Goodbye 2023...

 Well 2023 was certainly a year of ups & downs - mostly downs in the latter part...

I learned more about other people and how they can be a lot more complicated than they appear - and in the process I learned more about myself. Including that apparently (to quote a song written by Lemmy) "I ain't no nice guy after all" ♠

"My shine wore off as time wore on" Ain't that the truth... ♠

That episode in the summer triggered another of my periods of self doubt and lack of confidence. It left me feeling worthless and made me take a closer look at myself. Also left with with trust issues - can I ever believe anyone who says nice things to me - do they actually mean the things they say?

Another (unrelated) thing I learned: On top of OCD (which I think I have had most my life without even realising it) I have now also discovered 'Imposter Syndrome' is a thing - a thing I seem to have.

For 2024: Press 'Control/Alt/Delete' to restart...

16/12/2023 Danko Jones + The Kut @ The Garage

A good bill at The Garage this Saturday night. First on is The Kut. At first 'The Kut' appears to be the name of the band, but actually it is the stage name of Princess Maha the singer and lead guitarist - although effectively we are watching a full band with a regular lineup.

Punk rock is the major inspiration here, but this isn't really a punk band and Princess Maha is actually a very accomplished guitarist who can get up there and shred the shit out of her instrument. And she does.

This is out and out ROCK, but there is also some strong songwriting on offer here. It's entertaining and the emphasis is is definitely on fun.

This is obviously someone who absolutely loves getting on stage and letting rip blasting out some tuneful but loud music!

And then it's on to the headliners and the big rock show. Except that with Danko Jones the emphasis isn't on a big stage production, costumes, and fancy lighting - it's on the performance. And with this band (also named after their singer/guitarist) the performance is everything!

This act always put on a powerful live show and the band's frontman has a lot too say - sometimes too much which is what I felt last time I saw them. I know it's part of Danko's 'in-your-face' stage persona, but more talk = less music! Fortunately tonight there is more music. Bass player John Calabrese is a key member of the band as although he doesn't sing his playing really glues everything together - and the song 'Lovercall' starts with that bassline!

To be honest I think the band's debut full album 'Born A Lion' is their best with it's wider variety of songs, but still very much blues and hard rock fueled - AC/DC are certainly an influence. Before they had reached album number 6 (and counting) they seemed to have settled into a very generic Danko Jones style with all the newer songs seeming to conform to the same template - it was all getting rather 'Danko Jones by numbers' and I was starting to lose interest. The live shows are still good, but I feel that like other once great live bands of their generation like Backyard Babies and Supersuckers they have run out of inspiration. Bands still worth going to see even if they have lost their earlier edge and excitement, but I feel less need to buy their CDs these days...

Judging by the packed venue tonight I'm sure many would disagree with my comments above. I did enjoy the show though - more so that the last time I saw Danko Jones. Sorry Rush fans, but as far as I'm concerned this is still Canada's best power trio!

8/12/2023 Wolfsbane + The Hip Priests + The Spangles @ The Water Rats

I love it when you get an actual paper gig ticket like you used to get at all gigs once upon a time - one you'll want to keep as a souvenir like in the old days. Who else apart from Runnin' Blue promotions still does this?

Little details like a nice printed ticket to take home to add to your collection help make a gig a bit special. But a good bill makes it even more special! Particularly tonight when the three acts on the bill are all bands I would go and see on their own. First up is The Spangles - an offshoot of an offshoot of The Wildhearts. When bassist Danny McCormack was inbetween tours of duty with The Wildhearts he formed a punk 'n' roll band called The Main Grains. They didn't sound a million miles away from his previous band away from the Wildhearts The Yo-Yo's who I saw countless times. The Main Grains were good and had some catchy songs but fell by the wayside... Their guitarist Ben Marsden went on to join new band The Spangles along with The Idol Dead frontman Polly Fluid now on bass duties.

Less punk 'n' roll and more pop/punk The Spangles are really good! The tunes are excellent, and the band playing them are fine musicians - there is nothing not to like here.

This band are a lot of fun and their full on enthusiasm for what they are doing is infectious! They don't get down to London from Leeds very often, but I strongly recommend catching them if you get the chance.

The next band get down to London from their home in Nottingham more regularly than The Spangles and have built up a loyal following over the years.

The Hip Priests have built up a formidable reputation as a live act and I suspect many bands would be wary of playing on a bill where they would have to go on after this lot!

Motörhead and The Stooges are obvious influences along with the MC5. There is a strong helping of punk attitude in them as well as loud filthy greasy rock 'n' roll. They have a very energetic frontman in Nathan Von Cruz, and one of their guitarist sports the splendid name of Austin Rocket - there is nothing here not to like.

The first song by this band I ever heard was their ferocious anthem 'Zero Fucks Given' - a statement of intent if ever I heard one! I was sold straight away and knew I would have to go and see this band live. They have never let me down since.

One band not afraid to go on stage after The Hip Priests is the mighty Wolfsbane! They can confidently do this knowing they have many absolute bangers in their back catalogue, and also one of the best frontmen in the business! In fact - a frontman so good that the legendary Iron Maiden headhunted him from Wolfsbane and hung onto him for several years, two albums, and accompanying tours.

Wolfsbane have been back for a few years now, and continue to write, record, and release new albums - as well as touring to play the old classics along with newer material.

Amazingly, this is still the original lineup of the band after all these years - not many bands can say that! It's still the same four guys from their debut album  the Rick Rubin (badly) produced 'Live Fast, Die Fast'. They may not look the same - apart from bassist Jeff Hateley who must have an old painting of himself somewhere in his attic...

Although lack of record company support held them back at the height of their powers in the 1990's they were without doubt one of the UK's best heavy metal bands - bringing shades of both Van Halen and (ironically) Iron Maiden to their sound. Guess what? Wolfsbane are still a really great live band! They still play 'the hits' from their earlier back catalogue as well as more recent stuff, and singer Blaze Bayley is still one of the most fired up and engaging frontmen you will ever see! He is the best at geeing-up a crowd to have a good time and enjoy the show! As heard on the band's amazing 1993 live album 'Massive Noise Injection' Blaze will still ensure if you come to a Wolfsbane show you will have a good time - whether you like it or not!

Wolfsbane are still a really entertaining live act, and if you get the chance to see them I suggest you grab it with both hands.

2/12/2023 The Almighty @ The Forum

Although I have most of their albums, I have only every seen The Almighty once. That was at Milton Keynes Bowl supporting Metallica and they were absolutely fantastic! Megadeth came on after The Almighty and seemed very lightweight and tame in comparison - that's how it seemed to me anyway. After evolving noticeably after their first two albums they eventually split up and that seemed to be that. Until they reformed around the end of the century. And again several years later. Then frontman Ricky Warwick forged ahead with a solo career, which also involved fronting a reformed Thin Lizzy - who later evolved into Black Star Riders. The other members of the band seemed to disappear. Until now. They have reformed for a third time - now with guitarist for the first two albums Tantrum returning to complete the original lineup. This is quite a big deal. They are only playing three shows, so this is too good a chance to miss to see them again. So here I am at a sold out Kentish Town Forum.

There is an excited and expectant atmosphere in The Forum for this show - will the band still be good? Can they still cut it? What songs will they play? What will they look like after all these years? Well to answer the last question; Like nearly all bands of their vintage still performing, the days of long (or in some cases any) hair are gone, and a few pounds might have been added on the scales, but they are all still alive. Alive and kicking in fact which is a bonus.

And they can still play and perform well. And they still sound great! The setlist is mainly based around the first couple of albums 'Soul Destruction' and 'Blood, Fire, and Love' which I think most people would agree is the best stuff and contains all the 'classics'. Not that they didn't produce some good material after that, and the 'Powertrippin' album with it's heavier grungy sound gets featured too.

The Almighty are still a pretty good live act. Although there doesn't currently seem to be the prospect of any new material being written and recorded they are still well worth seeing if you are a fan. And although there might not be any new songs on the way, there is the prospect of more live shows in the future - especially as there was much demand for tickets for the current short run of shows which I think  have already sold out. So if you want to see The Almighty then keep your eyes open for any future shows... I'm pretty sure no one went home from tonight's show disappointed - I certainly didn't! To be honest as long as they played 'Free 'N' Easy' (which obviously they did) I would have gone home happy. 😁