29/9/2019 Girls Wanna Rock @ The Amersham Arms

 A day of female fronted bands. Some people are now starting to get upset at bands being described as 'female fronted' or 'All girl' bands. The way I see it more people are likely to be interested in seeing bands thus described than are put off from attending - and more punters through the door to see these bands can only be a good thing - right? Girls can rock just as hard as boys and anybody who says otherwise is full of shit. As Lemmy once said to another musician who criticised a girl band: "Fuck off you cunt - they're better than you!". I think Lemmy would have approved of today's bill at the Amersham Arms. If you don't like girls playing rock music then you can fuck off too.

Unfortunately it takes ages to get to New Cross from the extreme northern edge of London so I didn't get there in time to see opening act the grunge duo Miss Kill. Fortunately I did catch the Roz Bruce Infusion.

A new name to me, but I did enjoy this melodic and well crafted hard rock - certainly a name to look out for in the future. Next up was something very different - Yur Mum.

Very in yur face with a ferocious bass sound and grungy vocals - this is about as raw as it gets. Loud and dripping in snotty punk attitude. There is another big shift of sound and style next with Finding Kate.

This is altogether more polished and refined music with roots in rock, but also a commercial pop sheen. Kate seems to have an interesting story to tell and a definite hint of star quality - I think we may well be hearing more from her...

Another big change of sound next with Beth Blade and The Beautiful Disasters.

This lot have been going for a good few years - pounding the circuit with their unapologetic throwback to the glory days of 1970's and 80's classic hard rock.

They ain't messing around! The songwriting is polished enough to make the songs sound like rock classics, but ones that you haven't actually heard before. This is a band who have spent enough years practising their craft to get bloody good at it, and tonight they are taking no prisoners.

This is definitely the heaviest and most professional act of the day so far. Top marks for stage presence, attitude, sound, and the whole band looking like they mean it - no one just making up the numbers in this band.

Beth Blade and The Beautiful Disasters are definitely a band I'd go and see again - although I've been aware of them for a while I'm surprised I've never seen them before.

Next up is Indya. This is an artist I have seen at least a couple of times before and she has confused me each time.

It's like she can't make up her mind whether she wants to be 'pop' or 'rock', but I can't fault her for the sheer energy she puts into her performance - it's verging on desperation. Best bit of the set? The fantastic all out metal guitar solo from the guy in the middle of the picture!

It's good to see the always great JoanOvArc back at the Amersham Arms. However, the band's lineup has changed slightly since last time they were here.

Samantha Walker has departed since becoming a mum and the very capable Keira Kenworthy has left Syteria to take over JoA bass duties, while Laura Ozholl now takes care of lead vocals as well as her previous role on rhythm guitar.

The sound of the band hasn't changed much, but it says a lot about how good Sam Walker is that it takes two people to replace her!

However, I am glad to report the latest lineup of JoanOvArc still really ROCKS!

Sam's sister Shelley still tears it up big time on lead guitar, and Ellie Daymond is a real powerhouse on the drums taking the place of the recently departed and much missed Debbie Wildish.

JoanOvArc remain very much a force to be reckoned with with a strong catalogue of original songs including long established live favourites like 'Live Rock n Roll', 'Seeds Of Summer', 'White Trash', and of course 'Girls Wanna Rock' as well as quality newer offerings from their 'Ride Of Your Life' album and their newer self titled album - not to mention the odd killer hard rock cover - I challenge any band to play a better more dynamic and energetic version of 'Free Bird'. Seriously.

There is new material from the latest lineup of JoanOvArc in the pipeline so it will be interesting to see if the new version of the band takes things in a different direction.

The most recent album from JoanOvArc seemed to be a bit of 'clearing the decks' as Sam left the band - with several songs from the band's earliest days that hadn't been heard live for many years being resurrected. It was interesting to hear polished and highly produced new recordings of some of these old songs which had previously been released by the band themselves on CD, but not on proper 'official' albums. Personally, I think the earlier recordings of the songs were actually better and more energetic than the new versions which have a bit too much commercial sheen for my liking. This makes them seem tamer and more bland than the songs deserve. But what do I know? JoanOvArc have always been a terrific live band, but that has never come close to being captured in the studio. What they need is a producer like Mike Clink to come along who really 'gets' the band and can let them be themselves like he did on that first Guns 'N' Roses album. It will be interesting to see where this band go next...

21/9/2019 Warner E Hodges Band + Sara Vista @ The Archway Tavern

 A bit of an out of the way venue. It's not really, but that seems to be how people regard it these days so they don't want to go there - even though it's just opposite Archway tube station at the top end of the 'Holloway Strip'. It's actually called Club Kollis and is well hidden in an upstairs ballroom at the famous Highgate pub. It's quite surprising the impressively large pub building has survived the attentions of developers and not been raised to the ground to make way for yet more (un)affordable housing. The building is not really a pub anymore, although the famous Intrepid Fox moved into the downstairs bar for a short time after being forced out of the West End. Then that bar became the Dusk Til Dawn nightclub, but that didn't last long either. Then it was supposed to be converted into a restaurant, but I think that might have fallen through as last time I looked through the window it looked like it was being converted back into a bar with Guinness taps being installed. Most of the upstairs floors have now been converted into flats which is ominous... However, this room actually makes quite a decent music venue - although the less said about the bar selection and prices the better...

The artist formerly known as Kiria has reinvented herself yet again. Once a pop/punk artist, she moved on to rockabilly - showing that she is actually a much better singer than she appeared in her previous incarnation. Now she has moved on again and become Country & Western artiste 'Sara Vista'. The focus in now less on rock & roll and more on acoustic balladry. It has to be said she does it very well.

Sara has surrounded herself with good musicians, although I think the double necked Gretch sported by the guitarist is rather OTT for a country band - I think maybe that sort of thing is best left to Jimmy Page, and even he wouldn't play a double necked guitar for the whole set.

It's good to see that some effort has been put into the visuals for the band, but the overall performance seems a bit on the serious side and the guitarist looks like he'd be more at home playing at a jam/open mic night in a pub. He can play well enough and has a good sound, but it distracts from the singer who should be the focus on this stage. Sara sings well and has an easy relaxed stage persona, but I'm more of a rock 'n' roll guy and to be honest this doesn't really float my boat however good it may be.

Next we have a blues trio called Mudlow with a really good meaty sound.

They are more lively than Sara's band - maybe she would have been better with these guys backing her instead of her own band.

And on to the headliners. Having seen them before I already know they are going to be good. Warner E Hodges first rose to fame as a guitarist in US country punk band Jason and The Scorchers in the 1980's.

Although based in America Warner has a British band when he tours in Europe, and he is also recording a studio album of original songs with them as well as releasing a live album.

Although Warner is probably known more as a country/rock artist, when the Warner E Hodges Band hit the stage the emphasis is very much on ROCK!

Although there is still a country influence Warner very much wears his heart on his sleeve and says his favourite band is AC/DC - and it shows! Although this is a band playing mostly original material they do a great cover of 'Riff Raff'. Warner also takes a step back and lets the rest of the band shine - some of you might recognise Ben Marsden of the Main Grains and The Spangles on guitar and Jason Knight of The Haunting AD and Binge Drinking on bass.

There is more of a nod to Warner's country roots with a cover of John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', but a more rocking version than played by other artists. But the rock balance is restored with a stunning and seriously heavy version of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs'. Warner's UK band really come into their own on this song and would give any serious heavy metal band (including Sabbath) a run for their money - the drumming in particular is fantastic!

If you are looking for a good night of thoroughly entertaining country rock music then I highly recommend the Warner E Hodges Band. Keep your eyes open - they should be back in the UK soon...

14/9/2019 The Quireboys @ The Forum

Well, another year rolls round - so it must be time for another Quireboys show in London. At The Forum. As usual. So everybody meets up in the Bull & Gate like they always do, although this great old pub has had the guts ripped out of it to refurb and convert into a restaurant while ditching it's past as a well known live music venue. This place used to be packed when there was a show at The Forum next door, but they don't appear to be doing much trade today...

This is starting to get predictable. And how many times can they play their classic 'A Bit Of What You Fancy' album in full? It is a great album - it contains nearly all their best songs and it sounds terrific. Not that they haven't done some great rock 'n' roll songs since then, but they haven't come close to matching that first album. I can't get into their more country rock stuff at all - I can appreciate there is some excellent songwriting there, but those songs just don't float my boat. The Quireboys are are terrific rock 'n' roll band - maybe the best we have in the UK these days, and I much prefer them when they stick to what they are best at.

"What time is it?"

Yes, it's Seven O'clock!

The Quireboys are the ultimate party band! And Spike is still one of the best frontmen around. Probably 'well oiled', but funny and charistmatic - he has the moves, and that voice. And he has the crowd in the palm of his hand.

With a great band behind him, and a rich back catalogue of songs to choose from (even if nearly all the best ones come from the first album) you can't help but be really well entertained. If you go to a Quireboys show you can't fail to have a good night. With their good-time rough 'n' ready Rolling Stones and Faces style bar-room boogie they will always get your feet moving and everybody singing along with classics like 'Seven O'Clock', 'Misled', 'There She Goes Again', 'Sex Party', Don't Bite The Hand', 'This Is Rock 'N' Roll', Good To See Ya', 'I Love This Dirty Town', and of course their great ballad (and possibly finest song) 'I Don't Love You Anymore'. The Quireboys have always been a great sing-a-long band who create a terrific atmosphere. The only other band I know who have that effect on their fans are The Wildhearts, and Ginger from that band played guitar for the Quireboys in their early days - before their first album.

So a bunch of great songs are played and a good time is had by all. I think I ran out of new things to say about Quireboys shows years ago, and it seems a bit boring having to write the same things about every gig. See you all again next year? Same venue, same songs, same crowd. I guess as long as people are still buying tickets the band will keep coming back - and I expect I will be there too. It has become quite a social event after all.

12/9/2019 Lilith & The Knight + Hawkxx @ The Dublin Castle

An interesting but ultimately disappointing night. I arrive in time to see the support band who were previously unknown to me.

This was Hawkxx. New to me, but they certainly made an impression.  Heavy, grungy but tuneful and commercial.

Sometimes you stumble across a band you've never heard of and straight away you think they sound and look great! Immediately you find yourself thinking things like "Why didn't I know about this band before?" and "Why aren't they already stars?". It doesn't happen very often, but this one of those bands.

I get the feeling a lot of work has gone into their look and sound - this doesn't seem like a band who were just formed last week. They look and sound like they know exactly what they are doing and come across as very polished and professional. Hawkxx go straight away on my 'Bands to watch' list.

And so onto the band I'm actually here to see. I'd been aware of Lilith and the Knight for some time before I finally managed to catch them - circumstances just kept getting in the way - as well as 'security' at another Camden venue... I had a promo CD of theirs and had seem one or two videos which made me want to check them out - an intriguing  mixture of Goth and metal.

Heavy and with a fantastic image, I was keen to see them. And in January, then again in May this year I finally did. (see blog earlier posts) I was impressed - this was a full-on rock band. Not quite as heavy as I was expecting, but with a dynamite singer! The band were solid, but it was the singer who grabbed the attention with her stage presence and charisma - backed up by really great vocals. Proper actual singing - no screaming or dumbed down nu-metal or grunge - no grunting or growling to fit in with 'the scene', just a soaring, melodic and natural melodic absolute top quality polished vocal performance. So much better than heard nearly all current metal bands. I did note that although the band were tight and obviously knew what they were doing, they all looked like they were in different bands and just didn't belong together - visually at least. If they could just sort their image out they had the potential to really go places. But ominously, before their last gig they announced that it would be their last ever show playing their current and older songs. Apparently the band were about to go though some changes (for unspecified reasons) and reinvent themselves with a new look and sound - they say things will be very different and some of their fans may not like it... Tonight the 'new' Lilith and the Knight is finally revealed...

'Different'? They aren't kidding! The bass player and drummer appear to have been sacked - and not replaced. Only the vocalist and guitarist have survived the reshuffle, while a keyboard/laptop player has been added in the form of the singer's sister. I mentioned last time I saw them that the backing band looked like hipsters instead of rock musicians and the only thing missing were the beards - now a beard has appeared on the guitarist!

All the old songs have been ruthlessly swept away - as has any trace of rock, metal or goth. The girls look and sound great, and the new songs are OK - but this is pure Radio 1 type pop music. The guitarist seems to have very little to do...

Musically there is nothing wrong with the new sound - if you like that sort of thing. I suspect some of the band's old fans are rather bemused by these developments. I certainly am. Maybe they should have changed the name of the band along with the image, songs, and sound?

What were they thinking? Did 'management' put them up to this? Was the whole 'rock' thing just a charade the whole time? "Ever get the feeling you've been swindled?" As far as I'm concerned all their credibility has gone straight out the window. Did they ever 'mean it'? Do they even 'mean' this? So many questions, but after this I'm not sure I'm even interested in the answers. However, I will be interested to see how many of their old 'rock' fans come along for the ride - or will the band ditch them just as ruthlessly as they ditched their old songs and image? Maybe

Good luck with that girls...