★★★★
TAKE a world-class guitar riff, add a trans -generational yearning for an experience beyond YouTube and the internet, pepper it with curiosity and nostalgia, and you may begin to see why a crowd packed out the Ropetackle to see four unpretentious-looking blokes playing some rather extraordinary classic rock.
Hats Off rather cautiously favoured an organic, grassroots feel, nonetheless capturing the raw blues power of the first Led Zeppelin albums. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You exuded earthy energy, as did acoustic Going To California featuring intimate mandolin, guitar and vocal. Blonde mane shining in the lights, vocalist Peter Eldridge endowed Rock and Roll and Black Dog with a hypnotic wail of his own.
The transformation to superband really got under way in the second set, with guitarist Jack Tanner in embroidered flares drawing a violin bow across his fretboard, Jimmy Page style. Kevin Johnson’s classical organ keyboard transformed the rhythmic stomp of Kashmir, while drummer Toby Drummond lent finale Whole Lotta Love a deep percussive sensibility, bringing the audience to its feet.
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