GIG REVIEW – ELI “PAPERBOY” REED AND THE TRUE LOVES

Eli “Paperboy” Reed is in the middle of a short European tour with a few dates in the all the main European countries to promote his latest (fourth) album “Nights LikeThis”.

Your London Guitar Academy reviewer Paul Wood caught the band’s show at the O2 Academy (Birmingham).

GIG REVIEW – ELI “PAPERBOY” REED AND THE TRUE LOVES

The tour seems to have been a little short on pre-gig publicity and only a relatively small crowd of between100-200 were clustered around the stage as the band launched into their set. Making light of the disappointing turn out (Eli told the crowd “on the bright side, you’ve all got room to dance), the band produced a typically incendiary live set. If you caught the band a few years ago on the Jools Holland Later show, you’ll know what I mean.

Here’s a clip of “Take My Love With You” from the Jools Holland show:

With Eli on guitar/vocals fronting a touring band consisting of a two piece horn section, additional guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, the band let rip with a selection of songs based primarily around the current album and its predecessor “Come And Get It”.

Here’s the official music video for “Come And Get It”:

Highlights from the new album included “Well Alright Now” “Woohoo” and “Shock To The System” while older songs such as “Name Calling” and “Satisfier” were swooped up by long time fans in the audience.

Here’s a live clip of “Shock To The System” from Japan:

For any fans of James Brown and the classic  60s Soul soundof Stax/Atlantic Records in particular, the live show is a real treat. When the horns kick in and Eli lets out a scream, you could really be at a down town theatre in New York sometime in the 1960s.

The sound is old school but very fresh – if you haven’t seen them live, catch them the next time they come round to the UK. In the meantime, check out their last three label albums (which are all still easily available):

Roll With You (Q Division Records 2008)

Come And Get It! (Capitol 2010)

Nights Like This (Warner Brothers 2014)