It's great seeing the Kris Barras Band landing these high-profile support slots. This hard rocking quartet stands at the forefront of the current wave of British rock and has now been releasing quality albums for a whole decade. Their sound has evolved noticeably, shifting from muscular blues rock toward a more modern, quasi metal alternative edge, yet at its core remain the same strengths: tight songwriting, emotive vocals and Barras’s captivating guitar work.
A former professional MMA fighter, Kris Barras cuts an imposing figure on stage, yet never comes across as intimidating. Quite the opposite. He projects an easygoing warmth, grounded in a working class sensibility and a genuine desire to entertain. His guitar playing is hard edged yet fluid, while his supple, raspy voice moves effortlessly between soulful restraint and full blooded hard rock drive. The Trianon crowd greeted the band like returning heroes and sent them off in a roar. This feels like a group very much on the rise.
The Wildhearts @ O'Sullivan's Backstage By The Mill, Paris - October 26th, 2019
