Tag Archives: live review

Electric Eel Shock – Gig Review

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Electric Eel Shock + Saltwater Injection

Thursday 1st May 2014

The Compass, Chester

Finally – Chester is building up a few venues to see some live music.  Forget the joke that is Chester Rocks (LOLZ! etc), there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  On a quiet Thursday night at the start of May, that light was Electric Eel Shock.

The Compass is an older pub/venue just outside the City centre, now reborn with a new name.  I paid a measly £9 to get in and see three bands.  Have a few drinks, rock out on a school night.  What could be better?

The first band up were a local band in a pop punk vein.  I have loads of Descendents and SNFU albums, but that whole Sum 41 thing ain’t my scene.  The kids could play, but not on my shift.

Next up, we have another local band – Saltwater Injection.  A two piece, you may be fooled into thinking White Stripes, before the noise starts.  No chance – think more early Bleach-era Nirvana spitting out Black Flag covers, you’ll be more on the map.  A great set, these guys are worth keeping an eye out for – Hardcore punk and a nice line in political scorn as well!

Funny thing about The Compass – upstairs is pretty small.  And on this night at least, the back half of the room is closed off.  So when Electric Eel Shock erupt onto the stage, it’s like having three tiny Japanese Metal demons go bananas in your living room.  EES rock the place like they’re headlining Wembley Stadium – standing on monitors, waving the mic stands at the audience for sing alongs, throwing the horns.  And the drummer is naked except for a sock to cover the family jewels. EES

Musically, it’s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal in the traditional sense – some Maiden, some Lizzy, some AC/DC, a little G’n’R; with a liberal dash of punk energy.  It’s all the classic rock bands you love in a new, crazy head-banging package.  The only song I’m familiar with (“Goodbye Peach”) is nowhere to be heard, but no matter – there’s plenty of new rocking anthems to meet and greet.

The set includes a few covers: Electric Eel Shock’s takes on “Paranoid” and The Halen’s “Hot For Teacher”; plus The Wurzels’ classic “I am a Cider Drinker”!  What the living fuck??!!  Believe me, this song works!

Electric Eel Shock deliver one of the most bonkers – and fun – gigs I’ve seen in a long time.  It’s full-on good time rock’n’roll.  The audience love it, the band love it.  Check out EES if you can, and if you’re in Chester – The Compass needs to be on your list of places to visit.

The Compass website is here.

Follow Electric Eel Shock on Facebook or follow them on Twitter: @eel_shock

And follow Saltwater Injection on Twitter: @SaltWaterInject

The Damned – Gig Review

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The Damned + The Ruts DC

Sunday 1st December 2013

Buckley Tivoli

It’s Sunday night, and far from milk and cookies and watching Songs of Praise, Mrs Platinum and I are off to see The Damned.  At the Tivoli in Buckley, no less.  A venue I’ve been to many times (remind me to tell you about my 21st birthday sometime) and a place I’d hoped this lot would play for years.

Support tonight is from The Ruts DC, and blimey they’re good.  I’d have gone to see them headline their own gig – with The Damned to follow this is unmissable.  A great set that swings from ska-reggae boppers to punk rock seven inch masterpieces.  Highlights include “It Was Cold”, “West One (Shine On Me)” and of course “Staring at the Rude Boys” and “Babylon’s Burning”.  They sound exciting, contemporary and confident.  Final song “In a Rut” put the lid on a support set that could have been a headliner.

I might as well own up and admit that the Damned are probably my favourite band of all time.  To see them in my “local” venue is a real delight.  As I hinted earlier, I’ve had many adventures at the Ballrooms over the years and always wanted to see this band here.

The Damned are the band that I’ve seen more than any other.  Tonight though, they play an astounding set that both entertains and surprises.  How do they do that?  Well, they play many songs I’ve never heard them play live before.  First song “Sanctum Santorum” is an interesting choice – atmospheric rather than bludgeoning.  The song worked really well live and served to create a sense of theatre from the start.

From that point on, The Damned kept me guessing.  “Don’t Cry Wolf”?  Yes, please!  “Sick of Being Sick”?  Don’t mind if I do!  Following “Wait for the Blackout” with the songs that followed it on The Black Album is a stroke of almost genius.  “Lively Arts” and “Silly Kids Games”?  Why sirs, with these gems you are truly spoiling us!

“Ignite” and then “Generals”?  They won’t play the third track off Strawberries though.  But they do!  “Stranger on the Town” is probably my favourite Damned tune, and one I never thought I’d hear live.  Brass section, you see.  Yet there it is, and Platinum Al can’t help but sing along.  Thank you, Damned!

And so it goes.  Later in the set we get the classic singles: “Neat Neat Neat”; “New Rose”; “Love Song”; “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today”.  “Eloise” sounds great.  More first time airings (for me) of “The Eighth Day” and “Ballroom Blitz” put the marzipan on the cake before a glorious “Smash It Up” finale.

Any criticisms?  The sound wavers a few times, unusually for the Tiv – some of the early set doesn’t sound as “full” as it should. A minor comment as this didn’t spoil my enjoyment.  Beyond that, it would have been nice to hear more of the recent material (no “Thrill KIll”??!)  – we don’t hear anything off the So, Who’s Paranoid? album.

Though as I’ve been treated to so many new live gems tonight, a full fourteen minute version of “Dark Asteroid” is probably a bit too much to ask.  Maybe next time.

So thank you The Damned, The Ruts DC and Buckley Tivoli.  It was a great night.  Work in the morning.

http://www.officialdamned.com/

http://www.theruts.co.uk/

http://www.tivolivenue.com/index.htm

Volbeat – Gig Review

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Volbeat + Support

Friday 18th October 2013

Manchester Academy

OK, so I should’ve posted this gig review a while ago – Hallowe’en Horror Fest got in the way.  I apologise.  Better late than never.

My buddies and I went to the magical land of Manchester, to see Volbeat.  The weather was terrible – non stop rain – as befits Mancunia.  It always rains there.  Every time I’ve been, ever.

I missed the first support band, but arrived just as Iced Earth were beginning their set.  I’d heard of the band, but never listened to them – so wasn’t sure what to expect.  I thought they were death metal, I was wrong.  I thought they were European, they’re American.  They were better than I expected, more trad metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest) with some 80’s thrash (Testament, Megadeth) along for the ride.  Another comparison I can make is Black Label Society.  Overall, I was impressed with their crunching attack and will look out to purchase some recorded material.

Before Volbeat take the stage at the Academy, they treat us to some Motorhead.  An apt intro tape, as much like Lemmy’s crew, we are dealing with a heavy band who make no secret of their love for good old rock’n’roll.  “Born to Raise Hell” thunders from the PA until Volbeat erupt into live action – and we’re off.

Volbeat are an interesting concept.  Undeniably they are a heavy rock/metal band, yet they embrace the past unlike many others.  Thus we are given a cheeky rendition of “Ring of Fire” and a rocked up “I Only Want to be With You”, to garnish the rockabilly twangs of their original  material.  To be honest, it’s nothing that Glenn Danzig hasn’t already done, but there’s something great about hearing current metal’s DNA being exposed that makes this band thoroughly enjoyable.

In the audience, you can spot the odd dude with a quiff alongside the usual metal uniforms, not to mention a couple of girls in Bettie Page styled attire.  Very cool.  And definite visual evidence that here, rock has come full circle.

My only problem with this gig is that I don’t know the music well enough.  I have three albums by Volbeat, and they’re great – but to really get the benefit of this gig I should have done more homework.  Not that the songs don’t work if you’re not familiar with them – I just wish I’d taken more time to get under their skin.  Then this would’ve been a legendary gig, not just a great one.

Rewind Festival

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Rewind – The 80’s Festival

16th – 18th August 2013

It’s a stag do, and as such promises a weekend of laughter and mirth.  Though some readers may be wondering what I was doing at a festival featuring pop bands from the 1980’s, there was actually quite a lot of music to savour.  Plus the banter was to be unmissable.  Besides, I’ve never been to Download or Castle Donington or whatever it is and it’s probably too late for me now.  Rewind festival is go!

The first day is drive down, queue for two hours to get into the festival (at least we had beers) and then put the tents up.  In the evening there’s a chance to explore the festival village, catch some live music and eat.  And drink more ale.  We drank quite a lot of beer and/or cider and got into the spirit quite nicely.  The mood in the festival village was uplifting, everyone excited for the fun ahead.

One of the main acts I actually wanted to see over the weekend was Doctor & the Medics (don’t ask, I loved “Spirit in the Sky” years ago).  Unfortunately a lack of information meant that I turned up for the last thirty seconds of that penultimate song, not something I was happy about.  They did AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” for an encore which kind of eased the pain.  A teensy bit.

Blind drunk and weeping at having missed Doctor & the Medics, it was then time to sit around our tents till ridiculous o’clock and drink even more.  I have to say that despite my inebriated state, I contributed many intellectual musings to the conversation, elevating my status as a raconteur and thinker by some degree.

Saturday’s music begins with the Sugarhill Gang, not an obvious choice for an 80’s festival but one I was looking forward to.  Hip hop gained international exposure in the 80’s so this was a different, yet very apt act.  Their set includes a run through of hip hop classics (some not their own) that gets the party started in good style.  It’s a raucous start to the day – if Sugarhill Gang are the openers, then we’re in for a treat.

The Blow Monkeys are next – and they do indeed blow the good vibe set by their predecessors.  Insipid eighties pop of the worst kind, their music is forgettable – and should be forgotten.  They leave with a petulant comment about Chesney Hawkes.  At least he had one good song, Blow Monkeys – you have none.

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel‘s set is peppered with irony – or is it just bad luck?  We get the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” despite the looming rain clouds.  And a song that Steve promises audiences sing along to all over the world – that no-one’s ever heard.  Still, “Mr Soft” and the glorious “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” offer more highlights.  Let’s just forget that Harley is a 1970’s act.

For some bizarre reason, Billy Ocean is on in the late afternoon.  He could’ve headlined the night.  Hit after hit, performed perfectly with a voice that sounds fresh and energetic.  Billy knows his craft and leads the audience through sing-a-longs one after the other.  It’s amazing how much quality material he has.  As one of my festival buddies commented, previously I would’ve worn a Billy Ocean t-shirt with a hint of irony – now I’d wear one with pride.  Awesome.

Then it was time to go back to the tent for a few cheap cans of lager, which meant that I missed Then Jericho (“A trainwreck” was how one pal described it).  No loss there.  Expensive festival booze encouraged us to enjoy more of our beer stash so I also missed Chesney Hawkes, though we could hear THAT song at the tent – and it was great.

Flying Pickets were also unfortunately ignored, unlike Ches I couldn’t hear them at all.  On the walk back to the festival arena I heard the Journey bloke singing the one good song in their repertoire.

It should be said that the atmosphere at Rewind was great.  The fun of it all was most obviously demonstrated by the fancy dress outfits that were worn by brave festival goers.  Some of my favourites were security guards with Hannibal Lecter (Lecter was a puppet); aliens from “V”; He-Man and the Honey Monster.

Back in the thick of it, and it was time for Heaven 17.  I’ve seen them before and knew they could do a solid job.  Amazing to think that I’ve now seen Heaven 17 more than I’ve seen Metallica.  Great 80’s pop that is, essentially, anthemic dance music.  “Temptation” is another obvious highlight of the day.

Nik Kershaw was my cue to go get some food.  But before I left, I checked out a few of Nik’s songs.  He looks like a healthier Charles Bukowski and delivers a set that is actually really good, loaded with more hits than I remembered.  Great stuff – made me regret leaving early to get a burrito.

Happily fed and with a new bottle of beer, it’s off to see Kim Wilde.  WOW.  Again, I’m surprised just how many great songs Kim has.  I thought she would be good, but Kim really impresses.  What’s more, she’s gorgeous – all twelve of our stag do party falling in love with her.  “Kids in America” is a delight in a set of real gems.

Finally we have the B-52s, a band I actually consider myself quite a fan of.  At least, I know most of their songs tonight.  Starting with “Planet Claire” we are off to the strange sci-fi New Wave world of the B-52s, with a mid set appearance for (my favourite) “Roam”.  Awesome vocals from Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson lift this and many other songs, till we reach our destination with “Love Shack” and finally “Rock Lobster”.  There’s even some dude head to toe in a foam rubber lobster outfit down the front.  Crazy.

That’s it.  We hang around and enjoy the festival atmos, watching Camp Cooks (hilarious) and the rodeo bull ride (er…).  Then it’s back to the campsite for another night’s chatting utter comedy gold around the tents.  A great days entertainment, the only odd thing about the Saturday line up is the running order.  Billy Ocean should’ve been top of the bill, with Kim Wilde and the B-52s on before him.

That was to be the end of my Rewind adventure, as due to family commitments I had to return home the next morning (thanks for lift, Adam) and miss all the Sunday fun.  Which meant that I missed Go West, the Pointer Sisters, ABC and Belinda Carlisle…

Perhaps not seeing Belinda Carlisle isn’t the disaster it first appeared to be.  Can you imagine the consequences of Belinda and myself actually being in the same place at the same time?  And the obvious chemistry that would’ve brought us together?  No, better to leave it without our meeting.  There are families involved, there are children to consider.  It would have been a catastrophe in the making.

http://www.rewindfestival.com/