Live Review : Myke Gray + Ashen Reach @ Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on July 24th 2022

It’s hard to imagine sometimes exactly where the last 30 years have gone isn’t it? If we think back to those days, say every time we listen to Planet Rock, it immediately transports you back through time and the music we listened to, or probably still listen to, and how it has woven in and out of our lives through the good, the bad and the indifferent times.

One man whose music has certainly influenced many a person over those years is Myke Gray. As a fledgling virtuoso guitarist he was signed by Rod Smallwood and Jagged Edge was born. There probably aren’t many music fans that have never heard of Skin either- The band he formed almost immediately afterwards. That self-titled first album- a great high energetic melodic slice of British rock is destined to sit forever in the echelons of music history and has imprinted itself upon the masses helping to shape a million bands since. Tonight we are fortunate to bear witness to the end of the road for Myke and celebrate all the music of the man as he takes his first steps into musical retirement and hopefully a long and happy life ahead in Florida.

Mykestock has been the theme for the weekend’s celebratory gigs –and with performances at KK’s Steel Mill and Leo’s in Gravesend, the Waterloo Bar, here in Blackpool is the venue for Myke’s final club performance; and what a place to put it on. This is probably one of the best venues for live music across Lancashire and beyond by a country mile. ‘Small venue-massive attitude’ is the quote on the T shirts and not many would disagree- it’s a place where the bands and artists mix freely with the punters; a friendly relaxed vibe, and also a place where you are guaranteed to find a fantastic array of artists past and present gracing the boards.

So; the perfect place for those final goodbyes then? Well yes it is, and to kick things off with a bang on this Sunday evening are Ashen Reach who are about to knock you for six. Opening track ‘Fighting for My Life’ gets your attention right from the off, immediately creating an impact with their blend of powerful heavy rock and melodic metal. With not being far from home, there’s plenty of vocal support in early doors for the Liverpudlian 5 piece. They’re instantly likeable and there’s no let up as they tear straight into ‘Epiphany’. Singer Kyle Stanley works the crowd brilliantly; introducing the growly detuned ‘Heir to The Throne’, encouraging the crowd to jump about and go crazy. Possessing a great set of pipes, he gives a strong confident performance and it’s great to see the band being so well received. It's a Wembley stadium performance crammed into a pub, and the guys are nailing it. Their debut album “Homecoming” has created quite a stir and has received some excellent reviews. They seemed to have managed to put this melting pot together with lots of their influences- some of which you’d never know, along with some more obvious ones, and what comes out are modern melodic masterpieces trapped somewhere between rock and metal. You can hear that beautiful guitar work of Judas Priest or Mark Tremonti shining through in every song from Paddy Cummins and Joe O’Sullivan and there’s certainly more than a passing nod in the direction of Dio and Myles Kennedy vocally, yet they manage to furiously wave their flag of independence- and they are good. With songs like ‘Prey’, and the lighters in the air moment for the lovely textured ballad ‘Here I Go’, to ‘Hole in the Sky’, it’s an enjoyable start to the night with plenty of light and shade and textured guitar work held together beautifully by the talents of drummer Jess Stanley and bassist Mike McCarroll. It’s not long before the final song of the 7 is played out- the thunderously haunting title track ‘Homecoming’. Reminiscent perhaps of Alter Bridge’s ‘Blackbird’ but what a tune- with its subtle intro building into some stunning guitar work, it’s a perfect crescendo to a performance that will surely see the band riding the musical rollercoaster to bigger and better things. There’s a wonderful breed of bands hitting the scene at the moment under the NWOCR banner and these are definitely a band to watch out for.

Speaking of rollercoasters, we may be in Blackpool and the home to the ‘Big One’ but tonight that rollercoaster ride belongs firmly on the stage of the Waterloo Bar, and after the explosive start to the final Mykestock gig it was now a case of take a piss, grab a beer and get yourselves strapped in, and hold on as we’re off on a 2 hour ride back through time visiting the dips and highs of Myke’s 30 year career farewell celebrations.

‘Stand up For Rock and Roll’ kicks the evening off with a bang. The powerful ‘Red White and Blues’ track is the perfect opener and sets the tone for the evening, grabbing you by the throat, pinning you to the wall and holding you powerless as the journey through the extensive back catalogue of Jagged Edge, Skin, Red White and Blues, Shades of Gray and Schizm begins. Skin's ‘Money’ carries it on with a loud cheer from the burgeoning masses worshipping at the temple of Gray. Singer Dan Byrne is on fire and the Revival Black frontman is a superb choice for singing Mykes’ songs. ‘Tear it up Louder’ does exactly that, another balls out rocker from the Shades of Gray era- and the mood is firmly set for the evening now. There’s a rising heat in the crowd, the band are tighter than a nun’s proverbial and hell bent on raising the roof as high as it can possibly get.

The first Jagged Edge song of the evening is rolled out in the shape of ‘Trouble’ before another Skin fave, the anthemia sing-along of ‘House of Love’ quickly follows then it’s back to a double dose of “Fuel for Your Soul” in the form of ‘Out in The Cold’ and ‘You Don't Love Me’. The place is banging, Myke is as entertaining as always, pulling shapes, flinging his flying Vee in every direction, sweat pouring off his head. Dressed in his rather natty black and white outfit he grins like a Cheshire cat and rightly so. He commands the stage and scans the audience like a sergeant major making sure people are doing what they have come here to do- enjoy the gig and have a great time. It’s a party up there and with the vibration and energy resonating throughout the packed venue it’s a joy to feel. He’s put a top class band around him and his playing is meticulous throughout.

You never forget just what a great time the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s where for music lovers of a certain age- the amount of class that the UK had out at that time on the rock and metal scene was more than enough to compete with anything coming over the pond and band’s like Jagged Edge and then Skin were so pivotal in that. Both their debut albums are featured heavily this evening and for a good reason- they are excellent and have stood the test of time resolutely. Hands are thrown into the air and fists are pumped for Skin's ‘Raised on Radio’ segued with ‘Nightsong’ keeping the tempo up at banging level. We’re turning up the heat up further and it’s getting hot! ‘Rescue Me’ from the Red White and Blues album “Shine” merges into Skin’s ‘Stronger’ before the mood changes and Dan Byrne absolutely smashes the stunning Red White and Blues banger ‘Counts for Nothing’ leaving him visibly emotional at the end. ‘Let It Shine’, ‘Spit on You’ and ‘Soul’ are fired out keeping us on our toes and singing voices finely tuned before it’s time for the song that virtually everyone had been waiting for-the anthemia monster of ‘Look But Don’t Touch’. With much singing we do our best to lift that roof off and after a brief pause and a few bars of ‘Colourblind’ we’re led into ‘Take Me Down To the River’ and yet another chant-tastic Skin banger. It’s a double whammy of ‘Tower of Strength’ and ‘Shine Your Light’ that ends the set with rapturous and thoroughly deserved applause and cheers.

You have to give Dan the man even more credit than just delivering an absolute stonking vocal though - in 3 days this dude has sung nigh on 75 songs- how many singers would anyone know that could manage this? Not bloody many! We had a feeling it could be a long night, and of course it simply had to be so no one was going anywhere just yet. The encores kick off with ‘This Is How We Rock n Roll’ and with its Motorheady feel it runs into Skin’s ‘Born to Rock and Roll’. It’s a great track with its big bouncing hooks. A poignant speech from Myke follows. It’s only fitting that he says what he needs to, it’s emotional just listening as he ends a huge chapter of his life- going through the perils of the music business before thanking his band and crew who are like family to him. A huge cheer rises and then we’re off yet again this time in the shape of Red White and Blues; a majestic southern rock type foot stomper that surely signals it’s the last number? Nope, the acoustic guitar comes out as Colin Parkinson, Glenn Quinn and Neil Ogden leave the stage.  Dedicating the stripped back ‘Wings of an Angel’ to the memory of his late sister, its beauty resonates through the hushed crowd.  ‘Fuel for Your Soul’ takes you back for the final time to the poodle perm days of the Jagged Edge album then the boys trudge back on and we’re hit for six and given the chance to dad dance once again with another round of bangers in ‘I Get Up’ and ‘Perfect Day’ before the song to finally end the evening is the old EMF tune ‘Unbelieveable’ from Skin’s covers album. The place erupts, pogoing like nut jobs, and then band takes their bow.

To say it’s been a superb gig is somewhat an understatement, I hope that someone has recorded this for a future live release, it would be rather rude not to, and with his final appearance due at Steelhouse Festival this coming weekend, it’s hard to imagine a musical world without Myke Gray, and if ever he changes his mind, I’m pretty sure there will still be an audience waiting……