17 December 2014 (gig)
27 December 2014
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without The Rifles’ annual knees up at Boogaloo.
The venue is gloriously adorned in festive décor and the Christmas cheer of the jam packed crowed is high. Joel, Luke and Deano unassumingly make their way centre stage and diligently start churning out timeless classics.
‘She’s Got Standards’ kicks off an hour and half of gems which takes in material from the band’s full ten year back catalogue.
The evening sing-a-long continues with a couple of Christmas covers, a few tracks from ‘None The Wiser’ and in preparation for the upcoming ‘No Love Lost’ gigs in June, we’re treated to a couple of b-sides from the first album, ‘Lost in London’ and ‘Fighting’. They’re also joined on stage for a cameo by Ben Debo from Dexters who played a special guest support slot
The close knit festive atmosphere is enhanced with the band’s family members and bar staff taking part just as much as the paying punters. We get two encores before the night is illuminated and brought to an end on the now traditional crowd pleasing finale of ‘Romeo and Julie’.
I leave the venue knowing it has again been an absolute privilege to be part of this exclusive London rock soiree.