Junction: Live Review!

For most this was the first live gig they had seen in four long months. This reason, alongside the cheap beer and amazing clear weather, both the band and the crowd delivered, big time.

Being a Sunday mid-afternoon, and during the current limitations and rules when visiting pubs and bars during the pandemic still present in the UK, one would expect a fairly limited turnout. I, therefore, could not have been more pleasantly surprised when I arrived five minutes before show-time to find a queue stretching outside the door to get drinks, the limited seating in front of the stage almost fully occupied. However, therein lies my only slight gripe with the afternoon. While there was a large crowd packed into the Smithfield's carpark, they were rather quiet for the most part. However, the Junction boys had won them over by the end, just in time for them to shout for multiple encores!

Now, onto the band themselves.

From the moment they went on stage the crowd were treated to some of the greatest rock hits the 70s has to offer, covered to perfection. From Motorhead to Dire Straits they really covered all ends of the spectrum. Particular highlights include Hendrix's epi ‘Voodoo Child’ and, of course, Rush's ‘Spirit of Radio'. Anyone who can not only play those riffs perfectly but also sing Geddy Lee's crazy vocal lines deserves a lot of praise, and Benji Heenan is definitely that person. However, that is not to take away from the rest of the band. Daniel Heenan was incredible on the bass, vocals and the keyboards, and Ryan McFall drummed his heart out for the entirety of both sets. It is clear that all

three are at the top of their game and have really used the time away during lockdown to get as tight as possible.

On a slight side note, shout out to the sound guy for this gig, I was sat in no way near the optimal position in front of the speakers and the sound was still bang on. Everything sounded clear and loud and heavy, just the way rock music should!

Though it had been a few years before Sunday since I had last seen Junction, they had not lost a single step. They went out there, put on one hell of a show to a surprisingly big crowd. They proved why they are still one of the best cover bands going today. They've left me waiting rather impatiently for when I can next see them!