Back in the day music magazines such as Heavy Metal bible Kerrang and its wannabe competitor RAW would regularly pad out their pages with compilation lists of top 10 musical categories. You remember the drill – it was often centred more around looks than ability – fittest drummer, coolest bass maestro, sexiest hair (male & female categories), hottest vocalist (male and female categories) but there was always one that seemed to be a bit more about ability than physical features – best guitarist.

Well let’s not make any bones about it, if such a list was being put together in 2025 you’d be hard-pressed to find a more accomplished axeman treading the boards than Cardinal Black’s Chris Buck. His playing is simply mesmerising as the soul-tinged Welsh alt Blues rockers (with a heavy hint of Americana) fight off a bout of heavy colds to deliver a highly accomplished performance to a hugely appreciative Leeds’ audience.

The early onset of the bug that has affected the rest of the band doesn’t seem to affect frontman Tom Hollister’s powerful vocals, perhaps even adding a touch more baritone to his ‘voice of the valleys’ that is resounding like thunder around the confines of Leeds Stylus.

The band confidently kick off with the opening two tracks from new long player Midnight at The Valencia – Ride Home and Falling – both paving the way for 100 minutes of top-notch musical entertainment.

Hollister, all hipster beard and flat cap, attempts to maintain that air of superior cool achieved by rock’s greatest frontmen, but when Buck let’s rip with his array of killer riffs or spellbinding solos he melts away like the rest of us. Buck plays most of the time with his eyes closed, his fingers flashing across the fretboard with unnerving speed and not a single downward glance. It’s as if his guitar is a moulded part of his body and despite the complexity of his playing, I didn’t notice a single note being anything but pitch perfect all night.

The songs standard remains high throughout the 14-song set, but highlights include the anthemic Tell Me How It Feels and Keep On Running, whilst the constant encouragement from the stage for audience participation hits its peak with Warm Love.

The band’s love for their music is evident, as is their constant acknowledgement of appreciation to their ever-expanding audience. Hollister acknowledges the unusual juxtaposition of his jokey on-stage demeanour sitting alongside the darker, thoughtful, side of life his lyrics frequently reference. His openness draws the audience closer and it feels almost like a family affair as the band fly through their highly impressive show. Perhaps the only thing now missing from their repertoire to elevate them to the very next level is that one big anthemic song that you leave the venue singing and wake up the next morning humming. Score that and they’ll be superstars.