Kris Barras Band @ la Cigale, Paris - May 26th, 2019

Rockin' the Blues is a package tour that showcases the talents of three hotshot blues-rock guitarists. The first act of the night is the Kris Barras Band, led by a former MMA pro from England who is now on his second album.

If his brand of heavy blooze is as muscular as his frame, his guitar chops are thankfully more subtle than his former trade. His phrasing is sometimes very reminiscent of Gary Moore, and incidentally his vocals remind us of Phil Lynott.

His material is more on the rock side of the spectrum but still manage to capture the spirit of the Blues. It can't be easy being the opening act of such a package, yet Kris Barras and his band managed to hold the audience captive from the very first note until the intense finale which saw the guitarist play with his instrument behind his back or even play with his teeth. Those are old tricks from the entertainers of yore to get the crowds riled up and it worked: the thunderous applause during his curtain calls was one of the loudest I've ever heard for a support band.

Intense, emotive and a whole lot of fun, this set was a killer introduction to the music of a young man who is undoubtedly the future of the genre.