Jared James Nichols w/ The Soul Revival – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton: Live Review

By Mark Lear on 5th December 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Jared James Nichols w/ The Soul Revival – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton – Sunday 30th November 2025

NIPPY IN THE FACTORY

Well, winter has arrived and it’s all getting a bit messy outdoors. There’s even a whiff of sleet and snow in the air. Fortunately for me, I’m only nipping down the road to a much-loved venue, I’ve remembered to put a vest on though, as 100 year old ex-car factorys get a bit nippy until the atmosphere kicks in, which it will do tonight as a big Wolverhampton favourite rolls into town as part of a ten date UK tour, that comes straight off the back of sixteen nights across Europe. November and December will have seen Jared James Nichols clock up the miles and the Christmas season will come as a much needed break, no doubt.

In time-honoured fashion, we have a support, which comes in the form of local boys and staunch Villa fans, The Soul Revival, will be buoyant after their 1-0 victory earlier in the day, over their nearest league rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, the very city where tonight’s event take place. This could make things interesting if the banter starts, perhaps.

Let’s get on with it.

THE SOUL REVIVAL

Now I only saw these fellas a few months ago when they were called in to support Brave Rival, at the exact same venue. Tonight, they’re pulling the same trick as a last minute replacement for AfroDiziac, whose absence from the full JJN tour is as yet unknown. They hit it hard last time and with a bit of luck they’ll do it again as it’ll make for a rocking start.

The four boys arrive on stage as the bells hit seven – it’s an early start tonight as it’s a school night – and they don’t mess about. No delays getting here this time either, as the hideous road works that hampered the drummer’s arrival previously are a distant memory.

Dark Shadows and Kicked Me To The Dirt are the standard two openers usually, and tonight is no exception. They hit it hard with two songs that are punched out with vengeance and set the scene for the next half an hour other so. The boys have a heart though and Heart So Hollow tells the story of a couple of their friends who they lost way before time. It starts slow, steady and melodic, but it doesn’t take long before the thrash kicks in and a true tribute is made to their friend’s memory.

TRIPPY

Rockstar follows, which has a trippy element to it as it’s about playing guitar whilst floating about on clouds – or something along those lines anyway. Front man Stetson admits it’s the cheesiest song he’s ever written, but still, it’s well received by Wolverhampton who have warmed up nicely to the Villains’ efforts. Said cheesy tune also gives Dove the chance to present his guitar all trophy like on many an occasion and bust moves aplenty – which he’s done all gig – and to throw his long tresses all over the place as the song dictates a rockstar should do. Gotta admire a band that does actually perform, and these boys don’t leave anything on the table.

Now for the Bah Humbug bit. I’m all for Christmas, but it’s still November, only just mind, but it is, and Christmas singles should be firmly against the law until the twelfth month begins, and I care not that this is tomorrow. Today is the eleventh month. Despite my protestations, which are only known to myself anyway, the chaps launch into I Still Believe but only after they’ve insisted on the entire crowd – of which there are many – don Santa hats which the boys have kindly provided.

NO CHRISTMAS ‘TIL DECEMBER?

It would appear that Wolverhampton doesn’t have the same ‘no Christmas until December’ attitude that I have as most of them are all too willing to dress in the attire provided ! Time for me to shut up then. There’s a cheeky bit of banter about the score of the earlier football match handed out, before the finale, which is a big crowd pleaser and gives everyone the chance to join in vocally, whilst still wearing said Santa hats. Show Me The Right Way finishes us off nicely and said Villa fans get a huge cheer at the end of it all.

Second time I’ve seen them and second time I’ve been impressed. Next time it needs to be a full gig and not just seven or eight songs, so watch this space in the new year.

JARED JAMES NICHOLS

It seems like a lifetime since I’ve seen this Fella live, a good twenty months in fact, and even then, it was only short and sweet as he was the Support to Mr. Big, so seven songs and out.

Tonight, it’s the full hit though and it’ll be good to catch up, see what new stuff he has in store, if anything – and if his hair has grown long again. There were plenty of murmurs in the crowd when he last appeared with his locks heavily chopped, and a good eight inches shorter than what everyone expects. A bizarre thing to be concerned about, but there you go. Fans bother about these sort of things and JJN’s are no different.

At the bizarre time of 19:40, our headliner arrives, a few moments after regular partners in crime, Ryan Rice on drums, and Brian Weaver on bass, have led the way, and following in the same vein as the support, by kicking in with the usual two starters. Easy Come, Easy Go and Hardwired both of which are big crowd pleasers and as it’s a while since they’ve been heard live, everyone is happy with it all.

BANTER AND BENDS

Nichols has a big affiliation with Wolverhampton and with KK’s judging by his T-shirt, and being the amenable fella that he is welcomes everyone, banters a little, bends a few strings purely for entertainment value, and then storms his way into another big pleaser Throw Me To The Wolves which is heavily backed by some big punchy drums and some big solid bass notes to help carry it through. This is good and very welcome stuff, and the good and kind people of the West Midlands are very much up for it, and well in the groove.

The first of the new stuff comes next, with Ghost written with Tyler Bryant, Nichols tells us and released to coincide with this tour. A song about struggling with insecurities and the internal voices of self-doubt that live rent free in your head. If this is a sign of all the new stuff that’s to come, the future is something to look forward to.

BRING ON THE SUB

Nichols and Dove from The Soul Revival had hit it off back stage apparently, with constant talk about guitars and the like and Nichols sees fit to invite him on stage for a version of Mississippi Queen which sees the pair of them play off each other in true rock / blues fashion.

Good Time Girl sees a heavy back beat from Rice before Weaver takes front and centre stage to whip everyone into order, but it’s when we get to the middle eight that things take a different turn… Midway through the song drummer Ryan suddenly ups and heads off stage at pace but looking as if he’s about to pass out. No one realises fully what’s happening for a moment or two but then the whole thing stops whilst stock is taken. Nichols asks us to bear with him for a moment whilst he goes off stage to see what the state of play is, …so we wait.

JJN comes back on and explains that Rice is okay but needs a moment or six. “They’ve been touring every night for eighteen dates straight and they’re on the final push and keep challenging themselves to keep going, they’ve got one week left, but these sort of things happen on tour,” he explains.

A decision is taken to keep going and The Soul Revival drummer, Selekis, takes over for a bit of a jam session whilst a full assessment of the events off-stage takes place. Now Or Never happens with just Nichols as Weaver goes to see what the latest is. He’s back for Nails In The Coffin done in duet style and Wolverhampton likes this greatly, as it’s probably its favourite JJN tune and it gets a huge roar of approval.

ALL ROCK AND ROLL

It’s now that Nichols tries to explain the full situation – even though he doesn’t fully know – and it’s perhaps a little disconcerting to hear that the people of Wolverhampton are more interested in him keeping on playing such were the cries from the crowd to that effect. This puts our man between a rock and a hard place. He has no idea what’s really happening to his buddy and drummer – he needs to know – but at the same time, there are a ton and a half people in the crowd who are hell bent on getting their money’s worth. Damned if you do… Rock and roll gets a bit shitty at times it would seem.

Selekis is back behind the skins and JJN says they’re going to play one more and then he’s coming to have some drinks with us, and to give us some big sweaty hugs ! Mmm, maybe just the beer Jared, maybe just the beer. No offence! Selekis has managed to listen to some tune twice backstage in preparation for being called into action. We don’t know what it is but it’s solid and meaty and a good way to finish a difficult night. We were only ten or so minutes away from the normal finish time anyway, I’d say and there’s no good way to finish a gig when stuff like this happens.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT…

There’s six more gigs scheduled over the next six nights so let’s see what happens. More to the point, you hope that Rice is back on his feet soon enough and ready to go again just as soon as he’s able.

Fingers crossed.