Golden Animals (California)/Velvet Texas Cannonball/The Rivers Presley Set
The stage was set like a gypsy’s den, plates with incense, flasks of water, amps with patterns embroidered on the front, a few guitars, some drums, and a man and woman dressed up like they just got off the time machine…, although it was unclear if they were coming from the past or the future. Linda, a tall lanky girl, sat down at the drums, sporting an outfit out of the 18th century, something sort of early American-French, ready to fight for independence. Tommy was on guitar, looking like a hippie rock and roll cowboy. Both had gold streaks across their cheeks, a reference to their band name, Golden Animals.
Throughout the show they rode a psychedelic groove from one song to the next. Linda pounded out rhythms and beats like her life depended on it, while at the same time providing back-up vocals and harmonies. She used every single piece of percussion on her set, from tom to cymbal, as the song dictated. She seemed lost inside the music, with eyes closed, feeling her way through it all. Tommy switched from one guitar to another during the set, not much of a talker, more of a rocker. He played and sang with vigor and soul, giving the audience his version of the blues. The songs jangled and crashed with ear-splitting volume, from verse to chorus to total rock frenzy and back down again to quieter waters.
Golden Animals were an experience. The smell of incense, the sheer wall of sound that attacked the senses, and these two rockers going at it really took the audience to a place out of time.
Support comes from Birmingham’s own Velvet Texas Cannonball! Birmingham’s top psych-out head show,with swirling hammond,
far out guitars and a front man born about 3 decades too late-
we challenge you not to groove.
‘off with the octopus promotions June 09′
Hailing from Birmingham, England and channeling bluesmen infinitely older than his 22 years, Rivers Presley’s music echoes the demons of Son House & Model T Ford if they were bought up on a diet of Biffy Clyro and Black Keys.
Joined on stage by drummer Thomas Henry their live presence switches between swollen slide guitar licks and pin drop silences which leave crowds staggered. Recent devotees Black Diamond Heavies, after catching The Rivers Presley Set live on a trip to the UK, were so impressed that they asked the guys to join them on the US leg of their tour.
The band are all set to release their debut single this summer and are currently playing a string of dates around the UK.
