Ladies and gentlemen. Say it loud, rock ‘n’ roll is back, baby! Long hair, strutting vocals, big riffs, huge grooves and some fine psychedelic organ playing, the double bill of DeWolff and Silveroller has it all. This tour has been the chance to see two of the fastest-rising bands on the planet thrillingly up close and personal.
DeWolff – Silveroller
The Garage, Highbury – 18 April 2025
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Ryan Hildrew
There is no doubt that both deserve bigger stages. But there is an honesty and work ethic behind both outfits that has driven them to do things the hard way, building up fan bases and letting the music do the talking.
Whilst both bands certainly put on a show, this is not a case of all flash but no substance, with both the material and the sheer passion something that cannot be faked. Sweaty, dirty and joyous, this is what electricity was invented for.
Silveroller
First up, Liverpudlian scallywags Silveroller bring a bluesy rock storm that manages to blend the cream of the ’70s into one dynamic bundle. Fronted by Jonnie Hodson, the outfit tore into opener Other Side with an almost indecent vigour, grabbing the night by the scruff of its neck and forcing it to dance.
Impossible not to be entertained, the band know how to knock out a decent tune and Nobody’s Business glories in its cheeky and sly groove, with Black Crow sounding like prime Whitesnake before the hairspray became more important than the music.
It is a tight but loose set, the six songs rushing by, and by the time the one/two punch of Come On, Come In and Hold On Me finish things with a pneumatic punch, all there is left is to bask in the warm glow of the injection of pure, booty shaking high decibel party.
Merseyside’s next big thing? Absolutely, if all is right with the world.
DeWolff
DeWolff do not let the grass grow under their feet. The Dutch trio are already at album number ten despite their still relatively tender years. It is a hell of a work rate. Having squeezed in numerous tours over the intervening years, there is an overwhelming sense that the boys of the band will not stop until they get exactly where they want to be.
This whole spirit of individuality is a key quality here. While they have spread their wings to take on a more Southern Soul feel to latest release Muscle Shoals, their live shows are an explosion of heavy sounds and dazzling lights that are way more gritty than smooth.
Stripped back to vocals/guitar, keys and drums, Pablo van de Poel, brother Luka and Robin Piso make enough sound to fill a stadium. The presence of two backing vocalists brings an extra layer of colour to an already kaleidoscopic feast of dazzling hues.
There is an air of danger here that brings a welcome frisson of excitement, as if the band is constantly walking a tightrope where absolutely anything can happen. Whilst numbers like Night Train have a wild energy but surefooted delivery, it is still a million miles away from the choreographed sterility of a KISS show.
A blistering Heart Stopping Kinda Show and the deep soul of Natural Woman explore their range as they further delve into the sonic highs and lows with the atmospheric Out On The Town and the funk explosion of R U My Savior?
Throw a dart anywhere into their setlist, and you will come up with a stone-cold classic and the rambunctious Ophelia and Led Zepp-ish Nothing’s Changing thrill.
But it is the extended encore of Rosita that seals the deal. Stretched out to a half hour, the number is a breathless display of a band really letting their hair down and just letting the music totally take over their bodies.
With Pablo spending a lot of time in the audience, this feeling of communion is complete and visceral, even the bar staff at the back of the venue getting involved when the singer goes there for a shot of Jägermeister during his walkabout.
The writing is on the wall and it says that DeWolff are going to be huge. 
