Skinny Molly - Tavistock Review

It is funny how sometimes bands can elude you. Despite seeing the band a number of times between 2007 and 2010, Tennessee's Skinny Molly have always been somewhat out of reach ever since. Formed in 2004 by former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mike Estes (vocals/guitar/mandolin/percussion) and the late Molly Hatchet founder Dave Hlubeck, the band has become a fixture of the modern southern rock scene. Initially the band largely payed tribute to the members' past ventures, but over the years Skinny Molly has become a fully-fledged band in their own right with three studio albums of original material and numerous world treks to their name. Hlubeck returned to Molly Hatchet not long after the formation of Skinny Molly, so the band has pretty much always been a vehicle for Estes' talents. He is the band's focal point, lead singer, and has written all of the band's original material. Despite this, he is always backed by a strong band who help to bring his visions to life. I have seen a few incarnations of Skinny Molly of the years, as a few members have come and gone, but each has been a slick and powerful southern rock unit that has presented a tougher, bluesier take on the genre with less of the country influence that many southern rock bands displayed. I had been wanting to see the band again for a number of years but, despite UK tours happening pretty much every year, I could never make a plan work. I always used to see the band at The Wharf in Tavistock, but for whatever reason Skinny Molly have been keeping away from Devon in recent years. That was however until yesterday, when the band made their first return to Tavistock in a good few years. Tickets were immediately snapped up, and it was a show I was really looking forward to. Southern rock is always great to experience live, and Skinny Molly had released two strong albums of original material since I had last seen them. My memories of Skinny Molly shows of the past were a fairly even mix of original material and Lynyrd Skynyrd classics (only 2008's No Good Deed... was out when I was seeing them fairly regularly), but I fully expected a 2019 Skinny Molly show to focus much more on their own original material. I was right but there was still time for a few Lynyrd Skynyrd classics and other treats as well.

Skinny Molly's return to The Wharf attracted a decent-sized crowd, although not as big as they have drawn there previously, which helped to create a strong atmosphere throughout the evening. Southern rock is a fun genre of music, and it was not long after the band took to the stage that people were dancing and having a great time. There was no support, so Skinny Molly took to the stage at around 8:45pm and crashed through a 90 minute set with ease - with boogie blues filling the Devon venue the whole time. As their shows from a few years ago, the band got underway with their take on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Workin' for MCA, a personal favourite, which ensured the evening got off to a great start. As a four piece, with only two guitarists and no keyboard player, Skinny Molly's versions of old Lynyrd Skynyrd songs are much tougher and bluesier than the originals, but that suits Estes' drawling vocals. The band's two guitarists more than do the old songs justice, with Estes and Pavel Marcel (guitar/vocals) - who was filling in for regular guitarist Jay Johnson who had to stay at home for family reasons - trading riffs and solos all throughout the night. The next handful of songs were all Skinny Molly originals. While it was the Lynyrd Skynyrd classics that perhaps received the biggest reactions from the crowd, the originals were also welcomed warmly. The rolling riff of Here for a Good Time made the song an early highlight, while the twin-guitar riffing of Too Much made for a melodic and punchy moment. Skinny Molly's three albums are all very strong, and all were represented in the set with a decent number of songs. Another highlight of the early portion of the night was the upbeat When the Goin' Gets Tough the Tough Go Fishin', before Estes donned a mandolin and took the band back to their first album for the atmospheric Me and the Devil Himself. A few covers followed, with Estes sticking with his mandolin for a version of Steve Earle's Copperhead Road before he returned to his guitar for a great rendition of the old J.J. Cale classic Call Me the Breeze which has long been a part of Lynyrd Skynyrd setlists. It was a true country rock workout, with both Estes and Marcel getting plenty of opportunities to solo while the ever-present Luke Bradshaw (bass guitar/vocals) and relative new boy Kyle Law (drums/vocals) kept up the song's shuffling beat. A couple more Lynyrd Skynyrd tracks followed, with one of Estes' compositions for the band Devil in the Bottle and the mega-classic Sweet Home Alabama wowing the crowd - who by this point were really into the show. The last portion of the set saw increased energy, with feel-good rockers in the form of Two Good Wheels and the riffy Better Than I Should hitting the spot - before the main set came to a close with a stunning rendition of Free Bird. It is always great to hear the song live, and Skinny Molly's version is excellent. Estes sung the song perfectly, before launching into the trademark lengthy solo with ease. It was a great display of southern rock prowess, and as the band left the stage they unsurprisingly received a big cheer. There was time for one more however, and the band came back for a rendition of the more laid-back Dodgin' Bullets, which felt like the calm after the storm of Free Bird. It was a fitting end to a strong evening of music, and one that the Devon crowd lapped up. The setlist was:

Workin' for MCA [Lynyrd Skynyrd cover]
Here for a Good Time
Snakebit
Too Much
If You Don't Care
Glad I Ain't You
When the Goin' Gets Tough the Tough Go Fishin'
Me and the Devil Himself
Copperhead Road [Steve Earle cover]
Call Me the Breeze [J.J. Cale cover]
Devil in the Bottle [Lynyrd Skynyrd cover]
Sweet Home Alabama [Lynyrd Skynyrd cover]
Two Good Wheels
Better Than I Should
For Y'all
Free Bird [Lynyrd Skynyrd cover]
-
Dodgin' Bullets

This show was a really welcome return to Devon to Skinny Molly who had stayed away for a number of years. I hope the band do not leave it so long again, and that they return soon as part of their next UK tour. It has been a few years since the last Skinny Molly album too, so hopefully we do not need wait too long until album number four either!