9/8/2018 The Great British Beer Festival

Amazingly enough, I had never been to the Great British Beer Festival before. When I heard that this year Planet Rock were putting on live bands for one of the days it seemed too good to miss! One of the bands I was particularly interested in seeing was a Welsh lot called Fireroad. I'd only heard one song by them before but I thought it was really good. That song was 'I Got Sound' and I was listening to it on my phone as I got off the train at Olympia. I'm pretty sure they were still on their first song when I got into the venue and approached the stage just after 14.00 when the live music was due to start - I don't think I missed a single song - and they didn't play 'I Got Sound'! The only time I got to hear that song today was on my phone earlier. Ironically, I only discovered Fireroad when I heard Nicky Horne playing that song on his old show on Team Rock Radio, and although Planet Rock are organising the live music today I've never heard that song or anything else by Fireroad on the station. Odd.

They are excellent musicians and a good band with original songs and a gritty classic hard rock sound. I thought a song called 'Second Hand Soldier' was particularly good as well as being topical. I felt they blew it towards the end of their set by playing a bunch of well known classic rock covers and ending up sounding like an ordinary pub band. I know they can do better than that. And they could have bloody played 'I Got Sound'!

Then it was off for the other business of the day - beer!

Needless to say, there were far too many ales on offer to attempt to sample more than a tiny fraction. However, there were plenty that looked interesting, and some that I had to try!

The next artist on the music bill was Mollie Mariott. This is the late Steve Marriott's daughter striking out on her own musical career. She has recently released her first solo album 'Truth Is A Wolf' and most of her set is taken from this. Her style mixes rock, blues, and soul - with the emphasis being on soul. She is a very good singer and has a relaxed and easy on-stage manner. Her band is very good too - tight but fluid.

I am reminded a bit of Lynne Jackaman - formerly of Saint Jude but now also striking out on her own as 'Jackaman', although there is less rock in the set I hear today from Ms Marriott. This lady has been heard quite a bit on Planet Rock over the past year dueting with Bad Touch - who are also on the bill today. Their song 'Baby Get It On' really rocks and features some searing vocals from Mollie - something I'm hoping might happen later today.... All too soon the set is over and the singer announces that this is the end of the 'Truth Is A Wolf' era and she has a new album in the pipeline. I look forward to hearing what she does next.

More beer, then it's back to the stage to check out Danny Bryant. He's a better guitar player than he is a singer, but I wasn't that impressed to be honest and wondered how he got on the bill? OK, he rocks it up more than the previous act but I couldn't warm to him.

He acts flash with the guitar pyrotechnics, but this seems more the sort of thing I'd expect to see in a local pub on a Saturday night and I don't think lives up to the hype. Maybe this should have been today's opening act? So, going back to the pub vibe...

Back to the music stage to see The Dust Coda. I've not heard much by this band so I'm not really sure what to expect.

They are one of those bands who don't look much like a band - more like rock hipsters, but they give me the biggest surprise of the day. They are really good! Their music is edgy hard rock, but with a modern twist. Maybe more of an alt/grunge influence rather than the classic rock sound of the other bands on the bill - Mollie Marriott excepted. I found their music hard rocking and interesting - without entering into metal or prog territory. The Dust Coda were good performers and by far the most original sounding act of the day.

More beer.....

Next band were Bad Touch. This was far more classic rock territory, and I got the impression all the band members live in homes with walls papered by Led Zeppelin posters! Less than original in look or sound, but I thought they were very good and had songs a cut above average.

Bad Touch are excellent musicians who actually look like a rock band, are entertaining, and put on a good show. This was quality stuff, and the only disappointment was that the hoped for duet with Mollie Marriot on 'Baby Get It On' never happened. You can't have everything I guess.

More beer....

Last band of the day are the oddly named Broken Witt Rebels. They look a bit of an odd mixture too, but they sound excellent.

They have quite a classic American 'Southern rock' sound, but are actually from Birmingham! Another interesting band who have potential to take it up to the next level although they are not the most interesting or memorable band on the bill. I wouldn't mind seeing them again though.

More beer...

Things start winding down after the last band, but it's been a good day out and excellent value for money. If Planet Rock are putting bands on again at next year's Great British Beer Festival then I'm sure I'll be back...

7/8/2018 Gabriella Jones @ The Hope & Anchor

Tuesday night finds me heading down to Islington to see Gabriella Jones at the Hope & Anchor. It's early doors but I find the place already nearly full. Looking around I notice it's an odd looking crowd for a normal 'rock' gig - only later do I find out it's an industry showcase gig!

The band sound good and the music sounds polished. It's a soulful mixture of rock, pop, and blues. At previous Gabriella Jones gigs I have been at the lady had put her guitar down for a song or two and just performed as a singer with backing band, but tonight she sends the band packing and performs solo - telling us they will be back later.... As indeed they are. Planet Rock radio listeners might recognise the drummer adding rather a Bonham vibe to the show.

I am a little disappointed not to hear the cover Gabriella often plays of Bobby Bland's 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City'  and the set is shorter than I expected for a 'headline' show, but it's a 'showcase' gig so.... As usual the set finishes on a high with  Gabriella's catchy radio friendly single 'Take Me To The Party'.

Gabriella tells me after the show that she thought it went very well and she seems pleased with how things went - so hopefully this showcase gig will lead to bigger and better things...

5/8/2018 Tequila Mockingbyrd & Garage Flowers @ Fiddlers Elbow

Sunday night finds me heading down to Camden - well Chalk  Farm really although the venue likes to say it's in Camden. Still, it's only one tube stop north of Camden Town so who's complaining? The Fiddlers Elbow is a proper old fashioned pub rock venue, although I think it's claim to be 'legendary' is stretching it a bit - it hardly has the music heritage or history of the Hope & Anchor or Dublin Castle. However, if you like your music venues intimate and gritty (and also with real ale) then this rather grotty pub is an excellent little music venue! No corporate bullshit or officious security here - this is how pub rock used to be and all the better for it. I am slightly surprised to find the bass player from the headline band taking my money as I pay in on the door, but at least I know my money is going straight to the band!

First act of the evening is The Garage Flowers.

I saw this lot in Barnet a couple of years or so ago and was impressed by their old school dirty rock and roll sleaze and swagger. If you can imagine the Rolling Stones crossed with the Libertines then you wouldn't be a million mikes away - especially as the have a Keef-a-like lead guitarist. They have catchy songs too, plus plenty of attitude. There have been one or two changes to the lineup since I first saw them and the new bassist plays a right-handed Rickenbacker left-handed - which looks particularly awkward. This band definitely have potential though - all the ingredients for success seem to be there, and if they just got the right breaks they could do well. Which is more than can be said for the following act.

Even before they have finished setting up you can tell we are about to be assaulted by something particularly loud and heavy - which I don't have a problem with at all. However, while some bands have individual musicians who might not be that special but when put together have something that makes them greater than the sum of their parts - sometimes the opposite is true. This band is Renegade Twelve. There are only five of them, but maybe Renegade Four would be more appropriate. They are all excellent musicians, but even as they are setting up you can sense one or two egos that are bigger than the band's sound.

They are indeed loud and heavy, and also seem to have brought a decent crowd. Unfortunately they seem to have forgotten to write anything that could be mistaken for a decent song. Shredding, gurning, and super heavy riffing count for little (in my book) if you have little that resembles any memorable songs. The band does actually have a rather good frontman with a good line in stage patter, even though he looks like just another chump from the bar - unfortunately he is the member of the band who looks least like he is actually in a band - not a good quality for a frontman. One of the guitarists is although an excellent shredder (as is his opposite number) at least as good at gurning as he is at playing the guitar and seems somewhat in love with himself - his ego really requires a larger stage and a bigger crowd to worship him - although I suspect in his head this is what is happening tonight. The rhythm section are pretty good, and although more 'background' members of the band actually have more interest and originality than the guitarists - who although excellent technically as they take turns shredding and riffing are very 'metal-by-numbers'.

This is the second time I have seen Tequila Mockingbyrd in a few weeks. I am glad to finally be able to see them in a venue which isn't overcrowded as The Dublin Castle was at Camden Rocks - it's nice to actually be able to see the band this time!

Tequila Mockingbyrd have been on tour in the UK for some time now and this is their last show before heading back to their native Australia. As a result they are a tight and powerful unit.

Loud and in your face with some catchy songs these girls are not unlike a down-under version of Rock Goddess - although their best known tune 'I Smell Rock n Roll' reminds me of our own JoanOvArc's 'Live Rock N Roll'.

The girls get a big sound for a power trio and play hard and fast. This a a band who totally believe in what they are doing and have worked hard to get this far. Like Scottish power trio The Amorettes this lot take no prisoners. Well worth the money and the Sunday night trip down to Chalk Farm - two out of three ain't bad!

3/8/2018 Syteria & Porcelain Hill @ New Cross Inn

This is my first visit to the New Cross Inn, but I'm sure it won't be the last. The venue used to have a rather dodgy reputation, but with a change of management things appear to have improved and there now seem to be bands regularly playing who I want to see. I've not been here before partly because of it's reputation, and also this South London pub not being very easy to get to from North London. However, things have changed recently with a new Overground train service and the Night Tube. Tonight there are four bands on the bill and a low price on the door - what's not to like?

Syteria are the main reason I'm here and the other bands are all new to me, but they are all worth seeing - one in particular , but more about them later...

I arrive as Bexatron are playing.

I've heard the name, but don't really know anything about the band and this is the first time I've seen them. They are fun! They play sort of punky sleazy rock 'n' roll - with a very strong 1970's glam rock influence. Regular readers might recognise the drummer Belle, who also plays with Maleficent, Lilygun, MGT, among others and also Killing Miranda in past times.

Bexatron play catchy tunes and have an entertaining frontgal - I will be looking out for them in the future.

Next up are a band so new to me that I haven't even heard their name before, although I suspect we move in different circles and don't inhabit the same scene.

This is Bled The Fifth. This is modern sounding metal of the sort you might find on Kerrang! Radio. If you like Marmozets you may well like this lot too. I think the biggest thing about this band is the bass players ego as he seems to spend most of his time strolling about with his wireless system and trying to upstage the singer. The band all seem decent enough musicians, but none of their songs really grab me and they look a bit too 'band from the pub' to make much of an impression.

Next is the big surprise of the night. Earlier I noticed these weird looking guys hanging around - looking a bit like 'rock stars'. Are they in the right place? Suddenly they are on the stage, with instruments in their hands - yes, they are in the right place!

I have absolutely no idea who these guys are, but I make it my business to find out - they tear the roof off the place! They are called Porcelain Hill. They are like a Jimi Hendrix Experience for the new millennium, with Cream and early fired-up hard rocking blues/boogie ZZ Top added to the mix. These guys can play!

They rock really hard, but there is also blues, funk, and soul mixed in - it's a powerful combination. Apart the obvious Hendix comparisons with the band's singer/guitarist, the bass player is like a mixture of Noel Redding and Rush's Geddy Lee - on speed! The drummer is no slouch either. This band are electrifying! As well as top quality musicianship, there is also showmanship - I've seen plenty of guitarists do the old 'playing guitar behind the head' trick, but this guy takes it further and plays a whole song with his guitar slung behind his back - including ripping out a terrific blues solo!

This band have come over from the USA for their first ever tour of the UK and are playing in every pub and club they can get a gig at - what started out booked as a short UK tour has been constantly extended with added dates and they have now been over here for months! These guys work really hard, and play hard too.

Porcelain Hill are a powerful and dynamic force - I can't recommend them highly enough. This band is my best new discovery in a long time.

And finally comes the band I have actually travelled to South London to see.

Syteria have travelled all the way from Leeds just for this gig - and been stuck in traffic on one of the hottest days of the year - so the least I can to is travel over from the other side of London to see them. It's well worth it!

Syteria are Jackie from Girlschool's new band - well I say new but they have been going for a couple of years or so now. Girlschool are still going, but Jackie likes to keep busy during that band's downtime. Syteria are a very different band though, maybe a bit heavier than Girlschool, and also with more of a punk edge with Jackie going back to her roots - emphasised by a cover of the Ramones classic 'Rockaway Beach'!

The standard of musicianship in this band is high. Keira on bass in particular being very impressive - I have never seen anyone play slap bass on a Rickenbacker before!

Julia on vocals is dynamic and engaging, while Pablo on drums really powers things along - although he escapes from behind his kit during the last song of the set.

Jackie really tears it up and seems to be thoroughly enjoying being able to express herself more freely musically than she can in Girlschool, although I know she absolutely loves playing with them too.

Syteria have been developing the show(wo)manship side of their performance over the past year or so and are definitely raising their game. They have their first album 'Rant O Bot' out now and are eager to get out and play to promote it - go and see them if you get a chance.