Into Music Review: The Tennessee Hotshots

Act: The Tennessee Hotshots
Venue: The Admiral Bar, Glasgow
Date:  17 September 2021

A Friday night out in Glasgow ticks many boxes. A Friday night out in Glasgow at the Admiral Bar even more so. Add in Scotland’s premier rockabilly band, The Tennessee Hotshots in concert and it all adds up to a mighty fine evening.

The gig was set up to mark the 20th birthday of the band having formed in 2001, the overall vibe was laid back and there was even a huge birthday cake as part of the celebrations.

The Ain’t Misbehavin’ crew with Sailor Tony on the decks set the scene by playing cool slabs of obscure vinyl, getting the crowd in the mood before the main event.

The band played two separate sets, both of which packed a punch leaving the sold out crowd delighted to be back, witnessing live rockabilly for the first time in around eighteen months or so.

Highlights included Mr Whizz, an up-tempo number, rollicking and rising with the double bass to the fore. You Don’t Love Me provided the platform for the guitar to take centre stage, the riff familiar to all from old Bo Diddley and John Lee Hooker tracks.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ was a stand out, real old school rockabilly and saw the crowd flocking to the dancefloor to cut some rug. Rock ‘n’ Roll Rampage took us back to the 50s hop, the band’s trio of Marty, Paddy and Sy in perfect harmony taking the sound to another level. The set also included excellent covers of 7 Nights To Rock and Wildcat Tamer, the latter with guitar-picking which showcased the skill and talent of the band.

All in, an excellent show from a top band who are at the forefront of the rockabilly scene in Scotland and beyond. Happy twentieth birthday to The Tennessee Hotshots. Here’s to the next twenty!

John Welsh
@welshjb

Links:

Facebook: TheTennesseeHotshots
Venue: @TheAdmiralBar