The Vintage Explosion Queen's Hall Edinburgh 29th November 2025 Review
The Vintage Explosion were at the Queen's Hall Edinburgh tonight, and this was another sold out show on their current tour. Normally, when there is a support band opening the show - "Sweet Swing Serenaders" tonight - audiences trickle into a venue until the headline act takes to the stage, but not so tonight, this was a very busy venue from doors opening. Obviously no one was missing their space (no specific seat allocations and standing room availability too) for this one.
Opening the show were the "Sweet Swing Serenaders", a trio with a very laid back rock-a-billy sound that, for me, had that feeling of listening to an vintage radio show (and I mean that as a compliment). This band obviously love the music that they are playing and this came over throughout their set.
For some reason though, from where I was seated in the gallery, the sound was a bit unbalanced and it was at times difficult to hear frontman Julen Santamaria clearly on guitar and vocals, but this was obviously a lot better downstairs as this audience were responding very positively to classics including "Walking After Midnight" and "Walk Right Back". Songs from their CD, "The Sweet Swing Serenaders Volume One, including "Take That Bottle (Away From Me)" also received very positive audience response. A perfect warm-up act for what was to follow. I am sure though that given the time and their own space, this band would have easily moved into a far more energetic rock-a-billy mode.
The difference in approach to songs between the "Sweet Swing Serenaders" and The Vintage Explosion could not have been more different. From the moment that the band took to the stage to loud applause from the audience and William Hitchell opened their set with his distinctive power vocals on "Rockin' Chair", it was obvious that this was another full power, non-stop musical performance from the band for this evening. All sound issues seemed to be fixed now too.
There are now some songs that have to be on any Vintage Explosion set list, including classics such as "The Girl Can't Help It", "Runaround Sue", "The Wanderer" and "Shake, Rattle & Roll", and in the hands of this band and William Hitchell on vocals you realise that these are also great audience participation songs - classic "call and response" songs. To be able to do this live though, you need a band to be in perfect timing and someone upfront who knows exactly how to work that audience. The Vintage Explosion have both these ingredients.
Much has been written by reviewers about William Hitchell's power vocals on these rock’n’roll classics, but it is often forgotten that here is also someone with one of the best soul music voices around, as tonight’s performances of "A Change is Gonna Come" and "Unchained Melody" made so clear.
The Vintage Explosion are constantly updating their set-list for shows and there were more than a few surprises here tonight, but I am not giving any of them away here.
I have to admit here a personal bias towards The Vintage Explosion as over the last few years that I have been reviewing their shows, they have become one of my favourite bands to see live. There are many reasons for this, and the sheer power and range of William Hitchell's vocals are an obvious one. There are many more though; this band are, after now doing so many live performances together, a very tight band of individually and collectively talented musicians who put so much fun and energy into all of the songs that they perform. Also, this band put everything that they have into every show that I have seen them at and tonight was no exception. The Vintage Explosion give their audience exactly what they come out for - great songs, great performances, and just a feel good factor to the whole show.
Review by Tom King (c) 2025
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Opening the show were the "Sweet Swing Serenaders", a trio with a very laid back rock-a-billy sound that, for me, had that feeling of listening to an vintage radio show (and I mean that as a compliment). This band obviously love the music that they are playing and this came over throughout their set.
For some reason though, from where I was seated in the gallery, the sound was a bit unbalanced and it was at times difficult to hear frontman Julen Santamaria clearly on guitar and vocals, but this was obviously a lot better downstairs as this audience were responding very positively to classics including "Walking After Midnight" and "Walk Right Back". Songs from their CD, "The Sweet Swing Serenaders Volume One, including "Take That Bottle (Away From Me)" also received very positive audience response. A perfect warm-up act for what was to follow. I am sure though that given the time and their own space, this band would have easily moved into a far more energetic rock-a-billy mode.
The difference in approach to songs between the "Sweet Swing Serenaders" and The Vintage Explosion could not have been more different. From the moment that the band took to the stage to loud applause from the audience and William Hitchell opened their set with his distinctive power vocals on "Rockin' Chair", it was obvious that this was another full power, non-stop musical performance from the band for this evening. All sound issues seemed to be fixed now too.
There are now some songs that have to be on any Vintage Explosion set list, including classics such as "The Girl Can't Help It", "Runaround Sue", "The Wanderer" and "Shake, Rattle & Roll", and in the hands of this band and William Hitchell on vocals you realise that these are also great audience participation songs - classic "call and response" songs. To be able to do this live though, you need a band to be in perfect timing and someone upfront who knows exactly how to work that audience. The Vintage Explosion have both these ingredients.
Much has been written by reviewers about William Hitchell's power vocals on these rock’n’roll classics, but it is often forgotten that here is also someone with one of the best soul music voices around, as tonight’s performances of "A Change is Gonna Come" and "Unchained Melody" made so clear.
The Vintage Explosion are constantly updating their set-list for shows and there were more than a few surprises here tonight, but I am not giving any of them away here.
I have to admit here a personal bias towards The Vintage Explosion as over the last few years that I have been reviewing their shows, they have become one of my favourite bands to see live. There are many reasons for this, and the sheer power and range of William Hitchell's vocals are an obvious one. There are many more though; this band are, after now doing so many live performances together, a very tight band of individually and collectively talented musicians who put so much fun and energy into all of the songs that they perform. Also, this band put everything that they have into every show that I have seen them at and tonight was no exception. The Vintage Explosion give their audience exactly what they come out for - great songs, great performances, and just a feel good factor to the whole show.
Review by Tom King (c) 2025
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com