Troy Redfern/The Flying Symbols -
Cambridge Junction, Monday 24th June, 2024
Set List: Silent Killer/On My Own/Invisible Dots/Rock Star/Make Your Way/Till I Die/Awake, Nightmare/ Piglet/Veins/Playin’ Hideaway/Ain’t Gonna Tell You Twice.
Before the hotshot guitar gunslinger took to the stage with musicians, Keira Kenworthy (Bass) and Nicky Waters (Drums and 101 Guitars), we were hugely entertained by Saffron Walden’s finest in the shape of The Flying Symbols. They didn’t just treat us to their brand of Rock; they also displayed a varied display of hairstyles and facial hair! This helped enormously when it came to identifying each member!
The Symbols crashed onto the stage and immediately started to deliver the goods with a fully charged display. Pete (Joker) Cornell, singer, bald! Is a very energetic frontman, he rarely stops moving, has a strong voice and provides plenty of shapes for my camera.
John (Papa Smurf) Clements on bass could not look more different with his huge beard and long hair, his statuesque presence helps give another focal point. Joe (the professor) Boutel provides the guitar shapes, with his Motorhead T shirt and neatly cut hair. Then last but by no means least we have Mat (Animal) Drewing on drums, he hits them hard, his short-cropped hair remaining steadfastly still in the process.
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Sound wise they seemed to have a punk edge, which is mixed with a bit of psychedelia. As soon as ‘Silent Killer’ blasted from the stage I knew we were in for a treat. Cornell has a magnetic presence and he would go on to dominate the stage, he crouched, he rolled, he even did press – ups. As the set progressed, I became more and impressed, especially with Boutel’s expressive and expansive playing.
The Flying Symbols are not expecting to be huge stars, they are on stage and making music for the joy of it. That joy translates from the stage to anyone attending. This ability to connect with a crowd will earn them many fans.
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If you have the chance to catch them live do yourselves a favour and listen to their debut album ‘On Our Own’ first. Highlights of the gig were, ‘Veins’ which has a Southern Country Rock feel and features the whole band stretching out. New song ‘Ain’t Gonna Tell You Twice’ captures that punky feel mixed with the pub rock of Dr Feelgood.
Set List: All Night Long/Get Away/Van Helsing/Take Me High/Fever/The Calling/ Native/Ghosts/Sweet Carolina/Come On, Down/Voodoo Priestess/Dark Religion/ Waiting For Your Love/Sanctify.
As soon as our guitar gunslinging axe man hit the stage he was reeling off the licks. First up tonight was ‘All Night Long’ from his recently released ‘Invocation’ album, which was incidentally reviewed by me.
Troy has a great image all hair, hat and beads, he swirls, twirls and sprays out notes quicker than a graffiti artist can spray paint a wall! Each song was played with fluid dexterity accompanied by his vibrant vocals. As one song ended Troy would check his setlist before loading a different weapon to launch another virtuoso attack.
He was ably backed by Keira, who is a busy girl, playing in three bands of her own. She to swirls and twirls as her bass along with the drums of Nicky Waters provide the rhythmic platform for Troy to embellish. ‘Get Away’ and ‘Van Helsing, come next as the whole of ‘Invocation’ gets played.
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Troy is not a particularly communicative frontman, he introduces the songs then plays with wizardry prowess as his fingers blend and bend into the strings of his chosen guitar. He definitely becomes one with his instrument.
As more songs are played, we get a black one, (he returns to this frequently) a red one a blue one, a cream one and a white one, each song is fused together by the sheer versatility and quality of his playing. Troy is an enigmatic figure as beguiling as a wild west hero, from the hand of director Serge Leone and his spaghetti westerns.
‘The Fever’ gets the crowd hot and sweaty, by now Troy has demonstrated his slide guitar credentials which leave us standing in open mouthed wonderment. His previous album ‘Wings Of Salvation is also exploited (again reviewed by yours truly) ‘Sweet Carolina’ and ‘Come On’ get well received airings. Troy digs a bit deeper into his past with ‘Waiting For Your Love’ from his ‘The Fire Cosmic’ release from 2021.
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Redfern is a must see, a man who is red hot at the moment, he is burning, his guitars smoulder with heat, you will not see many more hi octane performers.
Like all good things they rapidly reach their conclusion, tonight at the Junction the final song is ‘Sanctify’ which sees our hero pouring his heart and soul into an extended version of the song, which is both captivating and mesmerising. Then as the lost vestiges of a note fades away the lights come on! Troy Redfern has like magic disappeared and then suddenly reappears at his merchandise desk.
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It was a climatic showstopping end, though veiled in slight disappointment as there was no encore. That didn’t stop my wife joining the queue to purchase a handmade bracelet. If only Troy had mentioned he needed someone on the desk, she would have worked her magic and sold stuff throughout the show.
By Paul Mace