In the heart of the Welsh valleys there appears to be a clash tonight with a certain football match. I am never sure about the overlap between football and rock music, but there was only one winner for me this evening and that the pairing of Preacher Stone with Tom Killner.
Preacher Stone – Tom Killner
The Patriot, Crumlin – 14 July 2024
Words And Photography: Paul Hutchings
It’s only a couple of weeks since I spoke with 4/5ths of Preacher Stone about their tour and their recent release, V. Three weeks later and the band are in the UK, having stirred up the Louisiana in Bristol the night before on the first show of this short visit.
Tonight, they are accompanied by Tom Killner, the 27-year-old Englishman and band who straddle those lines between blues, southern rock, country and Americana. Having released his first album, Hard Road, almost nine years ago, he is already road-hardened despite his tender age. 
Preacher Stone
As a co-headline tour, I assumed the guys would switch each night, but no, it was the band from North Carolina that hit the stage first. A couple of tweaks, a group fist pump and we are off. The audience may be small, but from the start, they are in good voice, with many familiar with Preacher Stone’s music. It’s hypnotic stuff, with a setlist unsurprisingly drawn heavily from the latest album, as they promised during our recent interview. 
They ease into the hour-long set, with the opening three tracks from V. It Ain’t As Easy As It Looks, My, My, My and Hard Life PHD certainly get the room nodding along, vocalist Ronnie Riddle’s whiskey-soaked growl conjuring images of hot summer nights with a cold beer in hand.
It’s a stellar performance, with the band cohesive and fluid. Behind the kit, drummer Yoshi Wyatt combines his blinged-up appearance with a masterclass. Flicks, fills, rolls, and, at times, powerhouse blasts are all in his arsenal and used to great effect.
His brief solo before Dance With The Devil allows him a couple of minutes to showcase his quality, and as drum solos go, it was up there.
New boy Nick Nguyen, now firmly ensconced in the bosom of Preacher Stone and filling the boots of sadly missed founder Marty Hill, shows some razor-sharp guitar work—trading solos with Ben Robinson as they flank the stage.
They are conducted throughout by Riddle, who tends to leave the trio of Robinson, Nguyen and bassist Jim Bolt to do most of the heavy lifting when he is not singing. But when he does, the room pays attention.
Whether it be the introduction to the band’s anthem Not Today, featured in two series of Sons Of Anarchy and a shoo-in for any setlist, or the blistering finish of Horse To Water, Remedy and Day Late, Riddle is a compelling frontman who leads from the front whilst providing the three instrumental companions’ space. 
Clearly enjoying themselves, the set races by. There are grins, smiles, and cheers. And that’s the audience. On stage, it is evident that the quintet is in their element. This is what they do, and they do it so well.
Gracious, humble, and welcoming, their set is soon over and a small swirl of fans head for the merchandise stand. A return visit to The Patriot is planned already. I for one cannot wait. 
Tom Killner
Preacher Stone is a tough act to follow, but Yorkshireman Tom Killner is up to the task. His sound may be drawn from the same part of the world as Preacher Stone, albeit with a slightly lighter edge than his tour buddies, but the rich keyboards that are included in his band’s instruments add a pleasing layer to the band’s overall sound. 
The crowd may have thinned ever so slightly, but those who make the right decision and remain in the venue are treated to another hour of quality.
Killner draws heavily from his latest album, Borrowed Time, released in April, and over 12 songs show exactly why he makes the ideal ying to Stone’s yang. A heavier reliance on Americana and country allows him to slow things down a little, although there is still plenty of heft to the songs.
Cosmic Sounds and Devil’s Gate are strong openers, and book ends with the vibrancy of set closers Light iIt Up and Borrowed Time, which really see the band kicking out the jams.
In between this, we get a glorious spread of songs showcasing the soulful blues that Killner and his excellent band bring to the party. There are singalongs, clapping, and even the odd shuffling dance as the infectious groove gets under the skin.
It’s a delicious way to spend a Sunday evening, and one can only feel sorry for those who missed out. Smiles on stage and off, this is a double act to die for, such is the brilliance on offer.
If you get the chance, then don’t miss either band, for such excellence doesn’t come around that often.
