group going up into the stratosphere!
As the set opener begins, we know for sure that we are ‘Livin’ It Up’! Frontman, Henry Gottelier has the voice the moves the grooves and hat, with an image that draws from the Rock gods like Steve Tyler, his dual guitar work with Robbie Blake is off the scale. Robbie Blake is the perfect poser, pulling shapes, faces and propelling everything forward with monstrous riffs and a continuous unending momentum.
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Ash Powell (Drums) & Bassist, Liam Quinn provide an insatiable rhythmic platform that is embellished with Seb Emmin’s keys. All the members exude presence and charisma which is topped off by their ability.
The set draws heavily from sophomore album, 'Promised Land' as you would expect, it being an album that signifies that it is party time. Henry tells us that as they are now under new management and have a new record label, they are fortunate to be reissuing their debut with extra tracks and new production. I can only ‘Testify’ that this will be magnificent. The conviction and lung busting voice of Henry is both compelling and earth shattering. He is in no doubt that we are all heading for the promised land.
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‘See You Again’ creates a funky infectious vibe that makes you dance and shake your head. ‘Be My Salvation’ let’s the pace drop, but maintains the energy, it’s something we all need, I mean a rest and some salvation. Moving on to ‘Stand’ which has an amazingly beautiful keyboard intro, the song is clearly a fan favourite and is an epic example of restraint, it gives all the chance to shine via its depth and feel.
I really need what comes next, let me have some ‘Wild Honey’, it is another groove infused number. We are approaching the final straight, let’s hit ‘The Promised Land’! Which is exactly where The Karma Effect are going. The gig has flashed by and all good things have to end, but not before they ‘Steal Your Heart’.
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What more can you ask for than an evening of Rock for £17? I must give guitarist extraordinaire Robbie Blake some special thanks for keeping my lens busy and making me stay focussed. The Karma Effect have it all, check them out live! You won’t be disappointed.
By Paul Mace