There’s a quote from Raul Malo of The Mavericks that says, “If aliens were to land on Earth and instructed you to take them to a rock and roll show, find where Warner Hodges is playing. There is no finer example of what rock and roll is, should be, has been, and will continue to be.” By the end of Warner E. Hodges Band’s set, I was full of regret. That regret was about not having seen this fine band before.
Warner E. Hodges Band
Chepstow Castle – 24 August 2023
Words and Photography: Paul Hutchings
Warner Hodges brings his Nashville vibe to the banks of the Wye with a slickness and ease that is offensive, it’s so infectiously easy. They grab the attention of the early crowd with a thumping cover of AC/DC’s Riff Raff.
Damn, this got me dancing in the photo pit before I’d even pressed the shutter.
From there on, the four-piece delivered a masterclass of country-soaked rock ‘n’ roll, blending everything from Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Georgia Satellites through to Sabbath, and the punk of the Sex Pistols. 
This isn’t the first rodeo for this band, of course, with Warner’s history well documented. His time with Jason and the Scorchers is just one of the bands to note.
We get a bit of that mixed in with songs from the band’s own output, something from Dan Baird and Homemade Sin alongside the required participation for the cover of John Denver’s Country Road. 
It’s smooth but with enough rawness to keep the polish at a minimum. Alongside the guitar and vocals of Warner, bassist Jason Knight, who doesn’t stop grinning all set, guitarist Ben Marsden (last seen not far from these parts supporting Ginger Wildheart at The Patriot in April) and drummer Shane Dixon, on his first show with the band, both lock in tightly, providing a cohesive and dynamic unit that grabs the attention from start to finish. 
It’s music to savour, with that infectious dynamic that gets you dancing. Catch the band in the Autumn on tour with the Supersuckers. You won’t be disappointed. 