25/2/2008 Johnny Panic @ Metro

Subject	Johnny Panic @ Metro
PostedDate	2/25/2008
	I find myself back at Metro for the third time recently. It's nice to be given a free drink voucher on the way in, although I find out it can only be redeemed against a small bottle of lager - free beer is always good though!  It's great to see that Johnny Panic are playing to quite a full room - which is as it should be as they are very good live and have loads of great songs. This band have a distinctive style of their own, although they wear their influences on their sleeves - The Clash, G'N'R, the Manics, and Sex Pistols spring to mind, but they sound like none of these bands. Rob Solly might look quite unlike a singer in a rock band but is one of the most passionate and dynamic frontmen around - he is also fiercely intelligent and has a lot to say. He makes some spot on remarks about the very annoying toilet attendants normally found in this venue and how he normally waits until his bladder is bursting before venturing into the toilet at Metro! Fortunately the offending creepy guys are absent tonight - lets hope the venue management have finally got the message that these attendants are not appreciated at rock shows... The set is roughly split halfway between the band's superb debut album 'The Violent Dazzling' and the strong new offering 'The Good Fight'. It's all good stuff and it's a shame they don't have time to play some of the other great songs they have. I'm a bit disappointed they don't seem to play 'You're A Fool' anymore, but obviously they want to plug their latest album and a few old favourites (also including 'Warn You') have to make way for the new stuff. This is still one of the best sets from any band I've seen recently though.

PS: This venue was demolished to make way for London's 'Crossrail' project.