Steve Marriot and Pete Frampton in the Humble Pie 1971 - I Don't Need No Doctor (Yes WASP fans.. that song)
Rory Gallagher - Montreux 1979 Shadow Play
How old IS Sammy Hagar? Montrose - 1974 Bad Motor Scooter
James Gang - 1971 - The Bomber
Grand Funk Railroad - 1974 - We're an American Band
Status Quo - Marquee Club 1972 - Paper Plane
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Friday, 13 March 2009
Priest Feast - 21st February Wembley Arena
So here we are - two days later, ears just about stopped ringing from Thursday night to the first Priest Feast. Sadly no ice creams of the same name on sale (marketing ploy missed there) but a three band heavyweight bill of Testament, Megadeth and Judas Priest.Back of the venue curtained off and with some of the other dates on the tour moved to smaller venues, this is not too bad a turn out.
First up - Testament. The backdrop over the amps was bigger than the whole one they had up in Oxford. Played for 40 mins with Over The Wall, Souls Of Black, DNR, More Than Meets The Eye, The Formation Of Damnation and the Godly Practice What You Preach all played. To hear PWYP played twice in 2 nights - well it doesn''t get a lot better.
Megadeth I haven't seen in years and was looking forward to it. A large clock counting down the 1 hour set time was distracting.With James Lomenzo (ex White Lion on bass)and Chris Broderick(geetar)being the latest incarnation of the band. They managed to play 12 songs in their set. Dave Mustaine looked well and played more lead geetar than I could remember. An early Wake Up Dead was excellent and benefiting from a great sound. Half way through they appeared to flick a switch and go from great to fab. In My Darkest Hour started it and then went through Symphony Of Destruction (what a riff), Skin Of My Teeth, Hangar 18, Peace Sells and an encore of Holy Wars. They got a fantastic response which was thoroughly deserved. Broderick is a great geetarist just needs a little better stage presence.Very, very good.
So onto Priest. I had read some poor reviews saying Rob Halford was using a stick, didn't move and sounded terrible. They came on to Prophecy off of the new Nostadamus epic. Sound's loud and clear and Rob pops up at the back in a bacofoil jacket(one of about 20 he changes into over the 100 minute set)like a heavy metal toaster. Synchronised head banging from KK Downing, Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill, with Scott Travis knocking the crap out of his kit all was well. They played Metal Gods, Eat Me Alive, Between The Hammer And The Anvil, Devils Child, Breaking The Law, Hell Patrol, Death(again off the new cd with Rob coming out on a throne and walking round with a stick - it was part of the show you idiots!!), Dissident Aggressor, Angel(off the last cd and the only slowy on the night and very good)The Hellion/Electric Eye(strange to see it in the middle and not at the start) Rock Hard Rock Free, Sinner and Painkiller. They came back for Hell Bent For Leather with Rob on his Harley making an appearance,Green Manilishi(love it)and ended with You Got Another Thing Coming. Stories of their demise are greatly exaggerated. Rob sounded better and moved more than the last tour 3 years ago and all the band were superb. Playing a very different set makes you realise how many great songs they have in their armoury and how long they have been around. So... value for money and a great night out.
America has had these 3 band bills for a while and it is good we in the UK are now seeing it too. 10/10 ME
First up - Testament. The backdrop over the amps was bigger than the whole one they had up in Oxford. Played for 40 mins with Over The Wall, Souls Of Black, DNR, More Than Meets The Eye, The Formation Of Damnation and the Godly Practice What You Preach all played. To hear PWYP played twice in 2 nights - well it doesn''t get a lot better.
Megadeth I haven't seen in years and was looking forward to it. A large clock counting down the 1 hour set time was distracting.With James Lomenzo (ex White Lion on bass)and Chris Broderick(geetar)being the latest incarnation of the band. They managed to play 12 songs in their set. Dave Mustaine looked well and played more lead geetar than I could remember. An early Wake Up Dead was excellent and benefiting from a great sound. Half way through they appeared to flick a switch and go from great to fab. In My Darkest Hour started it and then went through Symphony Of Destruction (what a riff), Skin Of My Teeth, Hangar 18, Peace Sells and an encore of Holy Wars. They got a fantastic response which was thoroughly deserved. Broderick is a great geetarist just needs a little better stage presence.Very, very good.
So onto Priest. I had read some poor reviews saying Rob Halford was using a stick, didn't move and sounded terrible. They came on to Prophecy off of the new Nostadamus epic. Sound's loud and clear and Rob pops up at the back in a bacofoil jacket(one of about 20 he changes into over the 100 minute set)like a heavy metal toaster. Synchronised head banging from KK Downing, Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill, with Scott Travis knocking the crap out of his kit all was well. They played Metal Gods, Eat Me Alive, Between The Hammer And The Anvil, Devils Child, Breaking The Law, Hell Patrol, Death(again off the new cd with Rob coming out on a throne and walking round with a stick - it was part of the show you idiots!!), Dissident Aggressor, Angel(off the last cd and the only slowy on the night and very good)The Hellion/Electric Eye(strange to see it in the middle and not at the start) Rock Hard Rock Free, Sinner and Painkiller. They came back for Hell Bent For Leather with Rob on his Harley making an appearance,Green Manilishi(love it)and ended with You Got Another Thing Coming. Stories of their demise are greatly exaggerated. Rob sounded better and moved more than the last tour 3 years ago and all the band were superb. Playing a very different set makes you realise how many great songs they have in their armoury and how long they have been around. So... value for money and a great night out.
America has had these 3 band bills for a while and it is good we in the UK are now seeing it too. 10/10 ME
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Testament - Oxford 02 Academy - 19th February
This is one that I have looked forward to for the last 2 months - the chance to see a legendary thrash band in a small setting.
First up Onslaught. I saw them once over 20 years ago supporting Agent Steel. Well, not a lot has changed really .In fact I saw more headbanging in their 45 minute set than I have for a long time. Still led by Sy Keeler on vox (the rest of the band, if I am honest, I can't remember) They were better when they slowed down a little to give a bit more groove. They didn't do their "Let There Be Rock" cover. In fact the only ones I remembered were "Metal Forces" and "Let There Be Death" off The Force. OK..seems they split up in 1990 and returned in 2005 and drummer and geetar #2 (Nige Rockett) are still in the band. (Google is a wonderful thing..ed)
Testament were fantastic. Simple as that.
Their brand of thrash is a a joy.Heavy as hell but with groove and Alex Skolnick's melodic solos over the top. Their 80 minute set had 2 from the great new cd The Formation Of Damnation and plenty of top songs from the last 20 years. My all time favourite "Practice What You Preach" was stunning. Skolnick hit the solo to perfection and just as you think he is stopping it goes to greater heights. Also played were "Over The Wall", "Souls Of Black", "Electric Crown" (which would have won top song but for PWYP), "Disciples Of The Watch", "First Strike Is Deadly", "D.N.R." , "Into The Pit". and countless others.
Their brand of thrash is a a joy.Heavy as hell but with groove and Alex Skolnick's melodic solos over the top. Their 80 minute set had 2 from the great new cd The Formation Of Damnation and plenty of top songs from the last 20 years. My all time favourite "Practice What You Preach" was stunning. Skolnick hit the solo to perfection and just as you think he is stopping it goes to greater heights. Also played were "Over The Wall", "Souls Of Black", "Electric Crown" (which would have won top song but for PWYP), "Disciples Of The Watch", "First Strike Is Deadly", "D.N.R." , "Into The Pit". and countless others.
Chuck Billy(vox) roared his way through the night and seemed genuinely touched by the Oxford welcome and Eric Peterson riffed like a good 'un all night and as I said earlier, Alex Skolnick topped it off like a dream. Special mention also to Paul Bostaph on drums who was awesome.
Can't say how good the night was followed up by a trip to Chicken Cottage and walking back to the car a handshake with Mr Skolnick. Sir you are star and I look forward to seeing them again in 2 nights. More of that shortly!!
10/10. ME
Our Video Archive
Here are the links to our Video Archive this time around.. (assuming You Tube keeps posting music videos)..
Firstly, in tribute to Billy Powell :
Billy Powell - RIP
Call me The Breeze - Live Knebworth 1976
Now we have some bands you might not be familiar with - but you soon will be !
H.E.A.T - 1000 miles (yes they are in the running for Eurovision - but don't be alarmed!)
Place Vendrome - Guardian Angel
The Answer - On and On (The future of Rock n Roll apparently)
JSS - 21st Century (yes that is Jeff Scott Soto)
Places of Power - In Your Wildest Dreams
Firstly, in tribute to Billy Powell :
Billy Powell - RIP
Call me The Breeze - Live Knebworth 1976
Now we have some bands you might not be familiar with - but you soon will be !
H.E.A.T - 1000 miles (yes they are in the running for Eurovision - but don't be alarmed!)
Place Vendrome - Guardian Angel
The Answer - On and On (The future of Rock n Roll apparently)
JSS - 21st Century (yes that is Jeff Scott Soto)
Places of Power - In Your Wildest Dreams
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