Reef

I was happy when I got the tickets for Reef on the 23rd April 2010 at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire. I have seen Reef play before their break up in 2003 and have been awed by their sound. A band that I feel has a great mixture of blues and rock with a truck load of classic anthems. You just cannot go wrong.

The gig started off a little disappointingly with the sound a little on the thin side. It was no way near as dynamic as I remembered and I was beginning to feel a little let down. I was pleasantly surprised and put it down to the sound engineers that by the third song they seemed to be getting it together and were rocking the house. Now that they sounded like the Reef of old I really started to enjoy the music. Playing all the old classics gave the audience, who were die hard fans a chance to have a sing-along to all the old favourites (me included).

Gary Stringers vocal ability is still amazing and could probably get a job for a throat lozenge company advertising their products. One minute sounding like he has cement dried to the inside of his larynx the next he has the voice of an angel supping on honey dew.

Kenwyn House seemed to enjoy himself immensely with legs astride in a stance that would have made Bruce Lee jealous. Playing along side Jack Bessant who's head banging followed the rhythm on his bass guitar. These guys were back and enjoying every minute of it.

They would have got the five stars if the beginning of the gig was not so toned down. I can't be sure who was at fault for this, but this is a score for the gig overall.

Would I go again. You bet ya !