A terrific start to the new year, with a series of live dates from The Reasoning. 4 dates in all at Crewe Limelight and Bilston Robin2 as well as the Cardiff and Southend dates. I would really like to have made them all, but unfortunately had previous commitments, so managed to make Cardiff and Southend only.

Cardiff Point is a terrific venue; a nice roomy stage, great sound and with slightly gothic overtones. Breathing Space were the support band on this night, and it was a good set though seemed a bit low key for the most part. They did pick up the pace near the end of their set, and whereas it did not make me want to rush over and buy one of their CD’s, it was my first exposure to their material and perhaps more familiarity would yield more enjoyment.

The Reasoning kicked off with Karnataka’s Talk To Me – a rearranged set from the last series of gigs, and as it should be for a band that is constantly evolving and working new numbers into the set. Lots of smiling on stage, the band obviously having a great time, especially during Fallen Angels where they indulge in a bit of pogoing! But that’s indicative of how tight these guys are, not just musically but also as a group of people. They are very much a unit and just can’t wait to get up on stage and play. We got a nice surprise during Chasing Rainbows, with the band breaking off into a rendition of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean. Worked very well too, and the crowd loved it. I know some people don’t like the concept of bands doing covers like this, but I am the opposite, I think there is something about that comfortable recognition factor that helps to endear the band to an audience. I personally like a band to do covers that are far removed from their usual style, rather than the usual clichéd ones.

And I must say that new song Breaking The 4th Wall is really growing on me – Rachel and Gareth’s vocals on this song are nothing short of stunning. Another interesting new track is aired tonight, Sharp Sea, which already has what is fast becoming a very distinctive Reasoning sound.

A set highlight for me is the title track from forthcoming new album Dark Angel, and is sounding better and better - an epic, heavy, twisting behemoth of a song with occasional hints of Dream Theater. And to finish off, what else but their barnstorming rendition of Deep Purple’s Stormbringer. The band seem to be picking up a very healthy collection of regular fans, and new people seem to be discovering the band all the time. Despite this being a ‘hometown gig’, this was far from being a collection of friends and relations, these were people who have listened to and been impressed by the material, and sought the band out.

What is becoming more apparent the more I watch the band play is the diversity of styles that their set has – from the melodic, softer Karnataka songs and Breaking The 4th Wall, to the more intense numbers like Shadows Of Your Mind and Sacred Shape, to the heavier, rockier numbers like Awakening and Dark Angel, and finally the crowd pleasing, let-your-hair-down covers like Billie Jean and Stormbringer.

I know that this 4 date mini-tour has really whetted the bands appetite to get out and do more dates, and hopefully a longer tour. Like any band, the more they play the better they are, and from reports I have heard from the last night of this run at Bilston they were pretty awesome. There are a series of dates coming up in May in the Netherlands, and plans are afoot for more European dates later in the year.

With the new album due soon, things are going from strength-to-strength for a band that deserve to be seen and heard by a much wider audience.

John Morley

pics: Mike Evans