Rosalie Cunningham, The Acapela Cardiff, 13.11.24
Perfectionists usually have a tell, it's a face they make when something isn't quite going right, those of us in the audience may not notice but they know. Rosalie Cunningham is a perfectionist, pre apologising about any mistakes or that some songs may not be as nailed down as others due to issues in practicing but with the set switched around a little since the first show on this tour, there was no need for any apologies as for those in Cardiff's Acapela, myself included we were treated to a killer set of psych rock, power pop and retro rollicking.
Taking the bulk of the set from her new album To Shoot Another Day, sprinkled with a few older tracks, a Purson song and a new one from another band, this was how to do retro rock. Let me explain, back in the day analogue technology could only get you so far so it was with the live show that they had to impress. The main example of this is The Who, perhaps not always too powerful on record, live they were ear bleedingly loud, Rosalie and her band taken the same track. These songs are huge on stage, loud, raucous and heavy, the walls of the old church shaking.
The chunky Spook Racket got us going with the new shiz before diving into the glam stomp of Donovan Ellington, for a band who said they were under-rehearsed there was no sign of it at all. The Bond-like To Shoot Another Day was majestic, close harmonies and that John Barry-like guitar sting pleased anyone who loves the Connery/Moore years. Heavy Pencil, Smut Peddler and Denim Eyes all went down well, sounding bolder, bigger and brasher on the stage.
What I love about The Acapela is that there's no room for encores (or support bands) but there's always an interval, a chance to get or drink or a coffee (more places should do coffee at gigs). The middle part of the set saw a bit more experimentation on Home, a song debuted last time the band were at The Acapela is harmonised ballad between Rosalie and bassist Claudia Gonzalez-Diaz that added a huge amount of emotion, stripping the retro gloss for some folk beauty.
Following this would be difficult but Rosalie handed over lead vocals to her partner/guitarist Roscoe Wilson, the song was Rabbit Foot, the name of her a new band too apparently, the song is a bluesy hard rocker, evoking a bit of Quo, Humble Pie and Wings, it was packed, and I do mean packed with frenzy of solos moving to raw rock n roll. From here it was the anthemic Riddles And Games and then it got darker with the slinky In The Shade Of The Shadow and a cover from Roaslie's Purson days in the shape of Wool.
Rosalie Cunningham is definitely the Ringleader with a grunting Gretsch swaying between rhythms and leads throughout, her vocals are stunning, theatrical histrionics, perfect like they are in the record. The band she brings with her are also brilliant, Claudia Gonzalez-Diaz (bass/flute) is a human dynamo, if not tethered to the Orange Amp behind her she would of happily grooved a marathon through the crowd. Behind her was Aaron Bolli-Thompson (keys), he's Southern rock swagger, as he brings the rollicking keys to Dethroning Of The Party Queen and organs for huge psych swirls and cinematics on The Premier.
Stuffed into a corner but making a mark throughout was Bo Walsh (drums), the pace setter and powerhouse, it's his deft little touches behind huge powerful strikes, that made me keep watching what he was doing, he also extensivly used cymbals. Rounded out by the aforementioned Roscoe Wilson (guitar/vocals) , he's effortlessly cool in double denim and a faded SG, he was peeling off solos and leads with ease.
They're a mighty collection of noise makers taking the set though the power pop of Timothy Martin's Finishing School, a slightly disjointed Good To Damned then the crowning finale of the proggy The Premiere and 'classic' Ride On My Bicycle which closed us out with some Canterbury scene quirkiness. I've missed seeing Rosalie a few times now (once due to my wedding) but I won't be doing so again as even on this tour that was to debut new material, they made an indelible mark. Roll on spring next year! 9/10
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