Those Damn Crows

+support from James Bruner

Corporation Sheffield 18th March 2025

Review – Steve Harrison

Heading out on a series of intimate shows, and a series of in-stores that coincides with the release of their upcoming album ‘God Shaped Hole’, Those Damn Crows hit the Corporation for another sold out show, bringing along with them James Bruner as support.

I wasn’t familiar with James Bruner but his energetic performance was definitely infectious and gained an appreciative response from the crowd. Opening with ‘Switchblade’ and zipping straight into ‘Endless’.

Lead guitarist Zach Mears clearly demonstrated his killer chops and shredability, ‘a la’ Paul Gilbert ripping through new single ‘Evil In Disguise’.

‘Wait For You’ was a highlight of the set, with Sabbath style doom riffs opening and leading in to a slick mid tempo groove that has all the makings of a true epic with a phenomenal wailing solo at the end that sadly ended way too soon!

Continuing with the track 'Alibi', that had a sleazy vibe to it, then James introduced a song that he had just finished recording in Nashville but hadn’t been released yet, another song with an element of increased tempo change, that still failed to get the crowd truly rocking.

James Bruner

The ongoing surge of a ‘classic’ rock vibe is getting to saturation point with bands emerging left right and centre and not all truly hitting the mark! James vocals were solid but lacked that distinctive edge to set him apart. A good performer but way too ‘clean cut’ to have any sleazy 'rock n roll' swagger that went with the music so wasn’t particularly convincing. Polished performance though and fantastic musicians but not quite enough to fully win the crowd over, but still a great set.

The last time Those Damn Crows played the Corpoation Sheffield was 2021 and it was sold out then as well. Tonights packed out crowd had only one thing on their collective minds, with the fervent buzz of the expectant crowd reaching full pitch when the band leapt onto the stage.

Guitars blasting and sustaining the opening chord, Shane strutting to the centre, leaning back, hitting and holding a mighty killer opening note and then uttering the words ‘THOSE….. DAMN…… CROWS…! And ripping into ‘Let’s Go Pyscho’.

  At that point it’s game over for the Sheffield crowd as they are swooped up by the energy and power of Those Damn Crows, and it thunders on like an unstoppable juggernaut.

Cranking through the set with Man On Fire, Find A Way and ‘Kingdom Of Dust’.

Shane has a real aura that surrounds him and draws the crowd in, phenomenal vocals but the most down to earth, self deprecating  front man I know. Jumping into the photo pit to get close to the crowd, and he even stops and apologises for spitting out a sweet on to the crowd that brought huge laughs from the crowd. This sincerity oozes from every member of the band, a look from all of them that still portrays an excited incredulity.

This band have grafted hard and is often questioned why they aren’t playing arenas right now. The heaviness and poise of new songs like ’No Surrender’, ‘Glass Heart and ‘ Dreaming’, then raging through the killer set including ‘Who Did It’, my personal favourite ‘Sin On Skin and ‘Go Get It’  takes the crowd over effortlessly.

Tonights set is all too short, closing out with wonderful ‘This Time I’m Ready’ and the rocker ‘See You Again’ bit of course the finale ‘Rock n Roll Aint Dead’ has the crowd singing out at the top of their lungs in appreciation. Knowing full well they will be back around soon enough.

Those Damn Crows

With a live performance and songs of a superior calibre that was on show tonight, it has to be upwards for Those Damn Crows.

New album ‘God Shaped Hole’ is out April 11th with an in-store tour supporting the release and lets hope a tour with bigger crowds that they well and truly deserve.