BROKEN BONES has emerged from the skeletal remains of London Rock Legends BAD II THE BONE.

The remaining trio play 1970s & 80s Classic Rock and are based in Hither Green.

The line-up includes Ed (guitar and lead vocals) Smiffy (bass & vocals) and Les (on drums).

We saw their exciting live show this week at the comfortable and
excellent Staines Riverside Club.

Sadly, the place was only half-full. Which is a pity, because rock fans missed out on a very special night.

Broken Bones started their show with a series of well-known cover songs —

”Wishing Well” (Free) and “Hey Joe” (the traditional song, made famous by Jimi Hendrix.)

Then the 1968 number “Hard to Handle” (made popular by the Black Crowes) and the Deep Purple hit “Black Night” (with that bass-line famously nicked from Ricky Nelson’s version of Gershwin’s “Summertime”.)

After the interval and the mandatory raffle, the band returned to the stage with renewed zeal and
dedication. They seemed altogether sharper, more vibrant and
invigorated.

So the second part of the show was powerful and exciting

The hard-rock numbers transported the Staines crowd to dry creeks, cattle drives and ranch-house heroes of cow-town America. We could almost smell the sagebrush on the Chaparral. It was an enjoyable and impressive experience.

We thought there was something about frontman Ed Hudson that reminded us of Joe Walsh.

Perhaps it was his humble attitude. Or his
everyday working approach to his music. He is a highly adaptable musician and a talented showman. Yet he is no show-off. And the nose & the whitened teeth… and that gritty tone of voice… That really clinched it.

So, it was no surprise, really, that the band tackled the 1973 Walsh number “Rocky Mountain Way”. It was as rough edged and
magnificent as we expected. Sandpapered with excellent vocals and filled with most authentic guitarwork we have experienced this side of the Arkansas River.

Drummer Les likes to remain unrecognized. So we will respect his
desire for modest anonymity. Suffice to say, though, that he is one of the best heavy metal drummers in Christendom.

And scary looking Smiffy on bass-guitar reminded us of a bearded Arnold Vosloo (Imhotep in The Mummy Returns.) But his devilish bass-playing more than compensated for his diabolically cursed appearance and those wide-staring eyes.

Once, we were once lucky enough to see the ‘full’ Lynyrd Skynyrd show…

It was incredible. There were seven core members on stage, plus two further touring members and additional backing singers plus assorted ‘Frynds.’

In fact, we remember that there were 13 musicians
performing!

Somehow Broken Bones (a trio, need we remind you) managed to capably deliver the sweltering heat, the
magnitude and sheer grandeur of “Sweet Home
Alabama” to the delighted Staines audience. It was not a sketch or a parody. No, it was the full-blown thing!

But, above all, this band are suitable for bass-heavy songs — created for trios and by trios. So, everything from Jimi Hendrix Experience, ZZ Top and Motörhead is fair game.

It is not often that we have had the opportunity to enjoy Lemmy’s “Ace of Spades” at the Staines Riverside Club. (Actually, we think that most bands would not dare.) But Ed and his team (with Smiffy on lead vocals) had the courage to pull it off.

“Now we are gonna blow your minds…” Announced Ed, before the
thunder began…

And you know what? That mega-heavy speed-metal number went down very well! Generating enthusiastic applause, dancing in the aisles and, overall, a growing sense of crowd excitement.

After the show, as two mature ladies left the club, we saw them
happily smiling…

One said to the other “Wow, that was a really exciting! It was just what we needed...”

We couldn’t have summed it up any better!

Words & Images: @neilmach 2015 ©

Link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Broken-Bones/