49 Winchester // Roundhouse, London

Ten Years in, The Band are better THAn Ever

★★★★★ (5/5)

49 Winchester: Photo by Thomas Crabtree

Appalachian soul serenaded herds of denim-clad country fans as 49 Winchester played at London’s Roundhouse theatre in Camden. Touring in support of their new album “Leavin’ This Holler” and to celebrate the band's 10-year anniversary, the group has covered continents as delighted fans with its unique blend of soulful country.

Having already achieved glittering accolades such as playing to twenty thousand people at the Country to Country festival and acting as support for country megastar Luke Combs, the band continue to go from strength to strength. Their largest ever London headline show packed out the Roundhouse, as it played host to a night of raw emotion, gritty storytelling and musical craftsmanship.

This commitment to quality music was also felt in the support act Wyatt Flores. The Oklahoma singer-songwriter has already achieved exceptional success through his songs marked by themes of longing, resilience and self-discovery. His performance was delivered with a vulnerability that captivated the crowd, at times being stripped down to simply Flores and his acoustic guitar. This created a strikingly intimate atmosphere that contrasted beautifully with the bombastic energy to come.

Wyatt Flores: Image from Lime Tree Music PR

When 49 Winchester took to the stage, the audience whooped with delight as Frontman Isaac Gibson, Bus Shelton on guitar, Chase Chafin on bass, Noah Patrick on pedal steel, Tim Hall on keys and Justin Louthian on drums launched into a set that spanned their entire career.

Gibson commanded attention with his raspy drawl while the rest of the band delivered electrifying performances, filling the Roundhouse with searing guitars and driving rhythm. The Roundhouse’s acoustics amplified the richness of their sound allowing the pedal steel to truly soar, which added a haunting layer to tracks like “Everlasting Lover”. While the band's keys wove ethereal melody into their heartfelt tracks and added boot scootin' boogie to the faster songs.

Under the beams of the iconic venue, the band were in their element. Demonstrating their unique ability to incorporate genres into the music without losing their identity. While their roots are steeped in country tradition, it’s also laced with southern rock swagger and soul-infused grooves. This versatility was on full display during their London set, where they seamlessly transitioned from foot-stomping barn burners to slow-burning ballads.

Opening with the anthemic “Tulsa”, the band immediately demanded attention. Synchronised nods of cowboy hats tracked the beat across the audience as fans roared back the chorus.

Throughout, the band kept their foot on the gas as they tore through a set which covered a vast expanse of fan favourites which straddled musical inspirations and emotional spectrums.

A sombre highlight of the evening came from the weighty “Anchor”, which received some of the loudest sing-alongs from the audience as the band made sure to wring every last drop from a more than eager crowd. While the blissful “Yearnin’ For You” sounded delightful as the band delivered the longing story of yearning to get back home to love.

Amongst the big hits and deep cuts, the band also found time to play some surprises. Unreleased track “Bringing Home the Bacon” is a freight ferrying stomper which was warmly received by the crowd. A cover of “Changes” in tribute to Ozzy Osbourne provided a moment of great emotional catharsis as Gibson roared out the refrain during the chorus.

From the stage, there was a palpable sense of gratitude as the band took every opportunity to thank the crowd for their continued support. This was returned in spades by a crowd in awe of the evening's performance. Every song ended with a deafening chorus of cheers and whistles as the audience made their appreciation abundantly clear.

An adrenaline-filled encore saw the band bring out Wyatt Flores for a thrilling rendition of “Russell County Line”, the two acts melded seamlessly to deliver a performance of modern country perfection. By the closing note, the Roundhouse was buzzing with honky tonk rowdiness. The euphoric crowd erupted in applause, clearly moved by the authenticity and heart that 49 Winchester brought to the stage.

REVIEW BY: SAM MCNAUGHTON