Review: Ten Benson, The Golden Lion

On paper a bellicose country rock band, a rock n roll band that cosmically merges Hendrix with the Stooges; and a pummelling, riffing (yet totally groovy) primeval rock group shouldn’t work as a bill; but anyone in the packed crowd at the Golden Lion would testify that it worked like a charm. And all for five of your English pounds.

First up were the Montgomerys, who are about to unleash their debut long player Alligator Joyride. The four piece play country rock, but country rock that would scare the crap out of your average Eagles fan – high energy, packed with an equal amount of riffs & melody all topped off with some sublime harmonies. (If you think the Eagles comment was pure hyperbole cast yer peepers over this). Sure there’s plenty of country in there – the twang of the solos, the rhythms and harmonies; but there’s a generous dollop of rock n roll too, and it’s loud and aggressive without being confrontational. The guitars of Sam Montgomery and Philo Montgomery weave in and out of the songs; stinging leads with ballsy British rhythm guitar to offset the country twang. Thomas Montgomery supplied supple bass and harmony vox, meanwhile KO Montgomery laid down a pummeling beat, headbanging as if he were auditioning for Slayer. The crowd pleasing set and eclecticism of the material saw a couple jiving like it was 1959 whilst surrounded by head bangers, perfectly illustrating the genre busting appeal of the band.

Dapper Dan Clibery and permagrinning spring-heeled bassist Guy Fowler are the rhythm section of the John E Vistic Rock n Roll SoundSystem. Their job is simple: Clibert lays down a thunderous rolling backbeat (somehow managing to pummel the kit but with delicacy & finesse) whilst Fowler takes up an Andy Fraser like role providing supple bass runs that also drive the tunes, filling the space normally occupied a rhythm guitar player. This frees the Long Tall V to riff and solo like a one man guitar army. Jupiter Godamn is the second tune up – a bravura move given the epic nature of the song (and it really soared this time) but a sublime Ain’t No Use in Cryin’ ended up stealing the set. Word on the street is there’s a new recording soon come (a song “probably” called Cain and Able made the set) and with Vistic on this form it’s gonna be a headfuck.

If memory serves the last time Ten Benson played Bristol they blew the Darkness off the stage at the Fleece. The band have had a bit of a hiatus of late so it’s a coup for the Golden Lion to have ‘em on stage and oh boy it’s great to have them back. It’s a dynamic show, crunching simplistic riffs pounded out over a zombie disco beat; but the songs aren’t simple; rather they’re beautifully constructed tunes that remind you what originally made rock n roll so exciting and transgressive. There’s a pulse through their music that originates with Little Richard powers through the Stooges and lands somewhere between AC/DC and Motörhead. Like the latter pair, Ten Benson have a sly line in lyrics that are at times smutty and ostensibly low brow but are hilariously entertaining and actually rather clever.

Robot Tourist is an early highlight but he band really hit their stride with the double whammy of Rock Cottage and Raggedy Man, Glitter Band beats with gonzo guitar that saw the crowd kicking off in a Bacchanalian revel albeit fuelled by cider rather than wine. There’s no let-up in the relentless set, no prisoners taken and concluding with Mud Man and Tits the band leave the crowd baying for more. A sngle encore provides an opportunity for a final frenzy in the room and then the band are gone – a dozen songs of ball busting crunchiness leaving the crowd sweating and grinning.

The final words from the stage suggested that Ted Benson intend to return, and with rumours suggesting Vistic and the Montgomerys will be playing the Thunderbolt in April (with the added bonus of Mike Crawford and the Various Sorrows) you need to bookmark our listings and be sure to get in on the action next time round.

All pix by John Morgan