Ural Thomas and the Pain at the 100 Club

The likes of the late Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley and Lee Fields have brought retro soul to the masses. They are artists whose careers started long ago but fizzled out for some reason or another before finding fame later in life. Now there's another name to add to list: Ural Thomas. And a very welcome addition he is too. With his seven piece band The Pain he put on a show at the 100 Club last night that spanned the decades, mixing old school sixties Stax flavoured soul with some excellent songs from his recent album 'The Right Time'.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Ural was a member of a group called The Monterays before going solo, and made some decent soul records in the sixties, including 'Can You Dig It' and 'Pain Is The Name of Your Game' (hence his band's name). He appeared at the Apollo with Otis Redding top of the bill, but with his career going nowhere he returned to Portland where he continued to organise jam sessions at his home. Local DJ Scott Magee was planning to set up a soul band and met Ural six years ago. After local gigs they made an album and are now on their first European tour.

Ural is nearly eighty, but you would never think so as he has the energy and the looks of a man much younger. It's a dynamic stage act, with hints of James Brown and Sam and Dave among others. His numbers - well supported by the band - were a good mix of his own material, much of it co-written with Scott Magee - and a few well performed covers. He began with 'Pain Is The Name of Your Game' and followed up with two more tracks from his album 'No Distance (Between You and Me)' and 'Gotta Say (I Love You)'. Two covers followed - an exciting version of Sam and Dave's 'You Got Me Humming' and William Bell's 'Any Other Way'.
'Can You Dig It', first recorded in 1967. followed and then came a great version of the Contours' 'Just a Little Misunderstanding'. The title track from his 'Right Time' album was very much a James Brown influenced number but the next one, the slow 'Come Back To Me', showed that he isn't just a shouter. The opening track on his album 'Slow Down' followed, with more variety with 'Vibrations' and 'I Got To Go Back'. There was some funk included but this was really varied material and highly enjoyable. His encore featured a slow number called 'Smile' and the energetic 'Push 'Em Up'. Overall, this was a good show and Ural is to be recommended. Catch him while you can!