Live Review: Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
29th January 2025
Words & Photos: Scott Clarke
It’s a cold evening tonight at KK’s Steel Mill, yet the patrons wait patiently as always outside the venue before the doors were to open, only time would tell if the entertainment in store would be enough to thaw even the coldest of feet and get them tapping and dancing as Beaux Gris Gris were set to take the stage for this mid week gig.
We were in the smaller of KK’s rooms tonight, it’s a mid week gig which is always more difficult for people to attend, however the following that did amass over time was able to occupy the room quite nicely. It became a more intimate gig but one that many would remember for the great music rather than being squashed and trampled.
With no support on the bill for tonight, it was straight onto the main act from the beginning. I have to be honest from the outset, I was heading into tonight with an open mind as I’m not familiar with the band so my opinions and thoughts would all be based on first impressions.
With the release of the latest album, Hot Nostalgia Radio, only last year through their independent label, the band have been on a journey since promoting and showcasing their talents and styles to as many people as they can including having a heavy presence on Planet Rock.
With a strange start to the set which revealed that the band were still formulating a set list mere minutes before their time on stage began. The set list found itself carefully written onto the nearest paper plate in a form that had the songs titles cleverly manipulated to contain food or be food related.
Opening things up with What’s My Name, from the moment Beaux Gris Gris started their set, it was evident that they were masters of their craft. Lead singer, Louisiana born and raised Greta Valenti, commanded the stage with her powerful vocals and charismatic presence. Robin Davey was equally adept in ringing the strings of his guitar to make them sing. The rest of the band members were just as impressive, each bringing their own unique energy to the performance. Due to the nature of the setup and, as mentioned on their website, “the band’s cross-Atlantic touring”, which means that positions in the band can be interchanged with available persons and guest slots, I wasn’t entirely sure beforehand what members of the band would be present tonight, but for this the “Wild Woman Tour” we see Kev Hickman pounding the Drums, Rob Bullock tickling the ivories providing blissful keys and Charlie Rachael Kay hiding at the back of the small stage but providing ever present booming Bass nonetheless.
Featuring several tracks from the latest album release, Hot Nostalgia Radio including I Told My Baby, Middle of the Night, Penny Paid Rockstar, Satisfy Your Queen, The Runaway, the Planet Rock favourite Oh Yeah and Wild Woman which gives this tour it’s name. The show was more than an endorsement of the latest record as they also delved into their back catalogue of the albums Good Times End Times and Love & Murder to give an evening consisting of a multitude of their repertoire over the bands career. Ending off with an encore featuring, Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down (a perfect song for the evening for those who have just come from work this mid week), a wonderful and very unexpected cover of Blue Bayou and culminating with Make It Wit Chu.
Beaux Gris Gris's music is a delightful blend of blues, rock, and soul, with a touch of New Orleans jazz. The band seamlessly transitioned from upbeat, foot-tapping numbers to soulful ballads, with an acoustic section in the middle to break things up, keeping the audience on their toes throughout the performance. Each song was delivered with passion and authenticity, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in the room. Greta’s vocals were simply superb and the bands deep and rich influences really shone through in their variety of techniques, themes and styles that amalgamate to form the bands unique performance.
They also threw in a few covers that further showcased the diversity of their talents which included tracks from the likes of Muse as well as Roy Orbison. 3 quarters of the way through the set, the band introduced a guest on stage, Ruzz Evans, with an exquisite looking gloss black Gretsch in hand, the Bristol based musician who is usually to be seen with his Big Band Blues Revue and spending a lot of time touring Canada, wasted no words and provided further depth to the already blistering blues guitar tones laid down by Robin Davey. The two going back and forth providing us with a guitar masterclass for minutes at a time, it was an almost hypnotic exercise. With Ruzz’s ability to ring the sounds that he does out of his instrument, it’s no wonder he is endorsed by such a stand out manufacturer like Gretsch. His precision, technical expertise and ability to float across the fret board with seeming ease make the performance look like second nature.
What truly set Beaux Gris Gris apart was their infectious energy. The band members were clearly having a blast on stage, and their enthusiasm was contagious. The audience couldn't help but dance and sing along, fully immersed in the electrifying atmosphere that the band had created with their onstage antics. A few of the later numbers even found Greta jump the barriers and sing and dance her way into the crowd, making her way through and inviting anyone willing, to sing along which culminated in her literally dancing on the tables.
From their captivating stage presence to their soul-stirring music, the band delivered a truly unforgettable, feel good experience. Their musicianship was something to behold and the interactions with the crowd and the injection of humour in places made us feel like we were old friends enjoying a night out together. If you ever have the opportunity to see Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse live, don't hesitate - it's an experience you won't soon forget!
Photo credit: Scott Clarke
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