Archive for December, 2009

15th October 2009

Another new acquisition to the O2 live music brand was the setting for this evenings rocking antics. Hammersmith Apollo has had a facelift, a few licks of paint here and there hasn’t done much for the place however, still it remains the better of the 2 large theatre venues in London.

Back here this evening was a band I first witnessed at Hyde Park Calling in the summer of 2007. Then again as one of the last bands I had the fortune of seeing at the now deceased London Astoria. Black Stone Cherry have clearly increased their fan base since them and a date at the Apollo is only what they really deserve.

They brought with them 2 US based support bands the first being one of the standout new groups from 2009, The Parlor Mob. These guys were quite unassuming in their appearance but their music really does demand your attention. Steeped in old school blues and with more than their fair share of Jack White similarities they played some cracking basic hard rocking country blues. Their song craft is worthy of Raconteur comparisons and their melodic solos were a match (and a sound-a-like) for Jack himself. These guys made a big impression on me and I’m giving these a firm thumbs up!

Now I have hear that you should never meet your idols as you will only be disappointed, this couldn’t have been more true tonight. Next up were the new band of one of the founding members of the greatest hard rock band of the 80′s, responsible for some of the most recognisable anthems of the generation…Ex-Guns n’ Roses bass guitarist Duff Mackagan. Loaded are a fuelled up mix of sleaze punk, classic rock and hard rock. The image was perfect for the genre too, so long as you only looked at Duff! His bands style choice from the overweight podgy dad like lead guitarist to the dull bassist only Duffs leather, tattooed powerful arms and his striking white and black Les Paul did the band any justice. Their music was not particularly good either, loud and well performed their tracks were not interesting and beyond their recycled riffs and the one string solos they had limited appeal and not a great deal to offer.

This is probably why the biggest cheer of the night arrived when Duff introduced a special guest James Bradfield, Lead guitarist and singer of The Manic Street Preachers to play their cover of the Gun’s and Roses classic It’s So Easy. This was superb the clear highlight of a very ordinary set (I think the Docktor would have nodded off if it wasn’t for the whole standing up issue).

Black Stone Cherry’s triumphant return to London was greeted with the roar of the huge crowd pack in here adorning the usual array of classic rock T-shirts from Led Zep to Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s these two bands that BSC combine to such great effects. The huge blues riffs of zep channelled through the southern rock roots of Skynyrd with maybe a side dose of Black Crowes results in the spectacle on show this evening. Still amazingly young they play like touring veterans, effects galore, lights everywhere and special effect mics added to the spectacle.

Touring here this evening on the crest of their latest album Folklore and Superstition the new tracks sounded great and were well worthy the grand venue they filled. Blind Man set the tone for the evening, a bluesed up southern rock with some vocal hooks ready to land jaws himself. More rockers followed in this energetic set with hard rocker Shooting Star, country blues of Tired of The Rain, scream along Rain Wizard and guitar totting The Bitter End.

For the second show in succession the ballads took centre stage once again with the absolutely super (if a tad preachy) Peace is Free. Its message is simple and if everyone had this much passion to change the world, earth would be in safe hands. Acoustics were simple but beautiful and were equally matched for effect by the colossal sing along of “Don’t you bring your sadness down on me, when peace is free”, poignant and honestly spoken.

The second stunning ballad of the evening is epic tribute to a father lost (familiar?). Things My Father Said is an open hearted, endearing and emotional track in which singer Chris Robertson pours every last breath into soaring his vocals skyward, dad would be proud. This tune has an effect on everyone here, the transparent. Simple lyrics and beautiful arrangement is a superb statement of great song writing written true from the heart.

During the encore break, the now customary drum solo captivated a huge crowd for a seemingly endless mesmeric performance with his bare hands slapping the skins John Bonham Style. Showmanship was at its peak post the band returning jamming their blues of yesteryear tribute with a heavy handed version of The Hoochie Coochie Man. As if originality was running out they employed another of their old tricks…playing a stunning guitar flaring version of Jimi’s Voodoo Chile, again each playing their guitars behind their head as the track climaxed. (It was as if I’d seen this bit all before)

An epic rendition of Lonely Train played us out tonight, it was played with so much vigour they could have snapped their guitars in half turning it into a thrash metal moshers paradise. A triumphant return for one of the top rock bands of the Noughties.

10th October 2009

The worst thing any gig goer can hope to see was standing in our path as the DoesItRock team headed to Highbury Corner for one of the most exciting screwball pop bands around…Underground Engineering Works.

Despite this we arrived eventually after braving the rail replacement services, London Overground and the mean streets of Hackney. It really wasn’t worth getting here this early however as Japanese Voyeurs entertained the early crowds.

Musically this band are quite impressive, heavy and full of riffs and attitude. Problem their singer sounds like a squeaky Janet Street Porter. So screechy it hurts! Alternative? Perhaps, but just too annoying to bear as I sink back into my happy beer land.

Hammersmith’s Tellison should really be bigger than their slot here warrants. A pop ethos,  great catchy tracks with multi vocalist’s and brain tunnelling melodies (plus a guitarist sporting a terrible moustache). Tracks such as Gallery and Disaster! Disaster! Were big crowd favourites as the dancing began in earnest. The large ensemble onstage produced a hard working set full of energy and just good pop songs. Criticism if any falls at the feet of the immediately likable lead singer who could quite easily arrange the musicians roles better. Trying to play lead guitar when singing two vocal parts worked ok, but one feels he’s overloading himself in a very capable set of musicians. Massively enjoyable and one to check out later for sure!

I’ve read a lot about Johnny Foreigners intense and sublime live shows, which is always going to lead to a fall. However they managed to almost live to their billing! All set long the lead guitarist playing some of the most inventive and fuzzed riffs while attempting to sing rapid-fire lyrics. His vocals got muffled a lot of the time and sometimes he’d miss the mic altogether after blasting out more fizzing guitar lines. There lies the problem of being a lead singer/guitarist, musically this isn’t a problem here as he makes one hell of a racket, vocally something is missing. Good thing then for the female backing singer/bassist who kept the band together here tonight. Her superb, poppy and very cutesy vocals were the polar opposite of the lead singers. That doesn’t mean she can’t pull of crazy either, the odd welcome squeal and scream gave that added edge and depth most bands lack.

They played a variety of material from their debut LP as well as tracks from their new album. Seeing as their latest effort was yet to be released led to a static crowd for most of the new material. Despite this new tracks such as Feels Like Summer, and Criminals, were some of the best of the night. They are clearly going along the sing-along route as many a repeated lyric were cast back and forth between band and crowd to the great satisfaction of both parties. Each song was musically on the edge of craziness about to tip into insanity which gives Johnny Foreigner such a great must watch aura.

Track highlights from tonight were Feels Like Summer and its happy clapping sing-along, the electronic funfest of Salt Pepper & Spinderella not omitting the sparklingly great Eyes Wide Terrified. Final track provided a huge jam with the members of Tellison returning to hit drums and play as many instruments in true indie style.

Now despite playing out of their skin for this set I was shocked when they departed the stage after what seemed like a 45 minute set. Now I know they are intense, but 45 minutes! The crowd got restless which I could hardly blame as the lack of respect to their fans declining the chants for them to return to the stage. Feeling slightly dejected everyone turned towards the bar and went for a nightcap before calming down and reliving the high (and short)lights of what was a entertaining little show.

Thursday 17 September 2009

HMV I will admit, have done some great work on The Forum since their takeover. Its now bright & clean(ish) inside, feels revitalised and is a completely different venue compared to its former self. However this has come at a price, quite a steep price actually. Ticket prices are up as well as the price of the flat substandard lager (£3.60!) a terrible showing HMV who are clearly making up for losses in the consumer industry by fleecing the gig going public. Shame on you!

Right, To the music. This evening’s solitary support band were Detroit Social Club. Their slant on alternative downbeat noise rock was rather pants. There we precious few melodies of note and even a couple of choice hooks were not enough to stop this set going down in flames. Crowd were absolutely non-responsive, probably all bored stiff by the lack on enthusiasm onstage or ranting at the price of a beer. Not the greatest start, neither the best choice of support group for the retro rockers who were to come.

Jet are back and have a new found optimism surrounding them post-family crisis which influences 2006′s Shine On so heavily. Their latest LP is a much rejuvenated band and this is exactly what the crowd got here this evening. A band full of good time feeling and rock and roll spirit driven by their rolling stones-esque riffing and a stomping.

The majority of the set, to my delight, came from their first breakthrough record Get Born which propelled them so rapidly into the mainstream. Tracks such as the spirited Rollover DJ, swagger loaded new single She’s A Genius, another newbie K.I.A. and their most recognised classic Are You Gonna Be My Girl ignited the early set and got the Forum jumping. Their live setup was unique, but brilliant…tag team singers with the brothers Cester on guitar and drums trading vocals to great effect.

The standout tracks here this evening were the ballads…and there were quite a few of them. Move On, was superb, followed by the almost as impressive Look What You’ve Done. It was the reaction from the crowd to these slow burning sing-along’s which sparked frontman Nic into saying.

We wouldn’t normally play this but we feel it’s all right this evening.

What followed was a piece of heartfelt majesty as jet played their tribute to their late father, shine on. This was clearly quite a tough track for the guys to play and the crowd felt the high levels of emotions on each piano beat.

Ending the evening on a brighter note they reverted yet again to their first LP and the energetic Get What You Need and the raucous rocker Get Me Out Of Here which is what we duly did…cue mass exodus onto the streets of Kentish town.

Solid and professional, Jet played to their strengths playing what seemed like 60 percent from album One not dwelling on their latest effort, many bands could learn a thing  or two from these great retro pop rockers.