Rockgig's Favourites of 2011

It's that time of year again, the Rockgig team have come up with their favourite albums and gigs of 2011...


First up is our man in the north - Nigel (NH)

I do feel like I've missed a few key CD's this year for one reason or another, and I'm sure if I hear them they will trouble my top 5, examples being CDs by The Union, Chickenfoot, The Answer, Joe Bonamassa, JB and Beth Hart etc.

1) Black Stone Cherry - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
2) Black Country Communion - 2
3) Saxon - Call to Arms
4) Chantel McGregor - Like No Other
5) The Answer - 412 Days of Rock n Roll (great value at 3.99 and DVD)

Live show, looking at full value for money.

1) Saxon/Wolfsbane/Fury UK Bristol o2 Academy
2) Black Country Communion/Michael Schenker Leeds o2 Academy
3) Iron Maiden/Airborne Sheffield arena
4) Black Stone Cherry/Sons of Icarus - Leeds Uni 
5) The Quireboys/Liberty Slaves Tokyo's Huddersfield


Next in line is our Admin - Shazz

Albums

1. Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
2. Nickelback - Here & Now
3. Whitesnake - Forever More
4. Journey - Eclipse
5. Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity

Gigs

1. Nightranger - Islington O2 Academy
2. Within Temptation - Brixton O2 Academy
3. Iron Maiden - Cardiff CIA
4. Mr Big - Birmingham O2 Academy
5. Europe - Oxford O2 Academy

Our next list is from Nige (NR) our techie editor type..

Frankly I'm rubbish at choosing top 5 albums, or bands as I tend to like everything I listen to (otherwise I wouldn't listen to it) .. however based on the albums from 2011 that I played the most (in no particular order)....

• Black Stone Cherry - Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea
• Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
• Joe Bonamassa/ Beth Hart - Don't Explain
• 3 Door Down - Time of my Life
• Black Country Communion - 2

..but like I said I'm rubbish at lists so you should also include in there - Chickenfoot "3", Saint Jude - "Diary of a Soul Fiend", Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - "How I Go" and Philip Sayce "Ruby Electric"

As for gigs, that's easier...

1. Nightranger - Islington O2 Academy - Waited most of my adult life to see this and was not disappointed
2. Beth Hart - The Brook, Southampton - Frankly, a revelation.
3. Judas Priest/Queensryche/Rival Sons - Bournemouth BIC - Rival Sons were brilliant, Queensryche were fabulous and Judas Priest (a band I never really liked before) played a blinder!
4. Bowling For Soup - Oxford O2 Academy - Punk/Pop at it's finest.

Last but not least - it's Mark (ME) - the Admin's other half and our Southern Man about town

Cd's.

1 Dream Theater A Dramatic Turn Of Events (all we could hope for with the best track of the year Breaking All Illusions)

2 Chickenfoot 3 (so good they missed album 2)

3 Within Temptation The Unforgiving (wonderful vocals and what a sound)

4 Mr Big What If (as good as the debut)

5 Night Ranger Somewhere In California  (Back to the old sound)

Bubbling under Toby Hitchcock ,Chris Ousey, BCC ,BSC, Megadeth, The Magnificent ,Joe Bonamassa ,JB and Beth Hart ,Red White and Blues, The Answer and Whitesnake,

Gigs.

1 Night Ranger Islington (legendary show worth the 26 year wait)

2 Vanden Plas Lydney (2 hours of musical heaven in a town hall)

3 Accept Relentless Garage (like the last 25 years had gone missing.Sweat on the walls,Flying V's)

4 Iron Maiden Cardiff (smallest arena show on the tour brilliant)

5 Within Temptation Brixton( 90 minutes of wonderful all encompassing music)

Bubbling under Journey, Saxon, Rush, Europe, Beth Hart, Jimi Jamison, Joe Bonamassa, Mr Big ,Judas Priest and Threshold.

Live dvd's /cd's.

1 AC/DC Live At River Plate

2 Rush Time Machine

3 BCC Live Over Europe

4 Europe Live at Shepherd's Bush

5 Jorn Live In Black

Reissues.

1 Survivor reissues on Rock Candy( Vital Signs,Too Hot To Sleep and When Seconds Count)

2 Rush Sector Boxsets.

3 Skin Self Titled

Book

Iron Maiden On Board Flight 666

Worst cd maybe of all time Lou Reed and Metallica Lulu.

2012 

Looking forward to gigs by Chickenfoot, Dream Theater, FM, BSC and Threshold.

Hopefully by Accept, Rush, Beth Hart and Europe.

New cd's by Threshold, Accept ,Europe, Rush ,FM, Van Halen(!), Jeff Scott Soto ,H.E.A.T., Pride Of Lions and Furyon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT ROCKGIG !

Van Halen are back and on tour!

The worst kept secret of 2011 was finally made public yesterday - Van Halen are back!

Eddie and Alex are reunited with David Lee Roth and as Michael Anthony is now in Chickenfoot, Eddie's son Wolfgang is on bass.

The video below was posted on the band;s official website yesterday.

Biff Byford - Christmas Rambles

From Biff Byford – Frontman of Saxon:

"Did the last show of Call To Arms world tour on Tuesday. Last Night went to see Rock of Ages in London. Fantastic show. All the cast were on top form - singing was spot on and hats off to them all. Every night plus matinees is hard core. Went back stage to meet the cast and got to meet up with Justin Lee Collins. I didn't know he could sing and dance so well."

"Anyway a good night was had and you should go and see the show - it puts you right back in the eighties and I should know - I was there!"

NH

Saxon - Koko London - 20/12/11

So a week after the Oxford show off to London for a new venue for me. London’s Koko in Camden was the setting for Saxon’s last show of the Call To Arms tour and with it being only a few days before Christmas that only added to the party feel.

To a packed out crowd Sweden’s Hammerfall hit hard for 45 minutes getting a response some headliners would like.

As last week their heavy riffing melodic power metal was a real joy to see and showed a band with real stagecraft thoroughly enjoying themselves.

I look forward to seeing them back as headliners shortly.

Over the course of 2 hours and 5 minutes Saxon nearly took the roof off with the crowd doing their bit too.

With it being the 30^th anniversary of the release of Denim And Leather the gig was a special occasion with a full run through of the album in 2 parts and as Biff said not in the right order.

Here’s the setlist for the night:

Hammer Of The Gods

Heavy Metal Thunder

When Doomsday Comes

Chasing The Bullet

Motorcycle Man

Back In 79

Solid Ball Of Rock

Never Surrender

Fire In The Sky

Midnight Rider

And The Bands Played On

To Hell And Back Again

Call To Arms

Rock The Nations including drum solo

Mists Of Avalon

Broken Heroes (got the vote over the Eagle Has Landed this time)

Play It Loud

Rough And Ready

Out Of Control

Denim And Leather

Princess Of The Night

Encores of

Crusader followed by Doug’s guitar solo

747 Strangers In The Night

Bass solo

Strong Arm Of The Law

Wheels Of Steel

A big thumbs up again for the soundman who again produced a loud but clear sound from my position up on the first balcony. It was also great to able to see this time Nigel Glockler at work who was quite superb and his double bass work on To Hell And Back Again rattled fillings!!

The band were all on fire (with assorted Christmas hats too including a fetching Lion hat for Nigel Glockler) and that should show when the show is released at some time as Biff told us the night was being recorded.

A fantastic night out that only confirms the band now in their 4^th decade still have the fire to produce the goods in the live domain.

12/10

Merry Christmas from all at Rockgig

Saxon – Hammerfall – Sheffield Academy 20 Dec 2011

Unfortunately I only caught one song from opening act Crime of Passion, but what I heard sounded OK. Next up were Hammerfall from Sweden. I have to say I know nothing about them but, I really enjoyed their show, and they got a great reception from the Sheffield crowd. One to the check out in the future I think.

Saxon kicked off their return to Yorkshire with Heavy Metal Thunder one of many classics in tonight’s set. The set also contained six songs from the latest (excellent) CD Call to Arms, this included the wonderful title track and my favorite Chasing the Bullet, which didn’t get an airing when I saw the band earlier in the year. Three classics, Power and the Glory, Denim and Leather and of course Wheels of Steel (including a sing along conducted by Biff) brought the main part of the evening to a close. The band return to encore with Crusader, 747 and a rousing version of Princess of the Night before the venue’s curfew brought proceedings to an end. Another great evening a Heavy Metal and long may the eagle fly. Just a note to say that at £18.50p a ticket the evening delivered great value, so well done to all involved for thinking of the fans. Let's hope that 2012 brings as much success for Saxon - and chance to see them live again.

Set list (I think this is right)

Heavy Metal Thunder
Hammer of the Gods
Never Surrender
When Doomsday Comes
Chasing the Bullet
Motorcycle Man
Back in 79
Dogs of War
To Hell and Back Again
Call to Arms
Broken Heroes
Mists of Avalon
And the Bands Played On
Power and the Glory
Denim and Leather
Wheels of Steel
Encore
Crusader
747 (Strangers in the Night)
Princess of the Night

NH

Blues Rock Review top 20 Albums of 2011

Our friends over at Blues Rock Review have compiled a list of their top 20 albums of the year.. we'll do our usual end of year round-up shortly (when we've dried out from all the Christmas parties..) but until then check out their list (just here)  - it looks like we have a lot in common - Merry Christmas to Pete & the team @ Blues Rock Review.

Free festive Black Stone Cherry Download

Planet Rock and Black Stone Cherry have teamed up to give us all a free download of "Santa is Back".   Just click here to download the track.

Merry Christmas!

Saxon - Oxford O2 Academy 13-12-11

First up were Hammerfall from Sweden who got the rapidly filling crowd off to a great start.

Playing power metal like a combination of Helloween, Priest, Saxon and Maiden with some Thin Lizzy duelling guitars their 45 minute 9 song set flew past with a more rabid response after every song.

Led by the very melodic voice of Joacim Cans and the twin lead guitars of Pontus Norgren and Oscar Dronjak with plenty of synchronized headbanging songs included B.Y.H. (Bang Your Head), Last Man Standing, Let The Hammer Fall and One More Time and left the crowd wanting more.

Perfect support.

Saxon were back in Oxford for the first time in over 20 years (my second ever gig way back in 1982 was Saxon at Oxford Apollo) with their second set of UK dates this year in support of their 19^th studio release the excellent “Call To Arms”.

Here’s what they played over the course of 2 hours

Hammer Of The Gods

Heavy Metal Thunder

When Doomsday Comes

Never Surrender

Chasing The Bullet

Motorcycle Man

Back In 79

Solid Ball Of Rock

To Hell And Back Again

I’ve Got To Rock To Stay Alive

Call To Arms

Demon Sweeney Todd

The Eagle Has Landed (the crowd had the choice of this or Broken Heroes. I lost!!)

Mists Of Avalon

Power And The Glory

Denim And Leather/guitar solo by Doug

Wheels Of Steel

Encore 1 Crusader and 747 Strangers In The Night)

Encore 2 Bass Solo/Strong Arm Of The Law

Princess Of The Night

A fantastic selection of hits, new songs and some long forgotten nuggets which the large crowd sang along to every note.

Special note of thanks to the sound man who gave us a loud but very clear sound and an impressive light show considering the size of the venue and the low roof!

Led by Biff who was in great voice and backed up by Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitars and the backline of Nibbs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums we were treated to a night of old school British Heavy Metal that left everyone with a smile on their face.

Job done!!

10/10

BIFF BYFORD JOINS METALLICA ON STAGE

Saxon lead singer Biff Byford flew from Helsinki to San Francisco this week to join Metallica on stage in one of the band’s 30th Anniversary shows. Byford couldn’t miss the chance to celebrate such a milestone in Metallica’s career, and took advantage of a two days gap in Saxon’s current tour to make the event. The iconic British metal vocalist performed the Saxon classic ‘Motorcycle Man’ at the Fillmore with Metallica on 5th December.

It’s not the first time Biff and Metallica have surprised their fans with a live rendition of the song: in 2009, Byford joined the cult band in Paris, at Palais Omnisport de Bercy. Fans footage can be seen below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcx3OjNMlu4

Metallica's second-ever gig was opening for Saxon, and Biff has been a long time friend of the San Francisco heavy metal giants; like many other seminal bands of the genre, Metallica always recognized Saxon as one of their main influences.
Biff Byford is the original frontman and main force in Saxon, who recently released their 19th studio album, the acclaimed ‘Call to Arms’; he continues leading the pack and mesmerizing audiences with his energetic performances, together with Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitars, Nibbs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums.
Saxon will hit the UK for the second time this year in December, performing a mix of old unforgettable heavy metal classics and more recent material, except for the London show where they will perform ‘Denim and Leather’ in its entirety as a special treat for their fans.

Dates as follows, support from Hammerfall:
DECEMBER

Tues 13th Oxford 02 Academy 0844 477 2000 - http://www.o2academyoxford.co.u/k
Wed 14th Leicester 02 Academy 0844 477 2000 - http://www.o2academyleicester.co.uk/
Fri 16th Edinburgh Picturehouse 0844 847 1740 - http://www.meanfiddler.com/
Sat 17th Belfast Mandela Hall 0844 277 4455 - http://www.qubsu-ents.com/
Mon 19th Sheffield 02 Academy 0844 477 2000 - http://www.o2academysheffield.co.uk/

Tues  20^th London Koko 0844 477 1000 - www.koko.uk.com/

Tickets are priced at £18.50 for all shows except London where they are £20.00 and are subject to booking fee.  Doors open for all shows at 7.00pm except Edinburgh 6.30pm.

Tyketto - Camden Underworld 30-11-11

First up in front of a very respectable size crowd for a Wednesday night was Sondura. A 4 piece from London they hit hard for 30 minutes with a greater crowd response coming after every song.

Heavy yet melodic with a real great groove it left everybody wanting more and with their second cd due in 2012 one definitely to watch.

The same couldn’t be said of Fighting Wolves. On the wrong bill their shouty hardcore played with their backs to the audience turned everyone off.

Tyketto were back with their original line up for the first time in 15 years, and how London loved it. Over the course of 90 minutes we witnessed some real magic.

Led by the quite brilliant Danny Vaughn (vocals/guitar) who at the age of 50 just gets better with age. His comment about being 50 and his hair is all his own but the colour is by L’Oreal brought the house down.

Here’s what they played:

Lay Your Body Down

Strength In Numbers

Nothing But Love

End Of The Summer Days

Love To Love (new song but on the reissue of Strength In Numbers)

Rescue Me

Burning Down Inside

Wings

Meet Me In The Night

Sound Off (new song)

Seasons

Standing Alone

Catch My Fall

Sail Away

Encores of Last Sunset

Forever Young

How could they go wrong. Playing 8 songs off  one of my favourite cd’s of all time and ending with Forever Young - Stunning.

With returning guitarist Brooke St James playing it very much like the cd’s, the purist’s who felt PJ on the last tour was a bit modern, everyone was happy.

With Michael Clayton (drums), Jimi Kennedy (bass) and Bobby Lynch on keys laying down a great groove at the back all eyes were on Danny who gave us his all for every note and letting us join in at every opportunity.

With a new cd called “Dig In Deep” due on Frontiers in April/May and a tour to follow the one very new song gave us all hope for the future.

As Danny and Brooke left the stage to rapturous applause Danny gave Brooke a kiss.

We are glad he is back too.

Stunning.

12/10.

Black Stone Cherry – Leeds Met University – 28 November 2011

This was a one off headlining show for Black Stone Cherry whilst out on the arena tour with Alter Bridge and what a show they delivered. Songs from all three of the bands studio CDs were lapped up by they crowd crammed into this sweat box of a venue. Highlights included Rain Wizard, Blind Man, Lonely Train, sing alongs in the form of Peace is Free and Things My Farther Said and from the latest CD the excellent White Trash Millionaire and Blame it on the Boom Boom, which was a cue for another great sing along.

The band are back doing a headline tour in March and judging by the response tonight I’d get your ticket ASAP.
P.S. I really enjoyed the support band as well, but unfortunately didn’t catch their name. Can anyone help with this?
Just been informed the support band were Sons of Icarus - many thanks for the update.
NH