Kiefer Sutherland, together with his band, played a night of great music at London’s superb Union Chapel. It was both new and not-so-new music, with some interesting surprises thrown in for good measure. This is certainly no vanity project.
Kiefer Sutherland
Union Chapel, London – 12 May 2026
Words: Bogdan Bele
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
But let us clarify one thing first. There is nothing more annoying than an actor with a bad vanity musical project, thinking that, if they can act, they can also sing, write music and perform. Kiefer Sutherland is the exact opposite of this.
He has three very good records under his belt, with a fourth one on the way and, judging by what we heard tonight, that fourth one will not be too far off, either. His music walks a very fine line between country, Americana, rock, and sometimes even blues.
On top of that, the man is a very good live performer.
I discovered his music by pure chance several years ago. I always liked his acting and enjoyed seeing him in 24 or Designated Survivor in later years.
But hearing Kiefer sing Not Enough Whisky in his gravelly voice certainly piqued my interest. I dug deeper, and I was very pleasantly impressed with what I found.
Funnily enough, the first time I saw him live was also, if memory serves, my last gig before COVID closed everything. I have seen several Kiefer Sutherland shows since, in smaller and bigger venues, but never in a church.
I will give you a fun fact, though. This is not the first time I have covered a gig at a church for MetalTalk. Empyre was first. With that, let us get back to tonight’s performance.
At precisely the expected time, Kiefer, wearing a dark suit, cowboy hat and white boots, takes to the stage and wastes no time getting straight into the new record. Love Will Bring You Home is the name of the tour, Grey is the new album set to arrive at the end of this month.
So why not start with a new one? Down Below is the title of the new track, and it is enough to show that the actor/musician is in fine form tonight.
The first surprise does not take long to show up, as they head straight into an unexpected and energetic cover of the Garbage song Only Happy When It Rains, which sounds fantastic. It is followed by Goodbye California, the second single from the new record, a song with a definite ’70s feel, reminding me a little of Tom Petty’s songwriting.
It is a track that, as Kiefer explains, discusses his feelings as he was moving away from California, the place that made a young man’s dreams come true. This song truly shows off the singer/actor’s character-filled, lived-in voice.
Those hints of whiskey and cigarettes, as well as his phrasing, are, to me at least, part of what makes him such an interesting performer. That is not the only instance in which he discusses what inspired the writing or selection of a song, as storytelling plays an important part in the proceedings.
The set moves on to an older song and one of my personal favourites, Something You Love. Before getting into it, Sutherland says that, while not one to tell people how to live, this country rock track includes the only advice he would give: that life is too short not to do something you love.
Judging by his live performances, he has most certainly found what that something is.
The set carries on, with the new album represented consistently. Come Back Down, which its writer deems favourite, is a beautiful, slow country bit that truly shines in the church acoustics. He does mention that, while songs are like one’s children and you should not have favourites, you inevitably do.
Others from the new album, like the snappier Ole’ Lonely Life or the poignant American Farmer, describing the plight of those working the land in this age, might also bid for that title.
Throughout the night, the band behind Sutherland truly shines. One might recognise some of them from the UK scene, including guitarist Ash Wilson, drummer Phil Wilson or bassist Roger Inniss from the Wilson Brothers (or Sari Schorr’s band), as well as CJ Hillman on guitar and pedal steel (collaborator of Billy Bragg, among others).
There are enough moments where the musicians are allowed to express themselves. This definitely looks like a proper band. One of these is the excellent cover of Marshall Tucker Band song Can’t You See, with some excellent guitar work.
It is interesting how the songs in the set keep growing in intensity, whether they are new or old. At one point, it does feel like the setting suits the softer tracks better than the more rocking ones, but that impression fades quickly.
We get tracks about a Simpler Time (the new record’s first, upbeat single), about growing up in a time of no cellphones, but the most intense part comes towards the end.
Two Stepping In Time gets some of the crowd dancing, and this only intensifies during honky tonk country anthem This Is How It’s Done.
Sutherland no longer plays guitar as he gets into the bluesy Down In A Hole, where his voice sounds excellently raspy, and the excellent drumming shakes the congregation (I could not help this one) to the ground.
The party ends in the same vein with Friday Night and Agave, but they come back for an encore of a somewhat meditative cover of Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight and Starlight off the future record, which turns into a jam session with some great solo work by Ash Wilson.
All in all, a great night with great musicians. And no vanity project, that is for sure.
Colin Andrew
Opening tonight’s proceedings is Irishman Colin Andrew. As he lives in London, this is a hometown show for him. His songs, in voice and guitar only, sound excellent in the acoustics of the location. He has a great voice, and he fits the mission perfectly.
One of the highlights is the folk song Go, Lassie, Go, dedicated to the family that is over to see him at this gig, sung by pretty much everyone in the room. He is joined by fellow Irishman Mike Hogan on guitar for a few songs, the latter saying that if Colin’s merch does not sell out, Kiefer Sutherland will not be playing. Looks like it did, after all.
