Consummate Rogues – Live in Bucharest
Self-Release – 2023
10 tracks; 62 minutes
Live in Bucharest (2023), the first release for British blues group the Consummate Rogues, emerges as a polished live recording spanning blues, rock, jam band, and New Orleans funk. The group, composed of London studio musicians, deliver a high energy, versatile effort as their recording debut.
The album, largely driven by covers of popular songs, shows clear technical precision and chops on every instrument. The piano, played by Chris Rand, and the guitar, played by Leo Appleyard, dominate the often rootsy blues-rock sound. The band shows they can not only play in the studio; they can play for a live audience.
Rand dances over the keys, with spicy piano work, on “Alright, Okay, You Win”, and pleads for his lover to take him, singing “Baby let me be your man.” An interplay of solos between saxophone (Rand again) and guitar (Appleyard) shows the intensity of a man with the blues, pouring out his soul – howling notes from the saxophone while the guitar shreds everything in its path.
While perhaps not up to the admittedly high standards of the good Dr. John, the Rogues perform a solid cover of “Such a Night”, beginning with groovy, New Orleans style piano keys. Rand’s voice comes across as softer and more romantic than the Doctor, and the band stretches the song out, jamming throughout, to 7 minutes.
“Across the Year” features spaced out grooves and political messaging: “It’s our civil liberty. When’s enough, enough.” The tune, with just a tinge of blues, hosts delightfully mean electric guitar.
The band finished their Bucharest concert with three covers they handled quite well – a soulful, energetic take on “Rag Mama Rag”, a sad rendition of “You’re Going To Make Me Lonesome When You Go”, and a cover of“I’m A Believer”spotlighting phenomenal guitar play.
Rand’s voice fit perfectly to “You’re going To Make Me Lonesome When You Go”, dark, sad, and nostalgic, as Appleyard delivers slow burning, deep hitting guitar notes with impeccable technique. This song, the best on the album, is one to have tea with– one to sip and savor in. It’s about lingering in a heartbreak that is sure to come.
At various times, the band sound like Phish, CSN, and Paul Butterfield.
“I’m A Believer” is one of the tracks that strays from the blues, and while a fun cover, cannot stack up to the original. Even with that said, the frenzy of piano and the guitar solos are commendable.
The album pushes in many directions, no doubt a result of the experience of the talented studio musicians. While Rand and Appleyard dominate the sound, Geoff Threadgold on bass and Will Chism on drums provide a steady, reliable core to the band on every track.
Perhaps the effort could benefit from a more cohesive sound or focus– say, more of a straight blues or more of a straight rock sound–, but the eclecticism seems to hit both ways.
The Consummate Rogues, on this release, portray themselves as masters of many styles of music. A few tracks fall short, but on the whole, it’s good fun to listen to.
