Broken Witt Rebels – Water Rats, London – 2nd April 2016

The new EP, “Georgia Pine” by midlands band Broken Witt Rebels is a stunningly good release, and tonight was my chance to check the band out live and see if they could be as good live as they are on record.

I arrived in time to see part of the set of the preceeding band, Liberty ship, who sounded great and are definitely a band I’d be happy to see again. They’ve got some great catchy songs and go down very well.

Following that though it was time for Broken Witt Rebels.  They’ve drawn a good crowd – it’s not often I see this venue so full, and as soon as they start it’s clear why so many people have come down to see them – they’re just as good live as on record if not better.  The set tonight is a fairly even split between songs from the new EP, songs from the “Howlin” EP, and new songs.  The songs are all great, and the band are in great form.  Danny Core has a great voice and is a very good frontman. They’ve got such a great Southern rock vibe both musically and vocally that it’s only when he talks between the songs that you remember that they’re from Birmingham UK, not Birmingham, Alabama.

The new songs sound fantastic, and serve as a taster of things to come when they finish writing their debut album.  The rest of the set is great too – not a weak song among them.  Importantly the band have a good stage presence and look relaxed and confident despite having a dozen or so press photographers in front of them all night in addition to the rest of the crowd.

Broken Witt Rebels are proof that there is some amazing young musical talent around in the British rock scene, and I’m sure these guys are going to go a long way.

Setlist:

Low
Cloud my day
Howlin’
Come on over
God knows
Georgia Pine
Guns
Shake me down

Encore:
Queen bee

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About Ant May

I spend half my life at gigs or festivals and the other half writing the reviews and editing photos, and somehow find time for a full time job too. Who needs sleep - I've got coffee.