Live Review: When Rivers Meet – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
14th October 2022
Support: Nati Dreddd
Words & Photos: Paul Hutchings
There’s quite a buzz about When Rivers Meet, the husband-and-wife duo from Essex now, with a plethora of awards stacking up on the mantlepiece. Singer, mandolin player, and violinist Grace Bond is the focal point for the band, alongside guitarist and vocalist Aaron. They burst onto the UK Blues Scene in 2019 with ‘The Uprising’ EP, quickly followed by ‘Innocence of Youth’ the following year. With two full length albums under their belt, including the latest release ‘Saving Grace’, it was therefore no surprise to see the Welsh club is packed with enthusiastic fans.
Before When Rivers Meet, the audience is treated to some genuine talent in the shape of Scottish singer and songwriter Nati Dreddd. The impish figure is in mischievous form, playing a selection of beautifully crafted songs that covered the full gambit of emotions. She appears genuinely surprised by the audience reaction, with plenty of whooping and singing along to her country/folk style tales, especially the penultimate track ‘5 More Minutes’. Full of humour and a passion which was infectious, Dreddd has the confidence to deliver her final track ‘Hug’ in Scottish Gaelic and manages to finish it despite bursting into giggles as several slightly merry members of the crowd holler loudly at all the wrong times. She is very much a singer who I’d enjoy watching repeatedly.
The applause that greets When Rivers Meet as they take the stage tells you everything. Tonight won’t be a struggle. The crowd is on your side from the off. Bathed in the pink and blue house lightning, the opening duo of ‘Did I Break the Law’ and ‘Walking on a Wire’ ensure early points, both songs amongst the strongest in their arsenal. Catchy hooks are a central point of WRM’s songs and these two tracks are a delight. Slick, almost to the point of choreography, the band are immaculate in every area. Grace’s voice is strong, clear and with a great range. She’s only small but she dominates the stage. All eyes are on her. Backed by a professional rhythm section that doesn’t drop a note in the wrong place all evening, there is ample room for husband Aaron to shine. He plays it cool, content to keep it simple, his guitar playing controlled, natural, relaxed. His backing vocals are understated but important to the whole feel and depth of each song.
As the set progresses, we are treated to plenty of songs from the band’s catalogue. ‘Bound for Nowhere’ gets the crowd singing along, Grace bringing out the mandolin and riffing with Aaron centre stage. She has a theatrical presence. Asking for a drink, she is disappointed to find the pint at the side of the stage is not for her. She ends up with something unidentifiable but swigs it enthusiastically anyway, a round of “Iechyd da” earning even more cheers.
Many in the audience have followed the band during the pandemic. Their online streams grabbed huge numbers and provided them with an opportunity to refine their presentation. It’s evident on ‘Friend of Mine’, with the duo stepping up to deliver a pitch perfect ballad.
We get treated to singalongs, plenty of opportunities to clap and stomp the feet, something that everyone grasps, despite the quite oppressive heat in the room. Aaron switches guitars, bringing on the cigar box a couple of times, whilst Grace adds violin to the mandolin. It’s a show for all, everything in place and order. There’s a lot of thought and planning here, from the tempo of the set to the carefully selected clothing. It all adds to the evening.
By the time we get to penultimate song “Tomorrow”, with full crowd participation much to the band’s delight, it’s uncomfortably hot, but no one cares. A raucous “Testify” closes things off. WRM saving one more anthem til last. It’s unsurprising to see the adulation WRM receive. They do their thing incredibly well. Next time you see them they’ll be in a venue three times the size of Clwb.
Photo Credits: Paul Hutchings
