There won’t be many gigs where you get to hear country rock covers of Phil Collins and Garbage performed by a Hollywood superstar, but Kiefer Sutherland delivered all of this and more during that what was a gritty and heartfelt performance at KK’s Steel Mill. Now ten years into a musical endeavour that is definitely not simply a sideshow to his acting career, Sutherland has been touring Europe this past month in support of upcoming fourth album Grey, due for release on May 29th. Alongside the aforementioned covers, the 90 minute set showcased much of the new album along with half a dozen tunes from his back catalogue. And with Sutherland oozing charisma and charm and accompanied by a band band made up of well seasoned musicians, including bass player extraordinaire Roger Inniss, it was a top-notch evening all around.
Drawing inspiration from country, rock, americana and blues, Sutherland’s own material packs plenty of punch, typified by the opening ‘Down Below’ that was followed by a spiky cover of ‘Only Happy When It Rains’. Introducing the next song, the singer informed us he lived in LA for many years before embarking on a new chapter in his life, and ‘Goodbye California’ (from the new album) tells of his feelings about moving on. Highlighted by some superb pedal steel guitar, it made for a real highlight of the first half of the show. A more traditional cover was MTB’s ‘Can’t You See’, which inspired the first crowd sing-a-long of the evening, Sutherland and his band more than doing justice to the southern rock anthem.
With his world-weary voice suitably gritty on the rockier numbers, Sutherland also delivers on the ballads such as ‘Simpler Time’ and ‘American Farmer’, taking the audience on an engaging musical journey across rural America. With guitarist Ash Wilson and Sutherland trading licks and solos, the fiery pairing of ‘Down in a Hole’ and ‘Friday Night’ kept the party atmosphere in full flow and there was still time for a sedate and restrained version of ‘In the Air Tonight’ during the encore. Plainly loving his time front of stage, Sutherland left no one disappointed and, on tonight’s evidence , new album Grey will be well worth the wait.
Set list:-
Down Below
Only Happy When It Rains
Goodbye California
Something You Love
Come Back Down
Can’t You See
Ole’ Lonely Life
Chasing the Rain
American Farmer
Simpler Time
See You on the Other Side
Love Will Bring You Home
Two Stepping in Time
This Is How It’s Done
Down in a Hole
Friday Night
Agave
In the Air Tonight
Starlight
