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. 😁

25/11/23 Glitter Kick + Zara + The Core + Chaos UK @ Walthamstow Trades Hall

Walthamstow Trades Hall  is not the easiest venue to find but this is a really nice venue to attend as a punter or a performer. It's quite roomy, and the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. Even though Christmas is still a month away they have the decorations up! 🎄 The staff are nice and friendly, and unlike corporate or most pub venues the drinks are reasonably priced - there really is nothing not to like here. And the bar stocks Newcastle Brown Ale - although it hasn't tasted or smelt the same since it stopped being actually brewed in Newcastle in 2005. This venue books a wide variety of musical acts including some quite big names, as well as various other literary and cultural events. Whether you want to dance, or sit at a table with a beverage and something to eat you are well catered for here.

Opening the proceedings tonight are Glitter Kick. However, following the tragic demise of their drummer Belle Star followed by their bass player deciding to leave the band they are currently performing as a duo.

However, playing with a backing track but live vocals and guitar they are still lively and entertaining.

Ex-Bexatron guitarist Greg cranks out the riffs and knows how to look cool and do the 'rock star' thing. 😎🎸

Singer Roxi has paid her dues fronting bands as well having acting experience - all of which helps to provide an entertaining show. 

Glitter Kick's songs are a mixture of rock, punk, pop, and rock 'n' roll. They have a commercial sound, but also a harder grittier edge to back things up. Even in this abbreviated duo format they are still good fun. 😁

Things take a darker turn with tonight's next act. From the streets of South London this is Zara.

 

They play Gothic and grunge tinged alt-rock. Any colour as long as it's black.

Accomplished musicians hailing from the Deptford area this is a rare outing North of the river. Their doomy sound varies in mood and temp as it draws you into their dark world.

The band Zara is more about textures and sounds than massive in your face songs, but if you are prepared to (grave)dig a little deeper there is quite a lot going on. And you might even hear a Bauhaus cover. 🦇

Next band The Core raise the tempo and energy level.

Tight, fast, tuneful, and committed - with a strong punk edge.

This is the most powerful and punchy act on the bill. They have obviously worked hard and paid their dues to get this good.

I wasn't able to take any pictures of old school punks Chaos UK for 'reasons', but Roxi from Glitter Kick managed to video a little of the action when she wasn't dancing!

This mob from the Islington area pop up fairly often in London, and occasionally further afield. The origins of the band date from 1978, and although all but one member have changed over the years they still remain rooted in the early UK punk sound before it all turned into a studded leather jacketed Mohican'd cliche where all the bands looked and sounded the same. After a long gap between the release of their debut single in 1979 Chaos UK reformed in 2014 and have since released several CDs of old and new material.

18/11/2023 The Molotovs @ The Night Owl

Out at a gig for the 4th night in a row - well what else am I gonna do? A good if crowded night at one of North London's more intimate venues. The former Bullet Bar now known as the Night Owl has maybe the best public transport links of any London music venue as it has both overground Great Northern and underground with both the Piccadilly and Victoria line running through Finsbury Park - you can actually see the venue from the GNR trains and the venue is literally right opposite the station. Needless to say, it is well served by buses too.

Madame Mutante are playing when I arrive. These gals have a rather decadent 1970's New York punk vibe. Some of them look familiar from other bands I've seen but their songs don't really grab me.

There are a lot of people here to see The Molotovs tonight. Their drummer Ice seems to have a noticeable entourage - which is interesting as siblings Matt and Issey on vox/lead vocals and bass respectively would seem to be the major force behind the band...

This is a band with a definite buzz going on - their Mod vibe with punk attitude reminds me strongly of The Jam on their first album. Which is a very good thing indeed.

Although Matt in particular seems to have a strong Mod image there is more going on than just that. There is a punk edge too - as demonstrated when I saw them play 'God Save The Queen' at a Coronation related event in South London earlier this year.

The energy level on stage is very high, but the musicianship is also excellent! This is a band who 'Mean it man'.

The Molotovs have a definite something about them that suggests they are going places - get to see them if you can because I don't think they will be playing small venues like this for much longer...

17/11/23 Zara @ The Birds Nest - Spooky Night

Friday night finds me taking the long trip down to Deptford. I don't do it that often, but I do enjoy the occasional trip on the Dave Lee Roth. I love being able to sit at the front and pretend to be the driver! 🚂

I also like it because of the way it twists tightly and ducks steeply up and down - it reminds me of going on the ghost train when I was a kid. 👻🚂 It's nice to be able to have fun on the way to a gig for a change! 😁

Kind of appropriate that I was thinking of ghost trains as the event I am going to is labeled Spooky Night - I guess tonight was the closest date the venue was available to actual Halloween. 👿👻💀🧛🦇

I miss the first couple of bands but the DLR drops me at Deptford Bridge near the Birds Nest pub in time to see Zara. They are an alt-rock band with grunge and strong Goth influences.

So naturally they are dressed in black. 🦇 The standard of musicianship is high and their songs are interesting.

Just to confirm their Gothness to anyone who might not have noticed, they drop in a long cover of the Bauhaus classic 'Bela Lugosi's Dead'.

There was another band on after Zara, but I couldn't take any pictures or anything as I was otherwise engaged... 😉

Then back to the station to catch the ghost train. 👻🚂

16/11/2023 The Answer @ Islington Assembly Hall

I've been to a few gigs in Islington over the last few months - mostly at the Hope & Anchor, but tonight in a much bigger venue. Fortunately Islington Assembly Hall is also conveniently close to Highbury & Islington station so nice and easy to get to. I'm here to see The Answer.

This band from Northern Ireland have come a long way since I first saw them early this century. Back then they were playing in the tiny Windmill pub in Brixton. Even back then they were bloody good - and seemed like nice chaps too.

Since playing small South London pubs they have released six albums to much critical aclaim, and gone on to play at venues as large as the O2 Arena in Greenwich supporting the mighty AC/DC.

The Answer spent two years on tour with AC/DC during their 'Black Ice' world tour - which must have been an amazing experience for them.

The band had quite a strong Led Zeppelin influence in their early days, but since then have evolved with their own sound and style - while strongly retaining the 'classic rock' sound and feel.

They can certainly deliver the 'Big Rock Show' when required, but have the musical skills and songs strong enough to stand up on their own.

Even in their early days playing in pubs this band came across as polished and professional, and even back then you could tell they were too good to be slogging round that circuit. And so they proved. Their debut album 'Rise' was very strong.

For the band's 6th album 'Solas' they evolved and took a different turn away from their previous sound and style. This release was still very much a 'rock' album with quality songwriting, but the sound and feel was much more modern. And then they disappeared. Completely. For several years. And everyone thought they had given up and split up....

And now suddenly they are back - with a brand new album 'Sundowners', and they are out on tour again. And guess what? They are still really good!

With most bands when you go to see them play live there are always one or two particular songs you want or expect to hear. With The Answer for me that song is always 'Come Follow Me' because of the fantastic guitar work. Tonight I don't go home disappointed.

It's not all big rock bombast - the band know how to pace things and take it down for a while with some audience participation.

The good thing about 'taking it down' is that when you take it up again it seems more exciting - a lot of heavy bands don't seem to get this.

All in all, a pretty good night of classic rock style music - without the cliches and rock star bullshit that many bands seem to think they have to have in a big rock show. The Answer are still pretty good. I wonder if they are going to 'disappear' again after this tour and album?

15/11/2023 Warrior Soul + The Fiascos @ Boston Arms Music Room

A bit of an odd show in (Nigel) Tufnell Park tonight, but it gets off to a flying start with the always excellent Fiascos. 😁

Formed from the ashes of the great Kitty Hudson - a band who I saw many times back in the day from Croydon to most the coolest venues north of the river - the lineup changed over time but the constant thing was that they always had a load of really great songs! Evolving into The Fiascos with the addition of Keef from Dead Identities on 2nd guitar/vocals they have lost none of the old band's power.

Since I first saw The Fiascos in Camden in 2016 they have carried on the same full-on in-your-face rock 'n roll onslaught and attitude from the Kitty Hudson days.

And they have the amazing Robin Guy on drums - the ultimate rock drummer showman.

Robin is probably best known as the drummer for Rachel Stamp, but as a session and live drummer he has played with some very big names.

It's been a while since I've seen Warrior Soul. The lineup seems to change every time I've seen them, but Kory always manages to put a good band together to back that rasping roar of a voice that he has.

But this for this tour something seems to have changed. The room is probably less than half full - which is unusual for a Warrior Soul show in London. Certain people I would expect to see at this gig are noticeably absent, and there seems to be somehow a different dynamic - something is missing.

Robin Guy takes to the stage towards the end of the show to help out with backing vocals. 

The band sound OK and play well enough, but the usual atmosphere seems lacking in the room. Although Kory Clarke gives his usual 'in-your-face' performance, he seems a bit more 'hippy' and less punk than in the past.

Although it's certainly not a bad show there doesn't seem as much bite or commitment as past Warrior Soul shows I've seen. And they didn't even play 'The Wasteland' - a song I was looking forward to more than usual as my life feels a bit of a wasteland at the moment.

A slightly disappointing evening I felt, but at least The Fiascos were on fine form and I really enjoyed their set.