A band whose stock is rising is Kira Mac. The result of relentless touring, the quintet is now a polished outfit. Plenty of punters sporting their t-shirts in Chepstow Castle on a night with Warner E. Hodges Band, The Philo Beddoe Band and Cardinal Black indicates their popularity.
Kira Mac
Chepstow Castle – 24 August 2023
Words and Photography: Paul Hutchings
Their debut album, Chaos Is Calling, received high acclaim amongst the classic rock world, a bluesy, soulful record with a hard rock underbelly. They’ve toured everywhere, with everyone, and as a result, are incredibly tight.
It’s a far cry from that show up the mountain at Steelhouse 2022, where they recovered rather magnificently after horrendous technical difficulties. 
They kick off with No Way Out, but for some reason, the crowd isn’t as vibrant as one might expect. There’s plenty of movement on stage, with Rhiannon Hill infected with St Vitus Dance, as she is rightly unable to stand still for a second.
She’s a whirlwind around the stage, although, at times, she still seems a little overwhelmed with things. It may be unsurprising. This is a band that has come a long way in a short space of time. 
Chaos Is Calling gets things pumping, a tune that is a real earworm, whilst Play The Game also lingers deep in the memory. Mention the band’s name, and it’s these two that immediately come to mind.
Between songs, Hill has developed her patter nicely, although unsurprisingly, I hear virtually the same words the following night at Stonedead Festival. But that’s part of the art of a frontwoman, and she is now much more confident in her interactions. 
Drummer Max Rhead keeps things steady whilst the band’s other outfield players, bassist Bret Barnes and guitarists Alex Novakovic and Joe Worrall, are always moving. Barnes is a blur, his long hair, bullet belt and Rickenbaker making a fine image. 
It may be a bit flat in the crowd, for reasons unknown, but Kira Mac put in the effort, and with a couple of singalongs encouraged, by the time One Way Ticket rounds things off, this is another show to tick off with a positive finale.
The band promise new music soon, which will provide the next chapter in a journey that shows no signs of slowing.
