The Damn Truth.
Support: Crobot
The Live Rooms, Chester
Friday, August 28th 2026
Let’s get this straight: seeing The Damn Truth isn’t like watching any other gig. It’s an event every live music lover should experience at least once, so that they can tell their fellow devotees to go see for themselves just why the Juno nominees from Canada are causing such a ruckus in the Blues-Rock genre. That the gig is taking place in The Chester Live Rooms, a venue which, in my opinion, has the best acoustics in the North West, is an added plus
First, Crobot. Full disclosure, I had heard of but never actually heard the music of the quartet from the unlikely monikered Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Now, having been exposed to the assault on the senses that is their live performance, three studio albums – Feel This, Obsidian, and their latest Supermoon – are now safely ensconced in my collection.
To say that frontman Brandon Yeagley has a stage presence is a bit like saying Niagara has a waterfall. This is a man steeped in energy, who – having literally stormed the stage – delights in metaphorically grabbing the audience by the throat and less than gently throttling them. All of this, naturally, is done in a very, very good way. His microphone stand swings into impossible angles, only to be deftly caught and used as a musical weapon to propel the knife-edged lyrics outwards, while his long, soon-sweat-soaked hair flays about like some demented cat-o’-nine-tails. But, man, what a voice. Rich and resonant, with just a hint of grit, this is no parody but a blown force to be reckoned with: a Rock typhoon you can only hope will come your way
Chris Bishop’s guitar work is mesmerizing. Swinging his axe up and around his body at regular intervals, he never misses a step, and his work on the truly magnificent Girl From Another World and My Name Is Trouble deserves a review on its own. Add the energised bass beat supplied by Willie Jansen and the solid sonic boom of his brother Nico, and you have not merely a support set but an occasion worthy of a public health warning. Wow, these guys are LOUD!
In short, impressive. So much so, in fact, a long snake of fans queuing at the Merch to snap up their stuff proves their worth.
So the main event has a lot to live up to. No problem, despite a slightly shorter stage slot than that enjoyed on their recent winter tour. Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit plays as Lee-La Baum, Tom Shemer, PY Lettelier and Dave Traina take their respective positions and launch into the dynamic Be Somebody from their latest, eponymously titled album. Aside from their obvious craftsmanship, this is a band who clearly live for, and revel in, being on stage. Shemer postures and pouts while his guitar is shredded, resplendent in a blood red suit and matching shirt – and bends notes into such blissfully astute sounds your ears might think they have died and gone to heaven.
Baum’s voice, a mix of Joplin and Franklin, yet uniquely her own, delivers faultlessly. The latest single, Killer Whale, is absolutely smashed out of the park, aided and abetted by the majesty of PY Lettelier’s bass and the stomp and gristle of Dave Traina’s metronomic pulse beat from the drums. Get With You, as well as The Willow and This Is Who We Are Now, are all songs that will be long remembered for their powerful representations. The band’s gratitude to the crowd welds a sense of ‘Oneness’ and ‘Unity’, which creates a warmth and appreciation rarely seen but long appreciated. Shemer loves nothing more than to play in and amongst the faithful, which adds further joy to the proceedings.
The Damn Truth may have been on stage for 1 hour 15 minutes, but boy, did they leave it smouldering in their wake. Those who were there witnessed something so truly special; it can only be hoped The Damn Truth experience will happen again very soon.
WORDS: Chris High
IMAGE: Lee-La Baum live in Chester (c) Mark Powell
THE DAMN TRUTH SETLIST:
Be Somebody
Love Outta Luck
Killer Whale
This Is Who We Are Now
The Willow
All Night Long
Lonely
Look Innocent
Get With You
Tomorrow