19/10/2018 - Part 2. JoanOvArc @ Big Red

So after hotfooting it from Camden Assembly to Big Red on Holloway Road I find I am actually in plenty of time to catch JoanOvArc doing what they do best - rocking out on front of a live audience. This is something the band absolutely love!

JoanOvArc have played here before and always draw a good crowd. The good thing about this venue is that it's a ROCK bar, and as well as their own existing fans, the regular and random punters here who have no idea who the the band are tend to be quickly won over before the band have finished their first song!

I've seen JoanOvArc many many times over the years, and they are always great - tonight is no exception. Anyone thinking a bunch of girls are going to play lightweight music or a load of soppy ballads are in for a shock - a BIG shock! This band rock hard from their first song. If they weren't so loud you would hear a lot of jaws hitting the floor when people hear how good they are.

Earlier, before the band took to the stage I bumped into a shady but familiar looking character at the bar. Having seen him at one or two previous JoanOvArc shows I guess what was going to happen later, and sure enough it did. Midway though their set the girls were joined on stage by actor John Altman AKA 'Nasty Nick' from Eastenders.

This will have come as no surprise to existing fans of the band as John appeared in a Christmas video singing the old classic rock & roll cover 'Wild One' best known as being sung by Iggy Pop. Mr Altman has previous form in the rock business after taking over from the late Gary Holton as singer with the Heavy Metal Kids - so he knows what fronting a rock band is all about. Sorry for my pictures being so shit - the smoke machine makes it very difficult to to take pictures without using flash and my camera's autofocus is shite in poor light.

JoanOvArc have built an impressive back catalogue of their own songs over the years, some of which remain live favourites to this day. Last time the band played at Big Red it was to launch their new album Ride Of Your Life - this time they are here to promote their new charity single in aid of the Pink Ribbon Foundation -  Girls Wanna Rock  And to that end they are joined on stage by another special guest - Steph the star of the video who also fronts her own band Flowerpot. Needless to say, JoanOvArc go down a storm at Big Red - effectively playing to their 'home crowd' even though the band originate from Stevenage.

This being a headline spot on a two band bill (Flowerpot were supporting but I missed them as I was otherwise engaged in Camden) JoanOvArc have time to play a longer set than usual. So after playing at least an hour of their own original material they launch into a few covers - not just as 'crowd pleasers' but because the band just love playing a few of their favourite rock classics - no 'Ace Of Spades' this time, but they do play a really good 'Whole Lotta Love', and I get embarrassed by being given a name-check from the stage before the band play 'Freebird' - a song which they play an amazing version off - this is one of the few live bands who can genuinely move me with the pure passion they play their music with. Their version of 'Freebird' is really something special.

JoanOvArc are the perfect end to a night of terrific live music spread over two different North London venues - look out for them playing in Camden in 2019....