Blog Post
TUK SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS - ‘Blood on the Stage’ Single review
Reviewed by GMcA • Jul 28, 2024
The road hasn’t been easy for Tuk Smith, former singer with Biters, since he embarked on his solo career and opportunity initially beckoned then ended in frustration. Having decided to just get on and do things his way, his second album with the Restless Hearts (and the first on his own label), ‘Rogue to Redemption’, is due on 30 August.
Trailing the release of his album, ‘Blood on the Stage’ dropped as a single last week.
Sounding lyrically auto-biographical in nature, the song starts with a strummed acoustic guitar and atmospheric lead guitar in the background.
Initially vocally reminiscent in feel and sound to Liam Gallagher, the half-spoken / half-sung song gently swaggers before moving more into early 70’s Bowie territory, as Tuk adjusts the balance in his vocal delivery more towards singing. The song continues to maintain this mid-paced groove throughout, always threatening to spiral and lose control, but skilfully held in check. Impressive stuff.
‘Blood on the Stage’ presents a tasty teaser of what may be to follow on his upcoming album. On the basis of this, I’m definitely in. And it also presents a statement of intent from an artist who is clearly a survivor, has taken what the business can throw at him and is defiantly doing things his way.
GMcA