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DZ Deathrays @ The Barfly
Hot on the heels of their latest album release, Aussie duo DZ Deathrays packed out Camden’s Barfly to play their brand of “thrash pop” that people seem to be enjoying – quite a lot it would seem.
Openers Horse Fight do little to wow the audience who got down early – playing to a room of not even 30 people isn’t easy and they fail to make an impression. Their music lacks substance but supporting DZ Deathrays tonight will look on their CV if nothing else. Kestrels are the only band on tonight’s bill who aren’t a twopiece, but that’s not a problem. Tonight’s bill is a diverse one it’s true, but the real problem is that they stick out like a sore thumb. Their indie pop melodies are played with little passion and while better than their predecessors Horse Fight, they looked bored and so do the audience.
The fact that this is run,WALK!’s last ever London show is a sad thought. The noisy pair, who plan to split this year, play a selection of songs from their upcoming (and final) release. As they make their prescence known, it can’t helped to be thought that in years to come run,WALK! will be a band that people look back on and wonder why they were never bigger than they are. They leave the stage and their career (as run,WALK!) in a blaze of glory. So long boys, you’ll be missed.
The most interesting thing about tonight’s show is not the music though, nor the diverse line up. Perhaps the most interesting thing is how DZ Deathrays manage to smash down the age barrier. Teenagers, 20 somethings, 30 somethings and even full grown men well into their 40s pack the Barfly to witness the chaos that DZ bring. It’s not just the strobe lights that are blinding as DZ Deathrays play a fantastic show with songs from their latest release, Bloodstreams. It’s hard to tell if the group of people in the middle is a mosh pit or if they’re just jumping up and down – regardless, it brings out some of the most apalling dance moves from white people ever. But this is what DZ Deathrays show is all about – having a good time. Songs like No Sleep sound perfect tonight while Teenage Kickstarts is played how it should be – very, very fucking loud.
With drinks spilled everywhere and with drummer Simon Ridley attempting to stage dive from his drumkit, tonight is clearly a success. DZ Deathrays might not have made it yet, but they are certainly on their way to bigger things in the future.
HEIGHTS @ Kingston Peel 22/03/12 review
Tonight’s show at The Peel in Kingston boasts an impressive amount of talent direct from the British hardcore scene. Heights headline and celebrate by playing their phenomenal debut album Dead Ends in full with the support of Polar, Heart of a Coward and Odessa.
Odessa kick things off for the early punters and give it all they’ve got. The crowd are more intrigued than anything else and don’t seem ready to use their energy just yet, but it’s an impressive set nonetheless. They start the night off on a fantastic note and close with the epic All I Have before departing the stage to make way for Heart Of A Coward.
“I’m getting over a chest infection” declares ex-Sylosis and current Heart Of A Coward frontman Jamie Graham, “so that’s the excuses out the way already” he continues before tearing into the second song of the set. It’s no real worry though, the growing crowd help him out by shouting along to every word. The only times when the chest infection is noticeable is on the clean vocals – Graham struggles a little but it’s no major flaw and at least he has an excuse. Closing their set with Shade, Heart Of a Coward are a tough act to follow but lucky for Polar they have their work cut out.
Polar aren’t here just to support their friends, they’re here to let everyone else know that they mean business. Adam Woodford looks out at the crowd before telling them that if they’re not moving, to get moving – it’s not so much as a promise, but almost a threat. Woodford is like a lion on the prowl, within seconds he’s in the crowd shouting every lyric into people’s faces and making himself known as the alpha male. Fans crowd around him taking the mic at every oppurtunity they can and songs like Tonight Matthew I Am The Batman and closer Smile, You Son Of a Bitch! have never sounded better. There’s even an airing of a couple of new tracks and if these songs are anything to go by, then Polar’s debut record Iron Lungs is going to be a seriously good hardcore record.
“What’s the next song on the setlist?” Heights vocalist, Thomas Debaere asks the crowd. “There isn’t a setlist!” comes the reply. But of course there is – Dead Ends. Heights are here to play their debut album Dead Ends in full start to finish. When Heights released Dead Ends last year, they admitted they had no idea what to expect – the response was exceptional. Rave reviews all over with Dead Ends ending up on various album of the year lists and an album that every hardcore fan in the UK should have owned. Tonight, in a way, closes a chapter on Dead Ends. As Heights put the finishing touches to their new album, it’s almost as if they’re saying goodbye to their first.
There’s some songs here that very rarely, if ever, get a play in your average Heights set – but of course, this isn’t your average Heights set. If you’ve seen Heights before, you know what to expect – an insane live show that leaves everyone bewildered at what they just witnessed. Songs like Eye For An Eye and Oceans sound fantastic, while The Lost and Alone (usually a set ender) is run through with such passion and heart that it’s easy to see why Heights have become an unstoppable driving force in the British hardcore scene.
Debaere notes that tonight is not just Heights’ show but the fans show too – a thank you to them for all their endless support. “I don’t care what you do. Come up on stage, stage dive, mic grabs – punch me in the face and grab the mic if you really want!” he’s half joking, but people take him up on his offer. Thankfully no fists fly but the crowd rushes the stage during title track Dead Ends, fans take the mics and Heights play every note with a smile on their faces. They claim that the next song, Endings, has never been played live and never will again so it’s all the more reason why tonight is a landmark show in their short careers. It sounds perfect and as they close with …And That’s How We Die, another stage invasion takes place. Despite the fact that half the fans are practically on stage, people continue to dive into the crowd. As they end, they thank the crowd before the crowd thank them – hugging them and shaking their hands to congratulate them on their feat. This may well have been the best show in Heights career so far and it’ll be tough to better it. For now though, the next stop for Heights is their new album.
Crazy Arm @ Camden Barfly 29/09/2011 review
Tonight’s show at Camden’s Barfly has a line up that could easily, in a few years time be playing bigger sold out shows around the country. With Xtra Mile’s Crazy Arm headlining tonight, they’ve bought with them an all British line up with Great Cynics and Apologies, I Have None supporting.
Great Cynics take to the stage first, hot under the heels of their highly acclaimed debut album, Don’t Need Much. Coming packed with upbeat, summery punk songs is perfect in the warm weather especially as the summer is practically over. Great Cynics feel good songs give the evening a kick in the right direction. Dave & Angela and Home Measures sound better than ever. Giles and co. show that over the last couple of months alone they have matured in to a fantastic punk band. Being in their early days, the band have a long road ahead of them but the end of it will be a sweet victory.
Apologies, I Have None have made a name for themselves in the punk scene this year. Having supported such acts like The Wonder Years previously this year, the band find themselves as main support for Crazy Arm. They’ve obviously got fans here tonight as they hit the stage to loud cheers and applause, people in the small room are non-stop singing. Apologies, I Have None certainly have nothing to be sorry for tonight. Tonight, they should be thankful of their fans for turning out and helping them to make tonight one hell of a show.
Crazy Arm hit the stage tonight playing a set full of songs from their brand new album, Union City Breath. Despite Darren Johns suffering from a major migraine (which a fan gives him some ibruprofen for), Crazy Arm power through their set with no problems. The new songs are their best yet. Political and powerful, their songs hit home in these bleak times of crisis (most of Xtra Mile’s stock was burnt in the PIAS Fire during the UK riots). Tribes opens with the line “I don’t wanna live in a fucked up world” and hopefully it’s vision that everyone here shares. Crazy Arm might not be able to do anything to change this world, but they’re certainly making noise in the punk scene. With Xtra Mile behind them, Crazy Arm can be just as big as their label mates (and soon to be tour partners!) Against Me!
As the Ibuprofen kicks in, the band finish with an epic run through of Broken By The Wheel. Playing for over an hour and despite Darren Johns’ migraine, Crazy Arm put on a thought provoking, political punk show for everyone in the Barfly to witness. It wasn’t an easy show for the band tonight with Darren’s migraine, but like professionals the band pulled through. And that alone deserves massive respect – along with their hate for fascism in politics.
Off With Their Heads @ The Fighting Cocks, Kingston 02/10/2011 review
On an October afternoon when most people are eating their Sunday roast dinners, Off With Their Heads played a small scale show in Kingston at The Fighting Cocks before they supported Samiam that night in London.
With it feeling more like July than October on this hot afternoon, some of the gig goers here today decide to sit in the adjoining pub before Off With Their Heads hit the stage. Paperjets play to a small growing, curious crowd. They play straight up punk rock in similar vein to local boys OK Pilot. While they still have a lot of way to go before they take off properly and get noticed, if they take away anything from today’s show then word of mouth and curiosity is the most they could ask for.
Shortly after, Off With Their Heads hit the stage. As they are about to play, vocalist/guitarist Ryan Young tells the crowd that he’s “supposed to wait until people have finished their pints [next door]” but he “didn’t get to finish his so fuck it!” as they open with Drive from last year’s In Desolation. Setlists are on the stage, but the band decide they will let the crowd choose the setlist. One fan asks for the entire Hospitals EP – and that is given to the crowd.
Die Today sounds like a true punk song, as does the entire EP. The Fighting Cocks is perfect to hear Off With Their Heads. It’s sweaty, small and loud. Running through songs like Your Child Is Dead and the mere 20 second long Idiot are highlights of this part of the set. It may be early in the day, but Off With Their Heads are doing this for the fans and giving it their all in this show.
The set draws to a close with the epic Fuck This, I’m Out before OWTH finish with Clear the Air. With a few people still calling out for songs for the band to play, Off With Their Heads depart the stage sweaty and triumphant after an epic show. The fans however, depart the venue only to stop feet away at the pub for a swift pint.
Footage of the show can be found at the Banquet Records YouTube.
The Wonder Years @ KCLSU review 23/09/2011
Tonight’s show at KCLSU (King’s College London Student Union) is a big one. The hype has been built up. The Wonder Years already sold out Camden’s Barfly and the venue was upgraded to KCLSU a long time ago. The aptly named “A Whole Year In Airports Tour” (aptly named due to the band spending 235 days out of 365 of this year on tour) concludes in the capital.
Throughout the tour, Such Gold and Valencia served as supports but with Such Gold absent from tonight’s line up, the UK’s own Basement take their place. The band released their debut album this year and are almost like the UK’s great white hope when it comes to punk bands. Their melodic hardcore/pop-punk may come across to some as dreary, but to others it’s a breath of fresh air. They show signs of being the next big thing and already packed with a tight live sound and the songs to match, they captivate tonight’s crowd, earn new fans and go away happy. Even Dan “Soupy” Campbell of The Wonder Years comes out to watch the band. Along with Save Your Breath, Basement will be leading the way when it comes to the new wave of British pop-punk (NWOBPP?!).
Next up is Valencia. The band have only ever been to the UK once or twice before and having had no albums officially released in the UK, the crowd may be tough to win over. However, they have brought their fans out in force – which is a surprise in itself even to them. They are flawless, to say the least. They are also grateful to those that made the effort to check their band out despite not being a name that many people will know across the pond. If tonight doesn’t prove that Valencia should be bigger (as well as start coming to the UK more and packing out venues) then it’s hard to say what else they have to do to prove themselves.
The Wonder Years come packed full of straight up pop-punk anthems for the hopeless tonight. Pop-punk can often be overlooked and overshadowed as a pointless, childish genre of music but The Wonder Years prove otherwise. Their songs shine through with raw emotion and struggle. This is a band who have truly stuck by each other through thick and thin – been there and done it all. This is as always proved to be true by Soupy as he tells stories of 4 years previous when his band stole just to survive while on tour.
From the opening of Came Out Swinging, everyone and anyone shouts every single lyric and note right back to the end. New songs and old songs alike, tonight it doesn’t matter what’s played. Crowd surfers and stage divers are everywhere and chaos really does ensue while The Wonder Years are on. Running through classics like Melrose Diner and My Last Semester get the crowd up on their feet, while set closer All My Friends Are In Bar Bands brings everyone in harmony to sing, the now famous “I’m not sad anymore” line still ringing in everyone’s ears the following morning. It’s been one hell of a ride for The Wonder Years and tonight at London’s KCLSU, they were on top form. Everything Soupy owns may still fit in his backpack, but he truly does have no reason to be sad anymore.
The Darkness LIVE @ London Shepherd’s Bush Empire 08/06/2011 review
For some people, the return of The Darkness came with a few groans here and there along with them still being brandished as “a joke band” but for many people, this reunion has been a long time coming. Having split up in 2006 and with Justin Hawkins going his seperate ways with Hot Leg and Dan Hawkins, Ed Graham and Richie Edwards forming Stone Gods a reunion still seemed unlikely. Whilst the two bands never garnered as much attention or acheived the colossal success that The Darkness had, there was always a hope.
In March of this year, The Darkness announced their welcome return with their original line up with Frankie Poullain taking bass duties instead of Richie Edwards. The band were announced as sub-headliners to Def Leppard at this year’s Download Festival and soon announced 3 warm up shows which concluded with a show at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
Inside the venue, Max Raptor kick things off. Max Raptor’s music is a far cry from The Darkness’, but they put in a solid effort. It’s not easy with a crowd like this but they get a warm reception at the very least, it might not be memorable in any way, shape or form but as long as they made a few new fans along the way it can still be viewed as successful.
Max Raptor
With eager anticipation, the lights go dim and ABBA’s Arrival plays over the sound system. As the lights shine on the huge backdrop with the band’s logo on it, cheers fill around the venue. It’s a welcome return for the British rock Gods. As they tear in to the instrumental Bareback, the crowd get warmed up already and it’s clear that by the end, Shepherd’s Bush Empire will be on fire.
The Darkness tear in to Black Shuck before bringing the house down with the classic Growing On Me. Tonight’s set is heavily based on the critically acclaimed Permission To Land with all but Holding My Own being played. Despite this though, new tracks are showcased. Cannonball, Concrete and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us is The Darkness doing what they do best – classic, in your face rock songs to get you banging your head and throwing up the horns. After 5 years of being away, they’ve still got it.
Every great rock band should have a great ballad. It’s a standard in the hard rock music scene. When Love Is Only A Feeling rolls around, everybody in attendance sings in harmony. It’s a sight to behold as confetti fills up the venue. Before the encore, The Darkness rip in to the classic I Believe In A Thing Called Love. Although Hot Let may have performed the song live before, it doesn’t get much better than this.
With odd costume changes and a set full of rock hits, The Darkness come back on for the final hurrah of the night. The encore consists solely of Love On The Rocks With No Ice and midway through the song, Justin Hawkins gets a ride through the crowd on someone’s shoulders whilst never missing a note on his guitar. As he reaches the end of the crowd and climbs back over the barrier, he plays a guitar solo down by the barrier before climbing back onstage to finish the song. It’s a night to remember and Justin Hawkins, his brother Dan, Ed Graham and Frankie Poullain would surely agree.
While everyone may not see it right now, soon The Darkness could be classified as one of rock’s great – up there with the likes of Queen and Aerosmith. With a sub-headline show with Def Leppard at Download Festival, a new album on the way and a tour taking place in November, it’s easy to say that this is rock how it’s meant to be. The Darkness are back and this is only the beginning.
FULL SETLIST:
Bareback
Black Shuck
Growing On Me
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
One Way Ticket
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us
Love Is Only A Feeling
Friday Night
Is It Just Me?
Concrete
Cannonball
Stuck in a Rut
Givin’ Up
I Believe In A Thing Called Love
ENCORE:
Love On The Rocks With No Ice
The King Blues live at Relentless Garage, London 12/02/2011 review
Over the past couple of weeks, HMV have put on shows all around London as part of the anual HMV Next Big Thing festival. Tonight at the Relentless Garage in London is political punks The King Blues turn. Accompanying them are punk’s Sharks and Scotland’s own Twin Atlantic.
Sharks kick things off with their take on punk. Sharks sound like a modern day punk act but with heavy influence from early bands, such as Sex Pistols and The Clash. They’re a breath of fresh air on today’s punk scene and for them, the Next Big Thing Festival is perfect. They could well be punk’s next big thing and they do that tonight by showcasing some of their songs to the slowly growing Garage audience.
Sharks
Some people could easily slate Twin Atlantic for this bill. Being put in between two punk bands when you’re band are not punk at all can’t be easy, but somehow they pull it off. Having supported My Chemical Romance last year too, they’ve picked up a few fans in their time together. A few of these fans have turned up at the Garage and sing every word whilst giving the band a warm reception. It’s not an easy task being sliced between two punk acts, but they’ve done well and end in style with a fantastic You’re Turning Into John Wayne.
Twin Atlantic
The King Blues haven’t played a show since last year’s Reading and Leeds Festival and so tonight gives them the chance to showcase some new songs from their upcoming album Punk & Poetry. Hitting the stage playing a brand new intro for the crowd before diving in to their abrasive new track, We Are Fucking Angry. The song hasn’t been out long but the crowd are in full swing, singing every word. The King Blues may have been put down a lot in the past year and had a tough year too, but they’re back and better than ever.
The new material goes down well and at times even better than the older material. After an excellent rendition of Let’s Hang The Landlord (which gets the crowd off their feet singing and dancing, skanking from side to side), the band play their latest single Set The World On Fire. Having only been released a few days prior to the gig, it’s astonishing to see that everyone has learnt the lyrics already, or at least the chorus. As everyone chants the chorus from front to back, frontman Itch looks happier than ever. The smile never seems to leave his face and tonight him and guitarist Jamie Jazz look like brothers in arms – engaging in smiles and sharing hugs the whole night. Itch even dives in to the crowd and laps up every minute, with Jamie recalling that Itch hasn’t stage dived like that since he was 18 – a clear sign that The King Blues are enjoying their time as musicians more than ever now.
Itch - The King Blues
New tracks I Want You, Sex Education and The Future’s Not What It Used To Be show The King Blues at their best. Ska love songs and politically charged punk songs. These songs are easily going to be fan staples and favourites before they know it. The usual poem where Itch sings “Granddad didn’t vote for fascists, he shot them down..” is the intro for My Boulder, another staple song. One of the loudest singalongs of the night comes from Headbutt, the chorus sounds great and the song on a whole sounds even better live than it ever has. In fact, The King Blues sound even better live than they have for quite a while now.
I Got Love brings the night to a close, before Itch returns to the stage for an encore of Five Bottles of Shampoo – a poem which he has done for a few years now but is getting it’s studio release on the upcoming album. The powerful words of the anti-sexist poem allows all the women to scream and stand up for what they believe in. The rest of the band join Itch onstage to close with the single that plunged them in to the mainstream, Save The World, Get The Girl. Itch thanks everyone for coming and he means that, it’s in his eyes. Letting everyone know that it’s the fans who kept them going, the night comes to a close. The King Blues are officially back and better than ever and are now ready to unleash a monster of a new album.
FULL SETLIST:
Intro
We Are Fucking Angry
Let’s Hang The Landlord
Set The World on Fire
Mr Music Man
I Want You
The Streets Are Ours
Granddad
My Boulder
Sex Education
Headbutt
The Future’s Not What It Used To Be
I Got Love
ENCORE:
Five Bottles of Shampoo
Save The World, Get The Girl
Punk & Poetry is released on 18th April 2011.
The King Blues will be touring the UK throughout March and April. Support comes from Sonic Boom Six and Random Hand. Tickets are available from SeeTickets right here! A few shows have sold out already so be quick and get tickets NOW!
The King Blues new single Set The World On Fire is available to download on iTunes right here!
Panic! At The Disco live at Bush Hall, London 08/02/2011 review
It’s been a rough year and a half for Panic! At The Disco. Or more rather, what is left of them. In 2009, bassist Jon Walker and guitarist Ryan Ross walked out on vocalist Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith leaving the band’s future looking very bleak.
But that was 2009, and this is 2011. Having finished recording and mixing their new record, Vices & Virtues, Panic! are showcasing new material from the album with 3 shows before the album is released next month. The first show was in the USA and the second show is at London’s Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush before heading out to Germany.
Bush Hall is much different from the venue road the corner, Shepherd’s Bush Empire. For a start, it’s smaller. However, is also has a Panic! At The Disco vibe to it. It’s much like a location out of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Bush Hall looks more like a room for a fancy get together than a gig, carpet floor and chandeliers. This, however, is something that suits the Panic! style. Pictures of the bands album cover for Vices & Virtues are projected on to the walls and promotional posters drape the walls which are quickly snapped up by lucky punters.
The anticipation is high for Panic!’s return, but before they play, Relentless In Love play a short impromptu acoustic set. Having only been asked a couple of hours before the show (due to an un-named band dropping out), they take to the stage as a duo due to the other half of the band being unavailable. Their acoustic set doesn’t do them too much justice and it’s hard to grab people’s attention. In short, the problem is, being an acoustic set and not having much time to sort much out for the show – their set has no energy and comes across pretty dull.
Relentless In Love
As anticipation rises even more, Panic! At The Disco hit the stage at 9pm. Dallon Weekes and Ian Crawford playing bass and guitar, respectively. Opening with The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage, it’s clear Brendon Urie knows how to get the crowd going. Everyone is singing (apart from some parents at the back!) and Urie is clearly enjoying himself, leaving the past well and truly behind him.
Panic! At The Disco
Playing 3 songs from Vices & Virtues tonight, the first coming from the latest single The Ballad Of Mona Lisa and it’s clear people have learnt the lyrics already as they sing every word like there’s no tomorrow. The loudest singalongs come from the band’s first two albums, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and Pretty. Odd.. The Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed) is particularly energetic tonight whilst Brendon Urie takes centre of attention with an emotionally driven Northern Downpour.
By the time I Write Sins Not Tradegies comes around, the night is in full swing. It’s the loudest singalong of the night with Brendon Urie commenting that it’s a song that everyone in the room has felt some form of emotion to. Urie sits down at the keyboard to sing a cover of Science Fiction/Double Feature from The Rocky Horror Picture Show before the rest of the band join him for Nine In The Afternoon. The set closes with another new song, Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met…). Panic! leave the stage with the crowd demanding more. A loud cheer fills the room when the band come back and finish with the upbeat New Perspective.
Panic! At The Disco
Panic! At The Disco have had it rough in the past 18 months but tonight shows they are back in full force. Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith look happier than ever. The emo tag may still forever be with them, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. With Fall Out Boy on hiatus and no signs of coming back anytime soon, Panic! At The Disco could well take their crown.
FULL SETLIST
The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage
But It’s Better If You Do
The Ballad of Mona Lisa
That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
Camisado
Let’s Kill Tonight
Northern Downpour
Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
I Constantly Thank God For Esteban
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Science Fiction Double Feature
Nine In The Afternoon
Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met…)
ENCORE:
New Perspective
Vices & Virtues will be Panic! At The Disco’s third album and will be released on 29th March via Fueled By Raman.
Gallows perform Grey Britain live at Electric Ballroom 17/12/2010 review
Over the last couple of months, rumours have spread through the grapevine that UK punks, Gallows, would be splitting up at the end of the year. However, putting those rumours to rest and playing their last shows of the year, Gallows are on top form.
Earlier in the day, fans braved whatever weather they had to for a matinee show at Dingwalls where Gallows performed their debut album, Orchestra of Wolves, in full. Those who weren’t there to catch it were disappointed to hear how amazing it was and those who were there were still raring to go by the time the evening was due to come around where Gallows would play down the road at Camden’s Electric Ballroom, performing their second album Grey Britain in full.
Opening up for Gallows at the Ballroom is November Coming Fire. With their aggresive hardcore smashing up the stage, it’s a shame they can’t do much more. The crowd aren’t hugely entertained. Maybe it’s the fact the Ballroom isn’t full yet or that it’s cold. November Coming Fire aren’t bad by any means, but after a couple of songs it feels at times that they’re playing one long song. However, they’re saved at the end when pits break out and connect with the crowd more than they had done their whole set. It could be viewed as too little, too late but they have warmed the crowd up.
As the time draws near, Rage Against The Machine’s infamous Killing In The Name plays over the speakers and the crowd sing every word and even a mosh pit breaks out. It’s clear this crowd is ready to destroy…
Complete with a string section from an orchestra (includes cellos, violins and a keyboard) the room goes dark and the strings perform the dark intro to the opening of The Riverbank. The band take stage and as frontman Frank Carter and everyone in the room screams that “Great Britain is burning down”, the crowd are burning up. Cheers fill the room, it’s clear tonight is going to be special.
As they dive in to London Is The Reason, it’d be hard to find a crowd louder. The crowd and Gallows are at their best. There’s not a moment tonight when any of the songs fall flat. Frank brands the people who didn’t make the show “pussies”, telling the crowd that his own mum made it to the show even though she slipped and broke her elbow in the same day – showing off where Frank gets his determination from.
Some of the songs have never been played properly in full before and yet, there’s no problem in performing them. “I’ve been dreading this for 2 years!” Frank calls out before playing The Vulture. He appears nervous as he sings the mellow, dark first act of the song. As the crowd carry the song for him, he looks stunned at the reaction. The song has an eerie feel to it which is quickly demolished by the heavier second act of the song.
Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro unfortunately couldn’t be at the show due to touring commitments and so, yet again, the crowd save the day by singing his part on Graves. As the night draws to a close and crowd surfers come over non stop, the band show no signs of stopping even by the latest point. Frank waves a huge grey Union Jack on stage which is met with cheers. As the band tear in to a particularly awesome Crucifucks, chills run down spines as the end few lines (performed acapella) are spat out of everyone’s mouth. The mic stand is slammed to the ground and the string section are left to perform the eerie 4 minute outro. Cheers fill the room.
The band return to the stage to pose for pictures and then grab their instruments. Although this show was primarily supposed to be Grey Britain only, Frank smiles and asks the crowd What? You didn’t think we’d fuck off without playing Orchestra of Wolves, did you?” The crowd, in turn go wild as the show wraps up.
It’s hard to sum up the gig in a just a word but a few come to everyone’s mind. Stunning. Amazing. Spectacular. Special. Those are just a few and Gallows themselves would agree. It really is hard to find a better band (live and on record) in the UK at the moment.
Both the Dingwalls and Electric Ballroom’s shows were recorded and will be put out on DVD sometime in 2011.
FULL SETLIST FOR THIS SHOW:
The Riverbank
London Is The Reason
Leeches
Black Eyes
I Dread The Night
Death Voices
The Vulture (Acts I & II)
The Riverbed
The Great Forgiver
Graves
Queensberry Rules
Misery
Crucifucks
ENCORE:
Orchestra Of Wolves
Frank Turner live at Brixton Academy 12/12/2010 review
After bands split up, former members sometimes decide to hit the road with a solo career. For the most part, it doesn’t seem to work but in Frank Turner’s case things have been on the up ever since his hardcore punk group, Million Dead, split up in 2005.
Tonight Frank Turner plays his biggest headlining show to date at London’s Brixton Academy. From hardcore punk frontman to DIY solo artist, it goes to show that he must be doing something right to be standing on the Brixton Academy stage.
Dive Dive (also partly Frank Turner’s band) are the first band to take to the stage tonight. Brixton isn’t full yet and the band get a lukewarm reception, although they deserve much more. They sing songs with power and energy but in a venue the size of Brixton and with it not even being half full just yet, it’s hard to get the crowd moving or pumped up when they’re still a little cold from the outside. Dive Dive have the ability to play places like Brixton and if they keep putting the work in (and with an ever growing fanbase), they may well be here in a few years headlining themselves. But it’s going to take work. Lots of work.
Sharp dressed, moustache bearing, multi-instrumentalist Ed Harcourt has no problems with keeping the crowd intrigued and entertained. As he darts around the stage playing different instruments and recording different sounds to make a song, he does so with such enthusiasm. Some people may not seem that interested in the songs but more how he crafts them so perfectly. Usually as a solo artist, it’s a man and his piano or guitar but in Ed’s case, the stage is his practice room full of keyboards and guitars and all sorts of instruments. It’s a sight to see and one you won’t see at every gig, Ed Harcourt is well worth catching when he’s next in town.
Frank Turner arrives on the stage with massive cheers. It’s not your regular rock n’ roll gig. No mosh pits break out, it’s got a chilled vibe about it but nonetheless everyone is jumping, dancing and singing their hearts out. With his short Eulogy intro followed by Poetry Of The Deed. Turner’s music is inspiring, it’s about doing what you want and following your dreams. As he carries the crowd in mass singalongs through out the night, it shines through that this isn’t just Frank Turner’s job but his life too.
New songs from his recent Rock & Roll EP are given a run through, as are a couple of tracks from his upcoming album (due for release in 2011) including a song entitled Peggy, dedicated to his grandmother. He mentions some of his family are in the crowd tonight and that if everyone sings along with his songs it makes his mum believe he has a real job, although after tonight I think she would be proud of how far along her son has come.
The setlist is a mix of old and new songs as well as a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s classic, Thunder Road and an acapella poem about an old English curse. As Frank stands alone on the stage performing solo without his band, it’s something quite amazing to watch. One single man connects with 5000 people in this one room and holds a smile all the while. Reasons Not To Be An Idiot, Sons Of Liberty and The Road once again call for mass sing alongs before closing the set, but not before Frank returns to the stage for an encore.
The dark “The Ballad Of Me And My Friends” starts the encore off as everyone and anyone in the room sings so hard it hurts. Photosynthesis finishes off what can only be described as a perfect night for Frank Turner, he gets help from Ed Harcourt on his mandolin, as it kicks off with the “1, 2..1, 2, 3, 4!”, it’s the perfect start to the perfect end. A song about not wanting to grow up but leaving the past behind. Nobody sits down and nobody shuts up. Frank moves about the stage like a madman singing and it’s clear that his hardcore roots haven’t left him as he dives in to the crowd to connect with the audience even more.
From hardcore punk front man, to country/folk/rock singer selling out venues like Brixton Academy in about 5 years. Frank Turner doesn’t plan to stop growing anymore. It’s clear this has been a memorable evening for both Frank and fans. England has finally found its hero.
FULL SETLIST:
Eulogy
Poetry Of The Deed
Try This At Home
I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Imperfect Tense
Peggy
I Still Believe
Thunder Road [Bruce Springsteen cover]
The English Curse [Acapella poem/curse]
Love Ire & Song
Fathers Day
If I Should Stray
Nashville Tennessee
Substitute
The Next Round
Long Live The Queen
Reasons Not To Be An Idiot
Sons Of Liberty
The Road
ENCORE:
The Ballad Of Me And My Friends
Photosynthesis [With Ed Harcourt]
