THE STEVE EGGS BAND

Turning Up at the Sound Lounge

When a band with good intentions wants to roll over its audience with a rockin’ good night then fans were sure glad they turned up at one of South London’s hottest venues to witness yet another great show by the Steve Eggs Band.

Yes, it was back to the Sound Lounge in Sutton (August 15, 2025) when the SEB headed a bill that included inspirational young support artists who also won over the crowd with their original songs.

In the civilised atmosphere of the Lounge the audience sits at tables for meals and drinks, all set to enjoy the music and not bellow loudly at the bar about subjects incomprehensible to those with a more academic turn of mind.

In fact I often bellow loudly myself. But only to encourage the artistic endeavours of the sensitive and gifted singer/songwriters Simon Stanley Ward and Hannah Scott, who opened the show. It was Simon from Tottenham who came on first, with a fine voice, a dab hand at strumming the guitar and blessed with a good sense of humour.

HOWDY PARD’NERS

This was apparent when he donned a Stetson hat and launched into a ditty called ‘I’m A Country Singer.’ This included the line ‘I’m a fake and a phoney and a one trick pony’ so I wouldn’t recommend he embark on a tour of Nashville bars, at least not without a manager the size of the late Peter Grant for an escort.

Another song ‘I’m A Worrier’ from his album Rocket In The Desert (2024) recorded with the Shadows of Doubt was a thoughtful piece he explained was about ‘mental health’ and proved highly popular with his enchanted audience.

However when Simon concluded his set with an amusing ‘Beluga Whale’ routine from Songs From Various Places (2019), I must confess to suffering mental issues myself. This was largely due to being surrounded by devotees enthusiastically emulating the gurgling of Beluga whales.

HAPPY HANNAH

Hannah Scott was a less alarming performer in showbiz terms, being more restrained and tasteful while just as impressive artistically speaking – and singing. Whether seated at a real piano (no doubt heaved in place by strong stage hands) or standing upfront with her guitar, Hannah proved an experienced performer with an authorative yet engaging manner.

She introduced a range of ‘unashamed love songs’ during her set excelling on ‘Broken Homes’ from her Absence Of Doubt (2024) album and a new song about ‘Happy Childhood’ that should be broadcast non-stop on the wireless (a device I listened to in my childhood) and ‘Untold Stories’ about a clever man she once knew who was ‘a book collector’.

WE ARE THE EGGMEN

After a brief pause for refreshment the Steve Eggs Band took to the stage and roared into ‘A Place in the World’ an exultant number from their new album Imperfect Stranger. It’s one of those riffs you want to play while speeding along an empty motorway when the sun is shining. Optimistic!

Cheers and applause greeted the Egg Men when it became clear their one-hour set was going to be a non-stop barrage of upbeat rock and no messin’.

All the band members can sing and it was good to see Peter Wass armed with his Paul McCartney style, 1967 Hofner violin bass up front and joining in harmony as well as lead vocals. (We emphasise that because often band members are hidden by iron posts or PA stacks at cramped pub gigs). But tonight everyone was on display at the Sound Lounge, notably Mr. Eggs himself, composer and master of lead vocals, guitar and harmonica.

One of their regular crowd pleasers ‘Good Intentions’ was matched by ‘One Horse Town’ a rockin’ back beat hit from their Lazarus Lights (2021) album enlivened by lead guitarist Jon Kershaw wailing on his Translucent Blue PRS SE Standard 24 guitar. (Thought guitar buffs would like to know that. You want technical details? We got ‘em).

There was almost a Black Sabbath mood about ‘When The Darkness Comes’ a classic from Hometown Skyline (2014). Well perhaps not Sabbath exactly, but memorable in its own dark way especially when Mr. Kershaw wailed a stunning guitar interlude between Steve’s insistence that… ‘It will be alright, when the darkness comes…’

Certainly there was even more menace about the extraordinary ‘Sugar And Blood’ with its pounding beat from Mark Taylor, whose drumming reached new heights of power throughout the entire set. Yep, it was Keith Moon meets Jimmy Cobb.

ROLL OVER!

Next came ‘Strangest Feeling’ a new song from Imperfect Stranger (2025). Steve sang with a chiming guitar chord backing that lured us into a romantically insistent theme ideal for a Netflix mystery drama series. Jonny The K was featured on another dynamic guitar solo and there was more to come from Jon on ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ sung by Peter with Dylan-esque fury.

“The next song we recorded when we were still at school, ten years ago” announced Mr. Eggs as he cued in ‘Roll Over’ still one of their most popular numbers. The show ended amidst a blaze of guitars, drums and even Steve’s wailing harmonica came into play as the audience cheered and raised their glasses in appreciation. Actually my glasses were already steamed up.

CHRIS WELCH

Note: To order a copy of Imperfect Stranger go to website STEVEEGGSBAND.CO.UK