Page 46 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 111

BV111 pg 46-49 BSC.qxp_BV111 pg46 13/12/2024 09:42 Page 1

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BLACK STONE CHERRY / SKILLET / AYRON JONES - MANCHESTER AO ARENA, 22.11.24
It’s no secret that Black Stone Cherry and their UK audiences share a special bond, having visited these shores regularly since 2007. Making a
name for themselves as a great live band who delivers time after time, the quartet has a solid fanbase here, one that supports them every time they
make their way over.
It’s a cold, dreary November evening when Black Stone Cherry’s Screamin’ At The Sky Tour arrives in Manchester. This does not deter fans from
forming a queue outside the AO arena, eagerly waiting for the main doors to open. Once inside, it isn’t long before opening artist Ayron Jones and his
band arrive onstage. The raw aggression of ‘Boys From The Puget Sound’ echoes around an arena that is virtually empty at this point. As the venue
continues to fill during Jones’ six-song set, we are treated to a mash-up of hip-hop, hard rock, some soul and blues; Ayron Jones embraces all the
styles and delivers them with flair and grit. The crowd clap along to the swaggering ‘Filthy’. ‘Blood In The Water’ - a song about the resilience and
strength that can be found from enduring hardship and pain - showcases the singer’s soulful voice beautifully. ‘Mercy’ and the groove-laden funk of
‘Take Me Away’ deliver further variety and rawness as they round off the set. Ayron Jones is a talented musician who deserves to have his own
headline spot on arena stages someday.
Talking of headline acts, let’s talk about the next band onstage, Skillet. No, they are not headlining tonight, but they have the songs and the stage
show to be. “We are Skillet!” charismatic frontman John Cooper announces before the band launch into ‘Feel Invincible’.

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