Leaf Hound
Live In Japan
Originally a very early 70’s band and featuring wonderful and authentic singer Pete French, easily as good a Rod Stewart and even David Coverdale on his day, LeafHound made THE great hardrock album of the era on ‘Growers of Mushroom’ ; revived in recent years to continue their rightful legacy as rockblues giants, the group put on exemplary performances and many of us in this area have encouraged Pete to put out a live album. Hence it is great to see this come out and to note that it includes the fine Wolf blues ‘Evil’ which doubtless French found himself singing when he was with American rock gods Cactus…
The key reason the present LeafHound works so well is the presence of guitar powerhouse Luke Rayner, a guy who combines drive with melody well beyond the skill of most rock players. Naturally a duff rhythm section wouldn’t deliver this music as well as it might but no worries here as the drummer and bassist are top notch players and springheeled though this set ( we get a CD and a DVD )
Inevitably a few favourites are left off the setlist but this is going to happen whoever you go and see eg Gary Numan and The Groundhogs, both sitting on premium songbooks and bound to leave out a song you love at shows. But over nearly 40 minutes, the group display their rocking surefooted delivery, rich guitar licks and the fine vocal of Pete French, adding a Hendrixy touch to ‘Barricades’ the opening number, Peter Herbert on bass effecting a fluid undertow of notes that hint at The James Gang early works and Jimmy Rowland lively as ever on drums. Rayner on guitar has a toolbox of riffs, squeals and biting phrases, dig the hammer-on intro of crowd favourite ‘Freelance Fiend’ and the funky ringing chordal work on ‘Work My Body’ on which French works his sensual magic against a kicking but held-back drumbeat and ascending changes which burst into a delay-laden guitar solo with its cloud of twirling runs….great dynamics from master players ! Group composition ‘Stop Look & Listen’ is as effective in its attack and punch as any Free or Bad Company number. ‘Wait A Minute’ is a bass-driven soulful song with a Southern Rock flavour, but no worries as French can handle this kind of vocal with ease and emphasis, beautiful stuff.
The edgy and restless riffery of ‘ One Hundred & Five Degrees’ makes the song a rock gem, wavering fuzzy guitar chords under the singing and another steam-driven solo in a Billy Gibbons mode at first before riding up into typical Rayner six-string anguish. Winding up the audio disc in this double is ‘Evil’ taken at thunderous pace but with the right stops and thumping tomtoms, electrified anger indeed..
One of the great ‘lost’ bands of the hardrock era , reborn and refurbished – sounding like a proper group rather than show-offs getting together..and in French a songsmith par excellence
The other disc is a live DVD which underlines the band’s power and adds key numbers like ‘Stagnant Pool’ and classic ‘Growers of Mushroom’
Pete Sargeant
