1/12/2011 Wolfsbane & Obsessive Compulsive @ Islington Bar Academy

Subject	Wolfsbane & Obsessive Compulsive @ Islington Bar Academy
DateCreated	12/12/2011 3:26:00 PM
PostedDate	12/13/2011 6:49:00 AM
	I grab a quick pint in the pub opposite the venue before going in - I'm not paying over £4 a pint for something that isn't even nice.  It's now my policy to avoid patronising the bar at Academy venues whenever possible - especially when far superior beverages are available only yards away for around half the price.  The security bloke on the door makes a point of telling us there is strictly NO readmission apart from nipping out (just) for a smoke - they have obviously got wise to people sneaking off to the adjacent Wetherspoons for a cheap pint. Sod 'em - that just makes me even more determined not to give the overpriced Academy bar a penny of my hard earned!  Arriving at Islington Bar Academy at just before what I had been told was the band's allotted stage time, I find Obsessive Compulsive are already in full flight. Manchester's finest have been supporting Wolfsbane on this tour - a rather good choice. The headliners can be a very intense band, and so are Obsessive Compulsive. There is much heavy Wildheartesque rifferama, powerful heartfelt vocals, and heroic gurning - this lot mean it! Obsessive Compulsive are taking no prisoners tonight, and their super heavy riff-laden onslaught seems to go down well with the Wolfsbane fans who have arrived early enough to see the support. Talking to the band afterwards I find them in high spirits and hear that the tour has been going really well for them. They deserve it. When I saw Wolfsbane a couple of years ago supporting the Quireboys (more on them in a forthcoming blog) I felt it was the last time I'd ever see them. They had played a blinder supporting the Wildhearts when they first reformed for a one-off gig to test the water, but when I saw Blaze singing 'Born To Run' (why do a Springsteen cover when you have so many great songs of your own?) I really felt his heart was no longer in it.  Two years later and they are back with a bang! It's good to be proved wrong sometimes.  After a red hot sold out show at the Borderline and a new EP they are now back with a brand new album and a proper tour. Blaze Bayley informs us that Wolfsbane haven't reformed for the money - they have reformed because we need saving. Not just us - they are back to save the World. Believe it. The band still play with fire in their bellies, even if most of those bellies are larger - and there is a lot less hair on half the band. Guitarist Jase Edwards has lost a lot of weight in the last couple of years though. The only member of the band who still seems to look virtually the same is bassist Jeff Hately - although somewhere down the line he has lost his trademark Thunderbird bass.  The setlist is almost perfect - chock full of the old classics like 'Paint The Town Red', Money To Burn', 'Manhunt', 'The Loveless', 'Totally Nude', 'I Like It Hot', a brilliant 'Kathy Wilson', 'Black Lagoon', etc, and a load of stuff from the new (and rather good) album like the splendidly autobiographical 'Smoke And Red Light'. The band's new album 'Wolfsbane Save The World' has some rather fine songs on it and is quite varied - including the usual token ballad, some surprisingly epic stuff, a song Meatloaf would be proud of, and some songs that just sound like classic Wolfsbane.  A surprising number of these songs are in tonight's set - and the crowd lap it up! Drummer Steve Danger has re-invented himself again - gone is the silver glittery shirt from last year which must have been incredibly hot to wear onstage - now he is sporting a pimp/porn star/Eddie Spaghetti look which must be even hotter to wear onstage! He remains fully dressed like this for the entire set! The atmosphere is terrific and the Howling Mad Shitheads are well up for it. For my money Blaze Bayley is still one of the best frontmen out there - as well as having such a powerful voice he has brilliant banter and is fantastic at whipping the crowd up into a frenzy. There is also a highly enthusiastic stage invader adding to the fun! Yes, Wolfsbane gigs are all about leaving all the shit in your life at the door and having FUN - and Blaze won't stand for anyone not having a good time - he's just not having it - you WILL have a good time! And we do.  Wolfsbane are very much back - and they are serious!  The band have really been on fire tonight and this has been one of the most enjoyable gigs I've been to this year - but why didn't they play 'Steel'? Oh well - maybe they will next October... Meantime, it's back to the pub for another quick couple of pints before heading for home. A top night!  I have to say, I find both the new Wolfsbane album and this gig to be very uplifting and optimistic - it's not often even my favourite bands give me that feeling these days.