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Slam Dunk Festival

Slam Dunk

Temple Newsam, Leeds

Sunday 28th May 2023

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SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL NORTH – LIVE REVIEW

Rock fans know that festival season is upon us when we get to the late May Bank Holiday weekend and Slam Dunk Festival brings rock and punk fans to Hatfield and Leeds.

This year that journey takes a little longer for some due to traffic issues, probably borne out of the fact that both events are sold out. Leeds in particular feels like the Temple Newsam is bursting at the seams today.

Queues are unimaginably long for merch, toilets, food or anything else, but thankfully the music (and weather) is very much on point!

We start the day in the ‘Knotfest’ tent for rising metallers Heriot, who attract a decent sized early crowd. That crowd is treated to a blistering set of gloriously heavy goodness and a spirited performance from a band on the cusp of bigger things.

It’s then a short walk over to one of two outdoor main stages, the ‘Amazon Rock Scene’ stage, where we will spend most of our day today. Taking this stage next are VUKOVI who absolutely own the stage and showcase their superb new album, ‘NULA’. Singer Janine is able to hold the audience in the palm of her hand and orchestrate the first truly great set of the band.

Logistically the event may be remembered for the wrong reasons, but musically today is fantastic, with that set from VUKOVI one of many that will live long in the memory for all the right reasons.

Thinking, we’ll go for a quick wonder around, it’s clear that nothing will be quick today, but we do catch a glimpse of girlfriends who are very impressive for the time we can stay. Soon though we must head back down the hill to catch Trash Boat.

This is a band that has grown significantly in almost every sense of the word over the past few years. Their latest album, ‘Don’t You Feel Amazing?’, was one of the most surprising of 2021 as the band took their sound to new heights. Today they use the stage to bring many of these tracks to life and the crowd are clearly appreciative of another excellent performance.

Trash Boat are followed on stage by Holding Absence who have just announced that their third album, ‘The Noble Art of Self Destruction’, will be out later this year. Their set today is a good mix of old and new including brand new single, ‘False Dawn’ and fan favourite ‘Afterlife’, which gets a monumental response from the passionate crowd.

Soon enough it’s over to Wargasm who are becoming one of those marmite bands where it’s almost cool to hate them. The energy and ferocity that they put into their show however can’t be denied and whilst the energy levels for some of the crowd starts to sap, the band push through with tracks such as ‘Backyard Bastards’ and ‘Spit.’ getting everyone back moving.

We then head over to the other end of the festival site (very slowly) to the ‘Kerrang’ stage where the tent is overspilling already ahead of Boston Manor. The band are on top form right now and have every person singing along to their gargantuan anthems. As they conclude their time on stage with ‘Halo’ you can’t help but think that Boston Manor deserve to be absolutely huge.

It’s a blast from the past next as Slam Dunk keep up their track record of reformations with Kids In Glass Houses. Playing their first shows in almost a decade the band focus their set on ‘Smart Casual’, which will be getting a re-release later this year. Songs like ‘Saturday’ and ‘Give Me What I Want’ still have it and so do the band who fly through the set like they’ve never been away.

Sticking to the same stage we are soon graced by PVRIS who deliver another really good performance which features a well structured setlist. Lynn Gunn leads the trio through a selection of their popular tracks with ‘You and I’ and ‘My House’ both getting big audience responses. The band will return with their fourth album in July, and new track ‘Goddess’ goes down very well today complete with guest spot from Charlotte Sands.

We are at the business end of the day now and up next on stage are Billy Talent who are able to deliver a pure masterclass in how to make the most of a shortened festival set. Banger, after banger, after banger as the band deliver suckerpunch after suckerpunch. The crowd reciprocate the bands energy and by the time the set finishes with ‘Red Flag’, the band have done enough to claim the band of the day moniker!

In the clash of the headliners, we opt to head to the ‘Dickies’ stage for punk icons The Offspring. The band have an endless stream of hit songs, and tonight the band focus more on their back catalogue then they did at Hatfield yesterday.

Their covers section in the middle feels a little too much considering their short time on stage but nobody can deny the final run of tracks which provides a great end to a packed day both musically and in terms of the volume of people on site!

Slam Dunk is a trusted brand these days and musically they’ve delivered once again, but there are undoubtedly some logistical issues that need to be fixed. Perhaps they’ve once again outgrown their homes and need to find bigger accommodation, one thing is for sure though and next May will again see a packed line-up heralding the dawning of a new festival season.

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Live Reviews

Dead Man’s Whiskey

Dead Man's Whiskey

B2, Norwich

Friday 5th May 2023

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DEAD MAN’s WHISKEY – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

📸 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

With thousands heading into London and millions more preparing to watch the outlandish Coronation on the TV, a hundred or so hard rockers file into the B2 venue in Norwich for a old school rock show.

This feels much more of a celebration of our great nation’s true culture and community than the scenes that we’ll see in Westminster Abbey. There is less pomp and ceremony here but there is still a great time to be had.

BROKEN SOUL

Getting these festivities underway are four-piece Broken Soul who get the crowd suitably warned up with tracks such as ‘By My Side’ and ‘Always Be With Me’. They may not have the military precision of the Coldstream Guards band but that’s actually the charm! It’s rough, it’s ready and tonight Broken Soul get the crowd rocking.

ATTIC THEORY

Next up on the compact stage are sextet Attic Theory who clearly have a number of readymade fans out in the audience. Their time on stage feels short, which is always a good sign and by the time they close out their set with ‘Saints Amongst Us’, they have the venue in full swing, singing along to every word as if they were reciting the national anthem in the presence of the new king!

DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY

Feeling the tedious Coronation link coming to an end, it’s time for Dead Man’s Whiskey to sit upon the B2 throne. The group started making waves with their debut album, ‘Under the Gun’, around 2017 and seemed on the cusp of something special just as the pandemic hit.

Like many, particularly in the music industry, 2020 was something of a momentum killer, but the band now appear ready to reach for the sceptre once more. New single, ‘Masquerade’ has been very well received and tonight the crowd can’t wait to kneel before their new masters.

The band are more than prepared to lead the crowd through an hour of good honest rock n’ roll. The new material on offer is greeted with equal delight to older tracks such as ‘War Machine’ and ‘This Fight’, which is another good sign this evening.

The closing trio of ‘Hoe Street’, the emotive ‘Make You Proud’ and the fantastic ‘Racing Bullet’ showcase a band ready to ascend, perhaps not to sovereignty but certainly to the next level in the hierarchy of the music industry.

There is even time for an encore of AC/DC classic ‘Highway To Hell’, which sends the fans out the door happy. Tomorrow’s events in London will be remembered for years to come, but it’s nights like these happening every night in great venues across the land that make this country what it is!

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Paramore

Paramore

O2 Arena, London

Thursday 20th April 2023

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PARAMORE – LONDON – LIVE REVIEW

It’s fitting that Paramore come back to the UK around Easter time as their return has been received much like the second coming. Yes, you’d struggle to find a more engaged and dedicated audience than the hardcore Paramore fanbase.

Tonight their tour arrives in London at the gargantuan O2 Arena. It’s within this cavernous space that opening act Rozi Plain serenade the early attendees. What I can hear sounds delightful however their sound does struggle to fill the venue.

Our next act don’t struggle with that issue however as indie icons Bloc Party deliver a short and succinct set that mixes old and new to good measure. The uninitiated in the crowd seem somewhat unsure of what they are watching, but those familiar like myself have a great time with this gem of the landfill indie era. How can anybody not perk up to the likes of ‘Banquet’, ‘Flux’ and ‘Helicopter’?

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Bloc Party – ‘Helicopter’

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Soon enough the lights are dimmed and Paramore arrive on stage where they quickly deliver two new tracks ‘You First’ and ‘The News’ from recent album ‘This Is Why’. Soon thereafter classic tracks ‘That’s What You Get’ and ‘Playing God’ kick the evening into another level.

The dynamics of arena seating has always intrigued and annoyed me; particularly the perhaps controversial issue of whether fans in seating should stand up during the show. Personally, it’s fine but it needs to be all or nothing – either everyone stands or everyone sits, not little pockets of standing people ignoring the fact they are blocking the view of those around that remain seated.

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Paramore – ‘This Is Why’

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The other thing that gets me is the disrespect of only standing during certain songs. Tonight it was telling the moment Hayley Williams said “my band are letting me play a solo song” or “Zac is going to sing a HalfNoise song” that the vast majority instantly sat down before even a note was played clearly indicating that they weren’t interested in even giving these tracks an opportunity.

This was a theme throughout the night with the older hits getting people stood up (usually to just film the song on their phones), and anything more obscure being treated with utter contempt. This isn’t of course a new phenomenon but it was very noticeable this evening.

Performance wise though, whether the audience reciprocated or not, the entire set was Paramore on top form. It was great to see the band clearly enjoying themselves again, something else which was evident from the night.

By the encore of ‘All I Wanted’ and ‘This Is Why’, the band have delivered the goods and the fans whether sat down or stood up are all clearly pleased with the show. It’s great to have the band back!

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Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy

Heaven, London

Thursday 16th March 2023

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FALL OUT BOY – LONDON – LIVE REVIEW

Since their return a decade ago, second-phase Fall Out Boy have proven themselves time and time again to be one of the best live acts on the planet. When playing their huge festival, arena and stadium shows, you’ll often find them backed by huge productions, but tonight is different; tonight they go back to basics.

Yes, with the imminent release of their latest album, ‘So Much (for) Stardust’, the band are playing some of the most intimate shows they’ve played in years. After playing in Manchester the night before, the hype is real for those lucky enough to have tickets to the show tonight at Heaven in London.

Indeed the queue stretches around Charing Cross station and those unaware of the show look on bemused by the weird trail of scene kids! Perhaps it’s for the best that the station is actually closed due to strike action. This tough is no picket line and eventually everyone is able to shuffle into the relatively small venue.

The sound of every roadie movement, of backing soundtrack pause is greeted with ear-piercing screams, oh yes, anticipation is indeed very high. When the band eventually do hit the stage, the response is the type reserved for only a select few bands with a cult-like following.

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Fall Out Boy – ‘Love From the Other Side’

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Opening song ‘Love From the Other Side’ may be new, but every single word is sung back as if the crowds lives depended on it. It’s in this moment that the sense of occasion and meaning really hits home.

The band’s presence on stage is enormous, and they give the crowd the same passion as they would a packed stadium. There may be no actual pyrotechnics but the theoretical ones are just as powerful, as the band prove that the smoke and mirrors are great but they aren’t needed. There is no smokescreen, the band are just phenomenal live!

The setlist is a brilliant mix of big hitters, fan favourites, new tracks and some older gems, ‘Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet’ anymore? A closing run of ‘Thriller’, ‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’, ‘Centuries’ and ‘Saturday’ ensures that the crowd go home buzzing from what they’ve experienced. Yes, this will be a night that lasts long in the memories of fans in attendance.

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Hundred Reasons

Hundred Reasons

Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, London

Saturday 4th March 2023

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HUNDRED REASONS – LONDON – LIVE REVIEW

The average age at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo in London tonight is tellingly specific – mid to late 30’s! Those filing into the venue are here tonight to relive their teenage years and to remember a scene that delivered some seriously talented, yet incredibly underrated bands.

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My Vitriol – ‘Always: Your Way’

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Three such acts are on offer tonight starting off with the openers My Vitriol. The band showed much promise with their debut album, ‘Finelines’, in 2001 before they entered a perennial state of hiatus. Most of their set tonight comes from that album which ensures that the early attendees are already engaged. Set closer, ‘Always: Your Way’ sounds huge and leaves you wondering what could’ve been.

That is a constant feeling for me when remembering the British rock scene in the early 2000’s, who seemingly were hindered by the insatiable focus on nu-metal at the time. So much quality was given so little attention compared to their US contemporaries. This combined with the emergence of illegal downloads at the time seemed to stifle the growth of a generation of artists.

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Hell Is For Heroes – ‘I Can Climb Mountains’

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So many bands arrived with a big debut album whilst rock was the genre, only for their subsequent material to be ignored by the mainstream music media who had moved on. Another prime example would be our special guests tonight Hell Is For Heroes whose debut album ‘The Neon Handshake’ must go down as one of the best British rock debut albums ever.

Again, tonight they have the audience onside from the get go with their set featuring a slew of tracks from that album. ‘I Can Climb Mountains’, ‘Night Vision’, ‘Five Kids Go’ and ‘Out of Sight’ all receive huge reactions tonight from the passionate crowd and by the time they are done, as corny as it sounds, they receive a heroes ovation!

There are quick turnarounds tonight so it isn’t long before our headliners Hundred Reasons arrive onstage. This tour is another to have suffered postponements since it was originally scheduled to take place. That has meant that now we have a new Hundred Reasons album and it’s stunning. There is no surprise here then when the band choose the title-track ‘Glorious Sunset’ to open the show.

WATCH ‘REPLICATE’ FROM HUNDRED REASONS
Hundred Reasons – ‘Replicate’

The rest of the set is a celebration of the past but with some of that fantastic new music mixed in with ‘It Suits You’, ‘Replicate’ and ‘The Old School Way’ all more than fitting in alongside the older fan favourites. Hopefully that’s a good sign for the band and they can remain viable in the future. Certainly more new music and live shows from Hundred Reasons is never going to be a bad thing.

Clearly that debut album theory has something to it tonight as tracks from ‘Ideas Above Our Station’ receive the biggest reactions with the sing-a-longs to ‘I’ll Find You’, ‘Falter’, ‘Silver’ and ‘If I Could’ simply deafening.

That said tracks from the bands other albums like ‘Kill Your Own’, ‘What You Get’ and ‘No Way Back’ also get the crowd active. This has been Hundred Reasons at their magnificent, majestic best, with the band members slipping back into those comfortable shoes. The addition of Jack Bottomley from Marmozets to the live line-up also helps to ensure that the band sound just as massive as before.

Hopefully with the revival of acts such as these, that early 2000’s British rock scene can get some overdue attention; but if nothing else at least a few thousand millennials get to relive the soundtrack of their youth!

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Bullet For My Valentine

Bullet For My Valentine

Corn Exchange, Cambridge

Monday 27th February 2023

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BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE – CAMBRIDGE – LIVE REVIEW

Somehow it’s already been almost a year and a half since Bullet For My Valentine released their self-titled seventh album. The record arrived in late 2021 and we now find ourselves in early 2023! Time has certainly flown by, but finally the band are getting to head out around the UK in support of the album.

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Atreyu – ‘Drowning’

Tonight that sees the band kick off the UK leg of the tour at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge. Opening up proceedings are revamped Californian metallers Atreyu who receive a huge reception as they take to the stage.

The band of course has a long history and clearly many in the room are fully aware; soon enough though even those that weren’t already familiar with the band are on board as well. Drummer turned front man Brandon Saller orchestrates the crowd superbly as the group run through the likes of ‘Becoming the Bull’, ‘Save Us’, ‘Drowning’ and ‘Blow’. By the time they exit the stage, the reaction is even greater than when they arrived.

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Jinjer – ‘Vortex’

Anticipation is clearly high also for our next act, Ukraine’s much hyped Jinjer. Led by singer Tatiana Shmailyuk, the group instantly command the attention of the packed venue and show just why they’ve had so much attention in the last few years.

The time that the band spend onstage tonight feels short, which is usually a good sign; and it’s evident from the confident performance that the band feel at home and indeed belong on big stages. As far as their job tonight is concerned, by the time that they leave the stage they’ve got the crowd riled up and ready for our headliners but they’ve also left them wanting more Jinjer – which is precisely the outcome needed from their main support slot.

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Bullet For My Valentine – ‘Knives’

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By the time Bullet For My Valentine hit the stage, the crowd have already been treated to a fantastic evening and to an extent the pressure is on for a band who have been much maligned by metal fans in recent times.

Each of their last three albums have been hailed as a return to form, but surely that actually indicates that the band have been delivering consistently good music? Their live shows have certainly continued to deliver the goods and despite being under the weather tonight is no different.

‘Knives’, ‘Over It’ and ‘Piece of Me’ get the audience on side from the beginning before ‘4 Words (to Choke Upon)’ steps things up a notch. The pace of the set from here is relentless with a good mix of old and new material on offer from the band.

There is a nice surprise with the inclusion of rarity ‘Hearts Burst Into Fire’ which does a good job of getting those phones up in the air. There is also plenty that gets the crowd moving as well with the likes of ‘Scream Aim Fire’ and the final run of ‘Your Betrayal’, ‘Tears Don’t Fall’ and ‘Waking the Demon’ all sounding absolutely massive tonight.

Whilst the career trajectory for the group may have slowed down, through their recent releases and shows like tonight, Bullet For My Valentine have shown that they still have plenty left in the tank!

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YUNGBLUD

YUNGBLUD

OVO Wembley Arena, London

Saturday 25th February 2023

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YUNGBLUD – LONDON – LIVE REVIEW

Anticipation is high around Wembley tonight, and not just because the League Cup final is tomorrow! Tonight, the famous Wembley Arena in London plays host to a sold out show from alt rock anarchist YUNGBLUD, and it’s his fans that make their mark around Wembley Way.

Soon enough the hordes of brightly coloured fans file into the venue and await their hero. First up though they are treated the special guests Neck Deep, who could under the right circumstances probably make a go of headlining this venue themselves.

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Neck Deep – ‘In Bloom

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The mission for the Welsh rockers this evening is to win over a new cross-section of the rock audience and make a load of new fans. Through openers ‘Motion Sickness’ and ‘Lowlife’, it’s clear that whilst there are some existing fans in attendance, the work will need to be done to get the whole arena on board.

Thankfully for Neck Deep, they are a well rehearsed touring machine and they are well versed in winning over audiences. As their time on stage progresses the audience becomes more engaged and by the time we get to mid-set sing-a-long ‘December’, they have an open goal to score in.

While they round out their set with the hat-trick of ‘Can’t Kick Up the Roots’, ‘Gold Steps’ and ‘In Bloom’, it’s obvious that it’s victory and mission achieved for Neck Deep. As singer Ben Barlow delivers his final team-talk to the crowd, the response is affirmative and perhaps soon the band will be on their way to Wembley for their own show.

Attention is then turned back to YUNGBLUD who is set for his biggest headline show to date following his meteoric rise over the past few years. If we are sticking with the football analogies then YUNGBLUD has been fast-tracked from the youth team to the first team and is now making his international breakthrough. As such anticipation is at a fever-pitch as the packed Wembley wait to see if he can deliver the goods!

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YUNGBLUD – ‘The Funeral’

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If there are any doubts in this venue, which you get the sense there isn’t, then it only takes mere moments for YUNGBLUD to dispel them. Kicking off with ‘21st Century Liability’, ‘The Funeral’ and ‘parents’, the crowd are instantly in awe of the raw talent on display.

The quality of the music is great tonight, but it’s the incredible stage presence of YUNGBLUD and the stunning presentation of the show which makes this an elite level concert. All the bells and whistles are here as the likes of ‘fleabag’, ‘California’ and ‘mars’ are interspersed by some dramatic imagery.

To his credit YUNGBLUD is able to make this rather large venue feel as intimate as possible. His charisma has many of the audience members zombified as they take in the spectacular experience that is created tonight. Even an enforced break due to an emergency in the crowd can’t dampen the atmosphere.

By the time the show closes with ‘Loner’, you’d think YUNGBLUD had just won the World Cup! Even if we strip away the football theme, what is clear on tonight’s showing is that YUNGBLUD is here to take over the world as one of rocks next superstars!

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Beans On Toast

Beans On Toast

Norwich Arts Centre

Wednesday 22nd February 2023

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All 📸 (C) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

BEANS ON TOAST – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

In December, folk favourite Beans On Toast broke with tradition slightly and instead of releasing a new album on his birthday, released a collection of well received children’s stories! Well, another tradition for Beans On Toast is touring and as per his latest single, that tradition is intact with the singer now ‘Back out on the Road’!

ANN LIU CANNON

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The road this evening leads to Norwich Arts Centre, a fantastic venue in the heart of the city and tonight is all but sold out. Early attendees are treated to a delicate and delightful opening performance from Ann Liu Cannon. You could hear a pin drop as the crowd absorb the tender words of a talented young songwriter.

BEANS ON TOAST

Soon enough it’s time for Beans On Toast to take to a stage complete with new backdrop, lighting and a table! Yes, Beans has gone big for this tour and even has a loose setlist written on the table.

The loveably unpredictable nature of a typical Beans show remains however with the singer regularly going off-piste with audience requests and stories from the road. Beans has always impressed with his ability to improvise and tonight he deals with some rather inebriated fans with veteran aplomb.

As for that setlist, there is a good mixture of old and new as you’d expect from a musician constantly churning out topical content. New songs include anti-war protests, odes to fabled venues and considerations of an AI future. The packed crowd hang off of every word and note, as Beans On Toast demonstrates his natural ability to hold an audience’s attention.

Old favourites are present too with the likes of ‘The War on War’, ‘The Chicken Song’ and set closer ‘On & On’ enticing some of the bigger sing-a-long moments. All in all, tonight is yet another successful show for a musician who has long since established himself as an underground national treasure!

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The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 3 – Beans On Toast

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Nova Twins

Nova Twins

Waterfront, Norwich

Friday 17th February 2023

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NOVA TWINS – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

Tonight is a sell out and anticipation is high for one of rocks brightest prospects as Nova Twins commence their UK Tour at the Waterfront in Norwich! This was already a hot ticket, but the added attention the band received at the Brits recently has raised the bar further.

Entering the venue, you know full well that this will likely be the last time Nova Twins are playing venues this small. A rocket has been strapped to their backs and rightly so, because they fitted it themselves. Everything coming their way has come from their own DIY ethics, their own creativity and their own natural talents.

Fittingly, the band has selected two more acts that fit that bill to open on this tour. Up first are Uninvited, who on their showing tonight will be invited to many more shows in the future. Not previously on our radar, they very much are now after an assured and intense opening set. Quickly winning the packed crowd over with their blistering pace, keep an eye on this band, we certainly will be!

Next up are a band further down their career path as it were. Opening slots with My Chemical Romance last summer may have placed Witch Fever on many people’s maps, but the group has been making a noise for a little while now with a steady stream of increasingly impressive singles.

Tonight, they are clearly playing to a crowd in the know and that creates a fantastic atmosphere as the band demonstrate the raw power that has been the base of their early work. The likes of ‘Bloodlust’, ‘Congregation’ and ‘Blessed Be Thy’ sound absolutely massive in this relatively small venue and you again would expect Witch Fever to be moving on to headlining these sized rooms in the near future.

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Nova Twins – ‘Choose Your Fighter’

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Nova Twins have quickly established themselves on the scene through two very well received albums and a string of support slots and festival appearances. Having caught them play a number of these shorter sets, our main question tonight is how do the band translate over a full headline set. The answer, as was expected, is very well indeed!

Starting off with the likes of ‘Fire & Ice’ and ‘Cleopatra’, the band quickly asserts their ferocious energy on the stage. Audience participation comes naturally and at times it feels like the band and audience are in fact one with each other.

The likes of ‘Taxi’ and ‘Play Fair’ still go hard and the likes of ‘Sleep Paralysis’ simply leave you in awe of the majesty emanating from the stage. Even we opened this review by calling Nova Twins prospects, but that isn’t the case, no, this band are the present and they are ready to take over the world!

An encore of ‘Antagonist’, ‘Undertaker’ and ‘Choose Your Fighter’ is just the cherry on top of the cake. Tonight has shown the sheer quality of new rock acts out there at the moment, with all three bands clearly set for bigger things.  

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Black Star Riders

Black Star Riders

Ipswich Corn Exchange

Thursday 16th February 2023

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BLACK STAR RIDERS – IPSWICH – LIVE REVIEW

Ipswich isn’t a regular touring stop, especially for rock acts, so it’s a nice treat to get this three band bill in town. There is certainly an opportunity for growth in this area for live music and hopefully the Corn Exchange in Ipswich can pick up some more shows like this.

PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS

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Opening the evening are Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, who work hard to get the early attendees warmed up. Consummate professionals the band are slick and tight, the proverbial well-oiled machine if you will!

New singer Joel Peters seems to have fit in very well with the Campbell clan and handles material from their first two albums extremely well. The best crowd reactions may be reserved for Motörhead classics ‘Born to Raise Hell’ and ‘Ace of Spades’, but the highlights tonight are the likes of ‘Freak Show’ and ‘Dark Days’. With two quality albums already under their belts, it’ll be interesting to see what the band has up their sleeves next.

MICHAEL MONROE

Our second act is Michael Monroe, who has undoubtedly influenced many over the course of his career and who the fans in attendance welcome warmly. Monroe though is an act that has passed me by over the years and tonight it’s hard to see what the fuss is about as he calamitously stalks the stage like a rock n’ roll Jar Jar Binks!

A health and safety nightmare waiting to happen Monroe manages to get stuck in a scarf, hit himself in the head with his mic, spill drink over the stage and causes many band, audience and crew members to duck for cover with his various escapades.

During all of this there is some classic rock by numbers played by a competent collection of musicians but the cartoon caricature strutting the stage proves more of a distraction then a centrepiece. Again, though there are those in the audience that lap up the performance, so Monroe must be doing something right! A niche act perhaps, and whilst not mine, many others would be (and were) delighted by this performance.

BLACK STAR RIDERS

Finally, it’s time for our headliners Black Star Riders who are celebrating both the past and the future with their set tonight. First, there is their fantastic new album, ‘Wrong Side of Paradise’ and arrival of new guitarist Sam Wood. Then, there is the small matter of their 10th Anniversary and return for this tour of original members Scott Gorham and Jimmy DeGrasso.

The first portion of the show focuses on the new with main man Ricky Warwick leading Wood, DeGrasso and bassist Robbie Crane through the likes of ‘Pay Dirt’, ‘Better Than Saturday Night’, ‘Riding Out the Storm’ and ‘Wrong Side of Paradise’. This early selection showcases the future of the band and confirms that there is still plenty in the tank. Wood fits the mould and helps to breathe new life into the group.

Soon enough though the iconic Scott Gorham strides across the stage to take position for the next hour or so of celebration. Seeing Gorham and Warwick side by side again is a treat and it’s nice that the band throw in a couple of Thin Lizzy numbers in a nod to the roots of the band.

Throughout the set though you are reminded just how good of a back catalogue that Black Star Riders have amassed in the last ten years. ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’, ‘The Killer Instinct’, ‘Before the War’, ‘Testify or Say Goodbye’, ‘Kingdom of the Lost’ and ‘Bound For Glory’ all sound huge tonight as Warwick and co prove that they were right to believe in themselves and the new music they could create together when faced with such criticism a decade ago.

Closing the evening with Lizzy classic ‘Jailbreak’ and Black Star Riders favourite ‘Finest Hour’, the rock fans of Ipswich are sent into the mild evening having witnessed one of the most consistently good bands of the past decade at their finest. The past decade has been sublime and thankfully the next decade looks just as good!

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Read our review of ‘Wrong Side of Paradise’ from Black Star Riders