Rough Riders Fire Blanks

The summer of '69 blew into freezing Birmingham to warm the cockles of a select audience at Ronnie Scott's - though like most of our summers, it promised more than it delivered.

The Cosmic Rough Riders charged into the excellent Songwriters Festival on a wave of hype and flattery from the critics. But sadly they failed to rise above, well, charming.

Ex-Oasis man Matt Deighton failed to show up for his support slot, owing to a blizzard in Milton Keynes, but the acoustic Zandaman made it on time - with their Eagles-lite harmonies.

The Rough Riders kicked off with the excellent Revolution in the Summertime, but couldn't maintain the gallop. The Cosmic's harmonies and light, vaguely psychedelic tunes have earned comparison with early REM and The Byrds, though they've still got a long haul ahead of them to reach those standards.

New single Melanie and ballad You've Got Me came and went, while a persistent heckler was humoured by the band departing from their set-list and delivering Glastonbury to shut him up.

The stand-out Baby You're So Free raised the pace again, but it wasn't enough, nor was the cheeky, cheery charm of lead singer Danny Wylie Creation records guru Alan McGee reckons the Scottish five piece are the future of rock'n'roll but on this performance, they're only paying tribute to the past.
Mark Green, icBirmingham, Friday 26 January 2001