Originally from Victoria, Australia, the Teskey Brothers – vocalist Josh and guitarist and engineer Sam – have won critical acclaim for their fusion of blues, soul and classic rock since the release of their debut album, ‘Half Mile Harvest', back in 2017. Now, ahead of the release of their third record ‘The Winding Way' in June – the follow-up to 2019's ‘Run Home Slow' – they're touring in the UK for the first time in three years, including a sold-out show last night at London's Eventim Apollo.
After walking on to Nina Simone's classic ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free' accompanied by their six-piece touring band, the group kicked off their set with ‘Remember The Time', one of the unreleased songs from their upcoming album. The upbeat track had a lovely, classic soul vibe about it and I felt like it really highlighted the richness in Josh's voice on the bittersweet lyrics, as well as a slight gravelly edge and some very impressive vocal runs.
That set the standard for the rest of the night, with plenty of tracks from the new album featured throughout. ‘Oceans Of Emotions' had a dreamy, bright quality about it and was packed with lovely details as Josh delivered a whiskey-smooth take on the song's romantic lyrics, and ‘Take My Heart' – which the band dedicated to all the parents in the audience – had a slightly more downbeat vibe balanced by warm, affectionate lyrics and ‘I'm Leaving' (a tribute to the group's former studio) provided a nostalgic moment with its steady rhythm as well as an opportunity for the band members to individually shine, plus happy birthday wishes for Nick the drummer! The group also played recent release ‘London Bridge' live for the first time, which really highlighted the rawness in Josh's voice with its stripped-back melody and soaring chorus that balanced out the bite of the lyrics.
However, for fans of the band's older songs, there was also still plenty to like. ‘Carry You' had a lovely gentle quality to it and a timeless, romantic feel, showcased the honeyed tones in Josh's vocals, whilst ‘Crying Shame' punctuated its melancholy feel with sharp, punchy chords and ‘So Caught Up' had a sultry quality that wouldn't have sounded out of place on an Amy Winehouse album whilst emphasising the depth in Josh's voice. However, he particularly shone on ‘I Get Up', which saw him taking the opportunity to really unleash his vocal belt – to huge cheers from the audience – as well as dropping to his knees midway through the song, and with the enormous notes he hit during ‘Rain'. As well as being an incredibly talented vocalist, it's clear he's absolutely committed as a performer and that makes it very easy for a crowd to connect with him. Not to be outdone, Sam took the starring role on the stomping ‘Paint My Heart', producing a fiery guitar solo as the two of them jammed out together – a connection which is a big part of the band's appeal
After closing the show with new song ‘What Will Be' which saw Josh whipping out his harmonica and dancing about the stage – and getting a standing ovation from the crowd in return – the band returned for a two-song encore, kicking off with the sparse, heartstring-tugging ‘Pain And Misery'. They followed that with a rendition of ‘Hold Me', which featured yet another killer guitar solo from Sam. Josh encouraged the crowd to clap and sing along – which they did with great gusto – before dropping down to a click and a whisper and ending the performance on a stunning acapella finish. It was a moment that will live long in my memory and showed just what incredible showmen they are.
Overall the Teskey Brothers showed exactly why they've become so beloved here in the UK. That combination of Josh's timeless soulful voice and Sam's outstanding guitar playing is an absolute winner, and when paired with their heartfelt lyrics and amazing energy on stage it all adds up to a sensational evening. They'll be back here in the summer to play at Black Deer and support Hozier's UK tour (and might pop up at some other big live shows too!), so if you're a fan of classic blues I'd urge you to get a ticket however you can. And in the meantime, we've got that new album to look forward to…
Set list: 1. Remember The Time 2. Carry You 3. Crying Shame 4. Oceans Of Emotions 5. Take My Heart 6. I Get Up 7. Rain 8. London Bridge. 9. So Caught Up 10. Paint My Heart 11. I'm Leaving 12. What Will Be Encore: 13. Pain And Misery 14. Hold Me Performance date: 26th April 2023
See the Teskey Brothers live on tour in the UK this year:
12th May – NX, Newcastle upon Tyne
13th May – O2 Academy, Oxford
20th May – The Junction, Cambridge
21st May – Stylus, Leeds
17th June – Black Deer Festival, Royal Tunbridge Wells
5th July – Castlefield Bowl, Manchester (supporting Hozier)
6th July – Cardiff Castle, Cardiff (supporting Hozier)
21st July – Alexandra Palace Park, London (supporting Hozier)
