Blog Post
Kris Barras Band + Dea Matrona, Dover Booking Hall, Friday 27th January 2023
Laura DQ • 1 February 2023
Live Review
Dea Matrona are not an easy band to categorise. With a heavy, fuzzed up bass groove and harmony vocals to die for, these Irish ladies are doing things their way. Augmented tonight by a touring drummer, friends Mollie and Orlaith clearly have a talent for a catchy tune. Impressive musicians too; initially I wonder if my eyes are deceiving me but no, they really are switching guitar and bass duties during the set. The short acoustic section is particularly beautiful, though marred by an audience who are seemingly incapable of keeping quiet for more than a few seconds!
The Kris Barras Band has gone through quite an evolution since forming in 2015; the blues influence ever harder to discern in the muscular, anthemic rock. The packed out room suggests this has been a very good move, and the influence of Planet Rock Radio certainly hasn’t hurt either. Hail Mary is the perfect opener, and the energy remains high through a set that draws heavily from latest album Death Valley Paradise. It’s an album that translates particularly well live, from the big choruses of Dead Horses and Devil You Know to the slowed down riff that hits at the end of These Voices.
In Barras, the band has a likeable and engaging frontman whose fighting spirit appears to be alive and well despite leaving the MMA behind. Not afraid to get in the audience and stir things up, we’re encouraged to punch the air, sing along and get involved. And during My Parade, a song destined to be a staple of all future shows, the audience is split for a competitive call and response.
But it’s not all hard rock bluster; there are quieter moments too. It’s impossible not to be moved by Watching Over Me, a poignant tribute to Barras’ late father. The relatable lyrics and soaring solos bring the blues back to the fore and remind you what a formidable guitarist Barras really is. And in case there’s a danger of the rest of the band being overlooked, a powerful cover of Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll provides an opportunity for them to shine. It’s hard to believe this is only bassist Frazer’s fourth show with the band; he fits in perfectly with a unit that seems more cohesive with every tour.
Ignite (Light It Up) is the perfect conclusion, a rousing finale that leaves this crowd wanting more. Bigger things surely beckon for the Kris Barras Band; catch them in these small venues while you still can.