BIG COUNTRY REVIEW
Big Country played at The Metro Theatre last night, and they didn't just play rock and roll; they delivered a Scottish sound built on soaring, bagpipe-like guitar melodies and massive choruses.
The night kicked off with The Gin Club, an Australian folk-rock band, and they delivered a bittersweet and melancholic blend of alt-country and folk rock. As they played their set, the guitar and vocals weaved together and brought a rich tapestry of styles. The bass and drums provided energy, and the crowd danced. The Gin Club brought stomping sing-alongs to the Metro and got us warmed up for the main act.
Next up was the one and only Big Country, and the current lineup is anchored by original guitarist Bruce Watson and features his son Jamie Watson on rhythm guitar. They opened with "Driving to Damascus", and they delivered rhythm sections that made you tap your feet. Chris Stones played bass, and drummer Reece Dobbin brought unbelievable beats. Tommie Paxton delivered energy and vocals with precision, and rugged, heartfelt power and the band connected with the audience, as they played " Look Away, Lost Patrol and Porrohman ".
As the chords of “ Harvest Home, The Seer and Where the Rose Is Sown " ripped through the air, the atmosphere was charged, and the roaring choruses were sung back by everyone in the venue, and the shimmering, intricate fretwork of Bruce Watson and Jamie Watson was expertly crafted.
The precision of the set continued with " Eastworld, Ships and Tall Ships Go", and the melodic twin-guitar attack was a true masterclass of the unique sound the band possessed. Reece Dobbin brought a thunderous foundation and a relentless, dynamic power and provided the backbone that allowed the guitars to soar without ever losing momentum.
The anthems continued with "Never Take Your Place, We're Not in Kansas, Chance and In a Big Country" the raw, energy, and explosion of guitars, drums, and singing filled the room, and Chris Stones, delivered the complex, melodic bass lines with, energy, intricate rhythms and magnificent, soaring melodies.
