18/11/2016 The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing @ Islington Academy

Friday finds me heading down to Islington for a dose of Steampunk. Not wanting to patronise the vastly overpriced Islington Academy bar a visit to the nearest Wetherspoons is required for some refreshment beforehand. Along with many other gig goers in the past I used to frequent the Glasshouse boozer adjacent to the venue upstairs before and after the show. However, Wetherspoons in their wisdom have recently decided to close it. Fortunately, they have another pub near the tube station - not so handy for the venue, but better for the last minute dash for the last train home. I bump into some friends in the pub, and manage a quick three pints before heading to the show. As is often the case I have missed the opening act -  CuT on this occasion - not on purpose, just 'cos I can't get my shit together. Unfortunately I also miss at least half of the following act; this is Andrew O'Neill, who is also the guitarist in the headliners. As well as being a musician he is a stand-up comedian. He is very funny. Just as well really. I will have to catch one of his comedy sets one day - I am pleased to hear him announce that he will be bringing back his 'History Of Heavy Metal' show - friends tell me it's very good!

And so, onto the headline act - The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing. I think this is the biggest headline show they have ever played. It's good to see them taking things up a level - this isn't easy for an unsigned band who have to do everything for themselves.

This lot are one of the most entertaining acts out there. Most bands tend to work pretty much on one level and just try to make the best music they can - while hopefully also being a good live act. TMTWNBBFN do more than that. The music is good, and well played, but also their lyrics are interesting and thought provoking - they take you into their own twisted Victorian world. Singer Andy Heintz is visually the most striking member of the band with his topper and dyed beard - more 'Victorian' looking than the rest of the band - apart from the gas mask hanging from his waist - this genre seems to thrive on contradictions: LOUD METAL GUITAR, and then the singer is sitting down playing the saw with a violin bow as the band play an acoustic number.

Although this band fall into the Steampunk genre, there is probably more metal in there than punk. Guitarist Andrew O'Neill is a total metalhead - being particularly fond of death metal and the more extreme side of things. He is also a very good guitarist and throws some thunderously heavy riffing into the mix - some riffs that Black Sabbath, Metallica, or Slayer would be proud of. Bass player Marc Burrows is probably more what you would expect a Steampunk musician to be like, and adds a well received solo acoustic song to the set. Drummer Jez Miller thunders away on drums at the back and keeps things rolling along nicely.

Unusually, the band include a cover in their set - an apt and well executed version of The Kinks 'Victoria' - possibly better known to many in the crowd is the cover of this song by The Fall. The TMTWNBBFN version is excellent. The band's own songs are dark - sometimes very dark, but also often funny. The music can be very heavy at times, but there is also a lot of humour in there. Naturally, much of the humour is dark too, and there is also quite a bit of political satire. The whole mixture is enormously entertaining and gives the band a very unique character - I think they are in a class of their own.

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing are proud to call themselves a band of 'genuine actual Londoners'  - and you could be forgiven for thinking there might be a Chas & Dave influence in there along with Slayer in songs like 'Margate Fhtagn'. This song about a daytrip to the seaside that doesn't end well for Granny is always a big favourite with the crowds. The lyrics to the songs are clever and funny - plenty to keep you interested. New single the dark and creepy 'This House Is Not Haunted' gets an airing tonight, and we hear about 'Zombie Albert' in the funny and catchy 'Victoria's Secret'. The band also pay tribute to some of their heroes of the Victorian era with songs about the great engineers 'Steph(V)enson' and 'Brunel' - probably their most popular song and tonight's show closer.

 All in all a night of fantastic entertainment and worth every penny.

PS: If you want to see some really good pictures from this show by Ila Desai then click here.

And so, back to the pub. Only The Angel aren't allowing anyone in for some reason - it's not late and the pub doesn't appear particularly full. There was a 10.00 curfew at the venue and it's far too early to go home on a Friday night, so we went to the Nag's Head for beer instead.