Friday night blast: Cinelli Brothers were back in Newbury

The Cinelli Brothers with support The Velveteen Orkestra at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore on Friday, November 17

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

APPEARING as a duo tonight rather than a four piece, the Velveteen Orkestra put on a great support show which opened with their debut single from 2016 Dressed Up in Sables.

The reduction in numbers force changes, lead vocalist Dan Shears commenting that he was singing the violin part on one track.

The band are no strangers to adversity, a studio fire destroyed much of their work on their first album and a platform they used to raise money for recording went bust.

They are now hoping to release an album in 2024 and played several tracks which will, hopefully feature on it.

I particularly enjoyed Raven At The Gate, described as a ‘Gothic Western’, In The Shadows and their final track Of Better Men.

I very much hope to see the full Velveteen Orkestra return to Newbury in the near future.

The Cinelli Brothers’ return to Arlington was nothing short of a triumph, their appearance in August 2022 assured them of an almost full house and they responded with a rip roaring almost two-hour set of blues/rock and boogie blended with funk and soul influences.

Opening with the epic, crazy Choo Ma Gum and the wonderful "Spell On Me" they lauched in to a mix of self-penned numbers, (including several new tracks which will feature on their new album, slated for release at the end of February 2024) and a couple of great covers, notably Ry Cooder’s The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor) and Rory Gallagher’s A Million Miles Away.

Makin’ it Through the Night, a new song which they performed live for the first time was brilliant, as was Last Cigarette.

By the time they made it to the hotly-demanded encore, the party atmosphere was in full swing and they invited their numerous friends and relations in attendance to join them on stage and dance to Mama Don’t Like You.

A great show and a great night of music.