Reignwolf at Mercury Lounge

Jordan Cook

Raised in Saskatoon, Canada, guitarist Jordan Cook at age 15 performed at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival with his blues-rock trio. In 2010, he recorded a heavy blues-rock album under his own name. Two years later, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he adopted the Reignwolf moniker. The name Reignwolf applies both to Cook performing as a one-man band, simultaneously playing guitar and kick drum, or Cook leading a power trio. Within two years, Reignwolf toured the world, performed at many festivals and opened for Black Sabbath without ever releasing a record. Reignwolf released its debut album, Hear Me Out, on March 1, 2019.

Reignwolf performed at Mercury Lounge tonight as part of the venue’s 25 Years of Mercury Lounge with... series, with Cook accompanied by bassist S.J. Kardash and drummer Joseph Braley. Together, the trio played some of the most raucous blues-rock ever heard on that stage. Unlike the classic bands of that genre, Reignwolf’s performance was not about displaying roots, finesse or spotlights; instead, the performance concentrated on the raw, explosive power of the blues. Cook bent notes to spine-curdling levels, played with feedback, and was thoroughly unrestrained on his guitar as the rhythm section pounded its support. Noisy as a tornado and electrifying as a lightning bolt, this was all destructive aggression. About as subtle as a downward wrecking ball, the band played one hard-rock banger after another, leaving little room for tethering or sensitivity. This was a rock and roll designed for detonating and pulverizing anything in its path.

Setlist:

1. Over and Over
2. Alligator
3. Black and Red
4. Son of a Gun
5. I Want You
6. Ritual
7. Wanna Don't Wanna
8. Fool's Gold
9. Are You Satisfied?