Airbourne Oxford Academy 22nd November 2008

How times change? On Airbourne's first visit only 10 months ago we go from a few hundred to sold out with just over a thousand in. Packed in like sardines well I suppose with AC/DC tickets a no show ,go and see the next best thing.
First up Sound and Fury, a 5 piece from Canada. Bit AC/DC, bit punk, singer in bowler hat and tatts,a mohawked bass player and a geetarist who wants to be Slash.The singer was actually the one to least move around which makes a change and with a real bang off we go. Attitude not bad at all!!
Next up Stone Gods now I have had the cd for months and I have to say the songs fared very well in a live setting.Now I have to mention a former life. Richie Edwards(vox and geetar)was the Darkness's replacement bass player.Well thank god they split up cos the guy would be wasted as a bass player only.He worked the crowd like a good pro and has a great voice.To his side is Dan Hawkins (yes Justin's brother) doing what he does best riffing for England. Having a ball in this small venue.Played 40 mins not long enough!
Part AC/DC, part Diamond Head it will be well worth watching this lot in the next few years.
Now Airbourne. Has the year long tour slowed them down? Not a bit, if anything they seemed faster than ever - maybe the venue's ludicrous 10pm finish on a Saturday(before a Disco!)had them rushing through the set. They played the cd Joel O'Keefe(vox/geetar) didn't walk through the crowd this time probably too full to do so!He still sounds like Bon Scott and plays like Angus. When they headbanged together the place went apeshit.
Pure rock n'roll pure fun and we look forward to cd number 2.This tour is sold out so the word spreads next time I expect it will be bigger venue's.
One thing for the lighting man.The Airbourne sign at the back during the gap in songs had 1 light on it and from where we were it said BO.
9.5/10 with half a mark lost for only a 55 minute set. ME

Popular Posts from last 30 Days