Rich Ragany and the Digressions - Mar 23

It’s Saturday night in Camden Town and what better to do than head to the Assembly for the album launch party for Rich Ragany and the Digressions excellent latest offering. Already garnishing multiple glowing reviews ‘What We Do (To Not Let Go)’ is already a contender for one of my Top 10 albums of the year.

I’ve not been to Camden Assembly before (nor in its previous incarnation as the Camden Barfly), so it was good to tick another London venue off the list. It’s not a bad venue with a decent sized stage although the fact that the stage was constantly doused in unrelenting red light meant that it was a challenge to get any decent colour shots.

Gracing the stage first we have James from More Kicks performing a number of songs from his band coupled with some of his solo material. More Kicks are an excellent band and the stripped back versions of their songs come across well.

More Kicks - Mar 23 By the time The Middlenight Men walk on stage there is a decent crowd in attendance. Normally a nine piece who swamp any stage they venture onto, tonight we are treated to a much trimmed down four piece. If you haven’t seen The Middlenight Men before, the full band is a tour de force featuring a brass section and pumping out fun catchy singalong rock songs whilst resembling the most bizarre bunch of masked superheroes since The Mystery Men. Their debut album ‘Issue #1’ was one of the highlights of 2021 and ‘Issue #2’ currently being recorded is highly anticipated.

Reduced down to two guitars for tonight’s set, we are first treated to the pop punk sounds of ‘Rat Star’ with its chugging guitars and harmony laden chorus. ‘The Middlenight Men Theme’ follows given an indication of the new material that is coming – it starts slowly before building to a suitably big ending. ‘Prison of Love’ is a corker and is in prime mid 70s Alice Cooper territory as singer Nick proudly proclaims. Even without the brass section, it sounds brilliant as Nick growls through the verses before the chorus kicks in.

‘We All Need Help Before Tomorrow’ with its Beach Boys harmonies is followed by another new tune which bodes well for the new album. ‘B.A. Baby’ is easily the band’s most singalong song and the audience duly join in. Finishing with a cover of Hey Hello’s ‘Perfect’ the short set leaves you in eager anticipation for the return of the full band.

The Middlenight Men - Mar 23 I’ve seen Rich Ragany play multiple times in a number of guises over the past few years, whether that be solo, in tandem with Kit Swing, or at the very well received Role Models reunion last year. However, it’s been nearly fourteen months since I have seen the full six piece Rich Ragany and the Digressions play. Rags has pulled together an impressive group of musicians with equally impressive CVs to make two of the best albums of the past few years. ‘What We Do (To Not Let Go)’ is a highly enjoyable progression from the sublime ‘Beyond Nostalgia and Heartbreak’ covering a wide range of styles.

Opening with the title track of the new album, the band set the pace for tonight with an emphasis on the rockier numbers in the band’s repertoire. ‘Like We’ll Never Make It’ is followed by the two standout tracks on the band’s second album ‘Beyond Nostalgia and Heartbreak’ and ‘Heartbreakers Don’t Try’. Kit’s angelic vocals are pushed to the front of these songs and take them to another level.

Rich Ragany and the Digressions - Mar 23 Bar room stomp ‘Scotty Thompson’ is always a welcome addition to the set and is followed by ‘You’re My Way Back Home’ from the new album. It’s another one of those Digressions’ staples with big riffs and killer choruses allowing the full band to have fun playing it. The pace is slowed a little for ‘One More for the Train’ as Rags enters a more reflective state of mind. It’s another killer song as is ‘How Much of Me Is You’ that follows. ‘Pretty Breeze’ rattles along at a fair pace with its piano motif standing out and will have you bouncing around the room.

Rich Ragany and the Digressions - Mar 23 As always, Rags is an engaging raconteur and keeps the audience entertained between songs. There is a clear respect between the band and how they play off each other with everyone given space to do their thing. The highly successful juxtaposition between Rags’ Canadian drawl and Kit’s powerful voice is more than demonstrated on the uplifting ‘Fade in Blue’.

Rich Ragany and the Digressions - Mar 23 All too soon the set is over but not before the band launch into ‘One Last Thing to Prove’. My favourite song from the new album, it starts quietly with a piano intro before launching into a Stooges like sonic rampage and is a fantastic set closer. This has been a rollickingly good gig tonight with the highly polished Digressions being on the verge of something great.

Despite having been in the business for over 20 years, Rich Ragany and his associates are still pulling aces out of a hat with apparent ease, and producing some fantastic material that should be recognised by a far greater audience.

Rich Ragany and the Digressions - Mar 23