Magnum - Holmfirth Picturedrome - 30th October 2009

Back to my favorite venue in West Yorkshire, the Picturedrome, Holmfirth, small enough to be intimate and large enough to create a great atmosphere. Support tonight came from Decadenze, I have to say I know nothing about them. They put on a good performance and could be worth looking out for in the future.

The Magnum set opened with Cry to Yourself, which was the first of many songs from the new Into the Valley of the Moon King CD. I think it shows the quality of the songs from this CD that they slipped so easily into the set list. From the new CD they played All My Bridges, Take Me to the Edge, No One Knows His Name, The Moon King, Face in the Crowd & All My Bridges. Early in the set these were mixed with songs from the newer sudio CDs Brand New Morning, When We Were Younger, Dragons are Real and We All Run before launching into some classics like, Les Morts Dansant, All England’s Eyes, and Vigilante. For encores we had Don’t Wake the Lion (which was brilliant) and Kingdom of Madness.

The sound was brilliant throughout and Mr Catley was in fine form all evening. All in all a great night out.
NH

Green Day - LG Arena Birmingham 28th October 2009

I've just witnessed one of the best gigs of my life.

..first up was Prima Donna - a kind of modern Hanoi Rocks I guess.. not bad, not bad at all...I can't tell you any tracks they played or how long they were on for because frankly the two and half hours that followed them were a blur and must have wiped my mind..

The Green Day live experience is not simply a gig, it's a cross between a theatrical show and the best party you've ever been to. Before they came on stage we were treated to the Drunk Bunny - a six foot tall, pink, drunk bunny who drank a couple of beers and guided us through a version of YMCA. Now THAT's how to start a gig. (you tube "Green Day Bunny" you're bound to find something).

We had a huge light rig, pyrotechnics by the bucketload, walls of flame, water pistols, tee-shirt cannons, a superb, ever changing backdrop, costume changes and lots of singalong stuff.  Members of  the crowd were constantly being pulled up onstage and asked to sing and take part and then stage dive back into the crowd. The guy who did Longview was superb, although his feet-first jump back into the crowd was a little scary and the whole band winced. You were not safe even right at the back of the arena as one guy was picked out and "crowd surfed" all the way to the stage and then back again.

Billie Joe had done his homework too - throwing in a few riffs from Brummie boys Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. (we had Highway to Hell and Teenage Kicks too). This guy is a powerhouse frontman, no question about it, he just seems to relish the response he gets by wearing something he's grabbed from the crowd or by playing a snippet of a riff and getting the response back from the crowd.

Then of course there was the music - which was exceptional. Billie Joe has a fantastic live vocal - the guy can still keep in tune whilst wresting a girl dressed in a mexican wrestlers mask (she brought it with her I guess) .. in fact the whole band (plus aditional ensemble)  played effortlessly, note perfect and still appeared to have the time of their lives...I certainly did. Gig of the year - no question...NR

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Black Stone Cherry - Leeds Academy 16th October 2009

What a great value night this was, £15, no booking fee and free parking.
I caught most of the set from openers The Parlour Mob and I was glad I did to, very enjoyable well worth checking out in the future.
Next up were Duff McKagan’s Loaded. It was nice to see the ex GnR man fronting his own band, He started out on guitar and vocal swapping to bass and vocals nearer the end of the set. Most of the set came from the Sick CD with a closing song of So Easy from the GnR days. The only question I was left with was, was that Joey from Friends on lead guitar?

I think the contributors to these pages are united in the praise of Black Stone Cherry so It will be no surprise to say I enjoyed this set which included a few new songs and some from the bonus second CD issued with the special edition of Folklore & Superstition. Highlight of the evening was the crowd singing Things My Father Said, Low point the period after the drum solo when the show seemed to lack a bit of momentum. Funniest bit was Ben Wells saying how nice it was to be in Leeds, and the crowd responding with chants of Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire. The confused look on the bands face was priceless.

With a great band like BSC about I think the future of Rock n Roll is secure.
We had donuts as well (see review below) NH

Black Stone Cherry (Parlor Mob and Loaded) at O2 Academy Oxford 24th October 2009

The usual early start at the O2 Academy due to the 10pm curfew and 3 band line-up, saw The Parlor Mob take to the stage when most people were settling down to their tea. I'd only heard "Hard Times" prior to seeing them, and I really like that track so had high expectations - especially as Classic Rock Magazine rates them so highly. However I'm afraid I was disappointed. Loads of people in the room seemed to like them but for me it was too self indulgent, too many long-winded jam sessions that went nowhere.

Next up was Duff Mckagan's Loaded. I wasn't too sure what to expect live from the ex G N' R and current Velvet Revolver man but I was very impressed. A varied collection of punk tinged tracks, straight ahead rockers and the odd acoustic ballad. As well as their own tracks such as Sick, Wasted Heart we also had the Damned's New Rose, the Misfit's Attitude and of course It's So Easy from some old band he used to play in.  Duff came across very well as a front man and wasn't fazed at all as a particularly hairy backed member of his crew came onstage in just his boxers and danced around during one of the tracks.

Fellow Rockgig contributor ME and I reckon that this is probably the last time that we will see BSC at this venue - they've simply outgrown it now. They were welcomed onstage to a huge cheer and the whole place erupted with "HERE COMES THE RAIIIIIINNNNN!!" at the opening track of Rain Wizard.  They just get better and better, belting out tracks like Soulcreek, Blind Man, Please Come, Hell or High Water, Things my Father Said, Peace is Free.. we were also treated to Yeah Now (which is one of their earlier tunes) and a really slow but cool version of Mannish Boy.

Full setlist was :
Rain Wizard
Backwoods Gold
Shooting Star
Cowboys
Yeah Man
Blind Man
Hell or High Water
Please Come In
Soulcreek
Drum Solo
Peace Is Free
Sweet Home Alabama
Hoochie Coochie Man
Maybe Someday
Lonely Train
Can't You See
Things My Father Said
We Are The Kings
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
..I remember a snippet of ZZ Top's Just Got Paid in there somewhere too !

..and they threw doughnuts into the crowd too...a first as far as I can remember!

NR.

Dream Theater - Wembley Arena - 10th October 2009

We drove up to our Hyde Park hotel Saturday lunchtime.Quick walk across the park to check out everything for the next morning's run and then a tube journey up to Wembley for The Progressive Nation tour 2009.

Arrived at 6.30 to see band 1  - Unexpect leaving the stage.Looking at a timetable later it was different to the one I had been sent!!Oh well. Next up Bigelf. The lead singer stood centre stage with 2 keyboards/organs to either side of him. They play an early Black Sabbath groove although a little quicker!! Geetarist very good. Mike Portnoy(Dream Theater's drummer) came on and played on one song.30 minute set and they went down very well and one to look out for.

Next up was Opeth.I was quite looking forward to seeing them but was very disappointed. At times I felt each band member was playing a different song. Slower songs had no real groove to it and some of the faster songs the drums disappeared. One hour later and the crowd loved them I just didn't get it!!

So next to the mighty Dream Theater. In support of the colossal Black Clouds and Silver Linings opus we were treated to a one and a half hour show with 3 songs from the new cd.With a new light show and 3 back screens it gave a depth to the stage. Starting with A Nightmare To Remember (Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth guesting on MP's spot on the cd) of the new cd the rest of the setlist was

The Mirror

Lie

Keyboard solo

Prophets Of War

Wither

Dance Of Eternity

Percussive nation which was a drum solo with all 4 drummers of the night on Portnoys kit

Take The Time

and an encore of The Count Of Tuscany.

 

Yes only 8 songs but they are all at least 6 mins long and the encore one is 20 mins.Only Dream Theater could play a set like that. 2 songs off Awake and a never played live song off the last cd were all greeted like top 10 hits. Highlights had to be the stunning playing of all guys as always, the geetar solo during Take The Time was simply jaw dropping and the encore song is a classic in the making. Great sound and lighting with great use of the screens.

 

I could have done without the 4 drummer solo and I have to say I do miss the 3 hours shows as when you buy a ticket you buy it to see them and not loads off support acts!! It might just be me.So a point lost for that!!!

 

ME 9/10

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - Meet the Meatbats

Ok I'll admit it - the first time I played the first few tracks on this album I didn't get it. Chad's day job is as the engine of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and in the evening he's the powerhouse that keeps the mighty Chickenfoot on track.. so the instrumental album that came out of the speakers got me all confused. Maybe the PR company had sent me the wrong CD as this one sounded like a combination of seventies funk, "Blow by Blow" era Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa..it caught me off guard. But then I composed myself and started again... and now after a few more plays I realise it is pure genius!  The band consist of the titular Chad on drums, Kevin Chown on bass, Ed Roth on Keyboard and Jeff Kollman on guitar, and on "Meet the Meatbats" they've created a very cool, loose, "live in the studio" sounding album, albeit one with very random track titles. On tracks like the sublime "into the Floyd" or "Tops Off" you can just imagine them playing in dimly lit studio, tape rolling and just enjoying the jam session.  The opening track (Need Strange) opens with a funky 70's sounding keyboard (a Clavinet maybe - forgive me if I'm wrong I'm a guitar player!) and then builds into a very fluid, laid back Jeff Beck'esque track (although Chad still manages a drum solo). Throughout the album you can hear refernces to Hendrix, Steely Dan, Jeff Beck, Zappa, lot's of seventies funky sounds and probably a host of cool jazz icons I know nothing about. As I said at the top I wasn't sure of this cd when I first heard it, and I thought that I genuinely was not going to like it .. but then one night I came in from work, the weather was lousy, the traffic was bad, the kids were fighting..I remembered I had to write this review so I ripped the cd into my iPod, grabbed a glass of red wine and settled back...suddenly everything around me melted away. Good albums have the ability to do that.

NR

Video archive

Slade - Rock n'Roll Preacher
The Cult - Fire Woman
Threshold - Slipstream
Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia (live)
Parlor Mob - Hard times
Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch

The Cult – Leeds 02 Academy - 6th October 2009

Let’s get the support band over first – Aqua Nebula Oscillator- easily the worst band I’ve seen in 28 years of gigging. Just a wall of noise, if they were performing in my front garden I wouldn’t open my curtains to watch.

Now onto the main attraction, I’ve had mixed experiences of seeing The Cult before so I was a little nervous as to what to expect. I am glad to say that I was not let down tonight. As most of you will know tonight was an opportunity to listen to the Love album in full live. From the open moments of Nirvana it was obvious we were in for a good night. The band then worked their way through the Love album tracks. If you don’t know it I would recommend you treat yourself to a listen to this great collection of songs. Obvious favorites of the night where Rain, completed with umbrellas in the crowd as a result of the dreadful weather in Leeds that night, and She Sells Sanctuary. Many others stood out in the live setting as well, one of my favouties being Hollow Man. All of the songs were embellished by the constantly changing images behind the band. This was particularly effective during the last song of the Love set, Black Angel.

After a short break the band returned to do an encore of 6 or so hits starting with Electric Ocean and including Fire Woman, Sun King, Dirty Little Rock Star. The evening was brought to an end with a thunderous version Love Removal Machine. As Ian Asbury said “C.U.L.T. where the hits just keep on coming.”

NH

Livewire/Limehouse Lizzy Oxford Academy 25th September 2009

First of a 2 part gig and half marathon review.

Went to the Oxford Academy for a 2 band tribute nite. First time the 2 bands have toured together and as the premier AC/DC and Thin Lizzy tribute acts seemed a good bill. As in the summer we were due to see AC/DC and Thin Lizzy play at Wembley Stadium (until Mr Sykes went over the wall) this was the substitute and at only £15 a damn sight cheaper.

I have to say both bands were fantastic. The vocals for Thin Lizzy by Wayne Ellis were just uncanny. Close your eyes and the great Mr Lynott was still with us. Sound was great and for an hour and 10 mins we were in Lizzy heaven. Songs too plentiful to mention all played with a passion for the great man's music. Favourite's would have to be Emerald, Killer On The Loose and The Cowboy Song. Brilliant.

Livewire again were fantastic. Geetarist Lorne in his red schoolboy outfit has the sound of Angus down to a "t". Also the mannerism's and with 2 singers you get the Bon half and then the Brian half. Both singers again have all the mannerism's and vocals down to a "t". Bon's highlights included Down Payment Blues, Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be, Highway To Hell and Whole Lotta Rosie. Brian's highlights included Hells Bells, Shoot To Thrill, Rock n'Roll Train and For Those About To Rock with 2 cannons!!

During Let There Be Rock we had the sight of Bon and Brian singing together  - an interesting thought.Played for an hour and a half and with the tour doing great business they will do it all again next year. Place was pretty well full.

Great nite out.

36 hours later and off to Windsor. Eventually got there about 2 mins before the start due to terrible traffic. On the M4 down to 1 lane it said so after all queing for about 25 mins got there and nothing!!!!!Bastards!!

Very warm day at 23 degrees like last year.Managed to come 126 places better off at 1665th out of 5000. In a time of 2 hours and 8 seconds 36 better than last year. (you wuss - I managed a whole Marathon at the weekend, and still had enough room for a Mars Bar too - Ed)

I will go under 2 hours in London the hills of Windsor are a killer.Quite rough afterwards I have to say.Last year I thought I drank too much maybe not enough this time.

So next weekend off to London on Saturday.Staying near Hyde Park tube up to Wembley for Dream Theater and then the Royalparks half on the Sunday morning. Starting in Hyde Park with 15000 others. Down to Buckingham Palace, Houses Of Parliament, London Eye, down the embankment to Blackfriars, Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, St.James Park, back to Hyde Park and then Kensington Gardens and finish by The Albert Hall.

Shall I carry a camera????

ME