WHEN RIVERS MEET are already British blues rock royalty and in the past months have solidified their place in the rock ‘n’ roll heirship.
The duo’s incredible wonderwork “Aces Are High” has become a national phenomenon, making it to the Top Ten of the UK albums charts and approaching nearly supernatural levels of popularity. Now their global reach beckons!
WRM, consisting of Grace Bond (vocals, mandolin, violin) and Aaron Bond (vocals, guitar), speedily established themselves as one of the most intriguing acts in British music since their inception in 2019. Since then they have received various prizes & countrywide acclaim for their distinctive blend of Americana, folk, blues, and rock.
A forceful riff-rhythm slashed through the empty shells of balustrading sounds
Raw Ramp Music Magazine
We were fortunate to see their headline performance at the wonderful Blues, Rhythm, and Rock Festival at the Pavilion, Whitby earlier this month.
On Play My Game, Grace tackled the sexually charged piece with the zeal of a promenading and avidly flirting ridgeline lynx! Her muted tone was never buried beneath the jumbled guitar riffs and the consistently eerie and strikingly subdued rhythms evoked by Aaron because the voice peeked through the duskiness like golden jabs of starlight. Wonderful!
Aces Are High began with an almost harrowing guitar shriek reminiscent of a Stuka, followed by a precise and forceful riff-rhythm that slashed through the empty shells of balustrading sounds. This song was mercilessly powerful but resolutely lovely in texture and in attitude. Magnificent.
Perfect Stranger, a song about relationships and initial meetings, came with a gritty, strong guitar tone, simple rhythms, and a very attractive, versatile vocal.
The rhythmic structuring of Seen It All Before was reminiscent of the scuzzily genuine call-and-response manner that characterised early roots blues in the Southern States. This band is definitely for you if you enjoy noirish, smudgy-sultry blues rock vibes!
The fingertips of Zeus beckon… yes, Grace and Aaron are on their way!
Words and pictures: © Neil Mach
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