Toseland / Colour Of Noise the Borderline London 22-03-16
Now this was one gig I had been looking forward to with 2 of Britain's upcoming bands who both with fantastic new albums out too.
First up was Colour Of Noise who's superb debut cd was released at the back end of last year with a Pledge Music campaign too.
Steeped in the classic rock period of the late 60's and early 70's with the focus on big riffs and a real groove and swagger which was greeted very enthusiastically by the capacity crowd.
Over the course of 40 minutes we had nearly all of the album plus an added bonus of the new track Seven which fitted in perfectly with a meaty riff and chorus.
Here is what they played.
To his left and one of my favourite vocalists in Matt Mitchell also of the mighty Furyon and you could see in their eyes how much fun they were having.
Matt is a great front man with plenty of posturing and mike twirling and his vocal range is superb with a bluesy and soulful edge to his range and love the way he was adding extra bits alongside Bruce's soloing.
The rest of the band kicked up a storm allowing the 2 front men to do their thing.Dan Electro on second guitar was joined by Ben Daniel on bass and Randy Nixon on drums who all supplied some excellent backing vocals.
You Only Call Me started as they meant to go on with it all riff and big chorus and Bruce's adding guitar texturing to the second chorus before his short fiery solo hit the spot.
Can You Hear Me which is on Planetrock's playlist starts on a bass and jabbing guitar riff and Matt's bluesy vocal and the song builds through the first verse before a kick ass intermittent guitar riff kicks in as Matt holds a lengthy note through the chorus.Bruce again impresses with more guitar melody lines as the song develops into a real rock stomper.
Head On kicks straight in with a big guitar riff and thunderous rhythm pattern before dropping down a pace for the first verse with some light and shade which means as the kick in for the chorus it feels even heavier.
Rock Bottom is a pure AC/DC rock n roll number which is fantastic on cd and even better live with a rolling guitar riff and pounding drums and bass and a real classic melodic chorus too.Plenty in the crowd knew it too with help on the chorus and Bruce's lengthy solo was a highlight.
Drive It Like You Stole It has a real swagger to it with Matt's insistent vocal and some big guitar riffs and a very heavy chorus and band workout.Great backing vocals on this one too.
Heavy ended the set in fine fashion and left the crowd wanting more as all good support slots should.
Now with their excellent second album Cradle The Rage out and now having their first Top 40 album they are on a rapid rise and tonight's capacity crowd anticipated great things.
For 90 minutes and a 17 song set the band were on fire from the word go.
The whole of Cradle The Rage was played(bar Waiting For The Answers)with a few select nuggets from debut cd Renegade and the Hearts And Bones single too.
Here is what they played.
All eyes are on James Toseland and he doesn't stop moving and his laid back frame of mind and easy going banter with the crowd made for an excellent front man.His vocal stylings could be compared in my opinion with Myles Kennedy which fits perfectly with the hard edged material all big riffs and even bigger shout out choruses.The crowd appeared to know every word even of the new material that had only been out 11 days.
The band never stop with plenty of head banging from all.Zurab Melau and Ed Bramford on guitars riff and solo all night with a little guitar solo duelling that would be good to expand on.
The rhythm team of Roger Davis on bass and Joe Yoshida on drums hold it all down perfectly.
Living In A Moment from the new cd was a great opener with all of the band on the stage edge and looking every crowd member in the eyes and saying look at us.
First ever single Life Is Beautiful had the crowd in raptures and it shows the quality of all the material played that the performance level never dropped all night.
Never Love Another off the new cd has a big stop start riff and James filling in the gaps superbly and love the huge chorus.
Toby Jepson who produced the album and co wrote the material has helped provide the back up for top notch choruses that many bands would love to have.
A keyboard was wheeled on for Just No Way and the new song Fingers Burned showing James can carry some emotion in his voice and a good change of pace and that they aren't just one trick ponies.
Too Close To Call cd opener was greeted like a long lost friend with plenty of crowd participation on the chorus.
The autobiographical Singer In A Band closed the main set with James's thoughts on being a rock star and the crowd were word perfect all wishing they were too I expect.
A few seconds break and they were back for the title track of the new cd Cradle The Rage which is a high intensity rocker before the keyboards were back for Renegade and more story telling from James about his early upbringing.Another superb vocal.
The evening ended on a high with a song about where the band's mind set is with We'll Stop At Nothing and proved Toseland are here for the long haul.
Both bands showed that the future of British rock is in safe hands.
