With support from Irish singer-songwriter Colin Andrew, who bore an uncanny resemblance to actor Paul Mescal, the night began with an immediately electric atmosphere which only peaked when Andrew launched into a cover of Handbags And Gladrags by Rod Stewart. Radiating charisma and charm, he was undeniably responsible for the crowd’s enthusiasm when Kiefer Sutherland eventually took to the stage.
Opening with Down Below, an infectious Americana track from his upcoming album Grey, Sutherland introduced Tramshed to his mesmeric storytelling. Delivering gravelly vocals, each husky riff felt more consoling than the last. An eyebrow-raising, smooth transition into a cover of Garbage’s I’m Only Happy When It Rains, the audience hung on his every note.
Singing farewell to the West Coast, Goodbye California offered a poignant moment of reflection, with fans swaying as they reminisced about the singer’s days in Hollywood. Sutherland appeared truly content, not just with himself but with his music. With a stripped-back set consisting of vintage rugs and a Western-style twig tree, he simply let the songs speak for themselves.
A notable standout of the set was Simpler Time and This Is How It’s Done, blurring the lines between Cardiff’s Tramshed and a smoky country & western bar. It was clear that Sutherland wasn’t trying to prove anything; he was simply here for his love of music. I was particularly captivated by the drum-driven outro of Down In A Hole, which perfected the balance of his set with just as many familiar crowdpleasers as there was new, unreleased material.
Sutherland has undeniably put to rest any talk of music merely being a side project to him, proving instead that it is his genuine passion. Yet, while the gig was impressively atmospheric, one is left wondering if the songs would resonate quite as loudly without a star-studded name on the ticket.
Kiefer Sutherland + Colin Andrew, Tramshed, Cardiff, Fri 22 May
words ELLIE EVANS photos NADINE BALLANTYNE
