Arriving late (I know there is a theme emerging) I only caught the end of The Throwaway Scene. The venue is quite empty, but it is early, and it has been a surreal day after the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth yesterday. This trio are rock/ emo comprising a rather smartly dressed singer, a bassist, and drummer. Having no guitarist is weird, so we get a stripped back sound, but it works; a mix of clear, angsty but energetically delivered vocals with a heavy accompaniment. They have recently added the video for ‘Conscience Alley’ to YouTube, so give them a listen.
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Arriving fashionably late I miss part of The Barstool Preachers set and hover at the back, disappointed with myself as the few songs I caught, including ‘When This World Ends’ and ‘Barstool Preacher’ have the place buzzing. I have heard good things about the band and have heard a few tracks on the radio, but until tonight I know very little about them.
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Well, this is a bit different. I do not think I have been in the Apollo since Billy Idol played in 2014! On arrival the queue is massive, and I am thankful I can go straight inside. The place is heaving, which comes as no surprise as this is the first of two sold out shows in Manchester.
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In a rush as usual but I head upstairs to get a good view of the stage and the place is not only heaving, it’s also hot. Until Sunday I had never heard of The Raven Age, so I am quite surprised at how packed the venue is already and there is an air of anticipation, so I am expecting good things.
The Raven Age are an English heavy metal band formed in 2009 by guitarists Dan Wright and George Harris (son of Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris). They have previously toured with Tremonti, along with Iron Maiden, Anthrax and Killswitch Engage. They are described as melodic metalcore, but I am non-the-wiser…
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A music gig at The Lowry? Well, this is a first. How does it work? Where do I go? Hmmm… all very strange. I must get a pass from the stage door; we are escorted backstage before being ushered through to the theatre and hooked up with seats. We almost feel like royalty, certainly VIP. I could get use to this.
I arrive in time for Talk Like Tigers, twin sisters Charlotte and Stephanie from Newcastle. They are cited as a rising indie-pop duo. They enter the stage to “Vogue” by Madonna (who I love by the way!) and there is a strong 80s vibe, somewhat reminiscent of Shakespeare Sister.
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Widdly, widdly, widdly, widdly, widdly… There you go that’s my review. Least that is what Stewart Lucas said I should write about tonight, so I guess my work here is done?!!
Well, maybe not quite. However, given in my latest review (for Creeper last weekend) I clearly stated I cannot do commentary on composition and melodies, rather lyrics and vocals are where it is all at… this review might be a slight challenge for me.
So, if you have come here for a detailed review of guitar playing and all that entails you are more than likely going to be disappointed.
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So… in the space of 24 hours, I saw Creeper, met singer Will Gould and found myself buying two tickets for tonight’s randomly announced gig…
Well, truth be told by the time I got to the AO Arena on Friday to see Creeper, The Cult and Alice Cooper, picked up the tickets, found our seats (or rather just plonked down in the first free seats we found) the closing bars of “Annabelle” were playing and the band were walking off stage… sigh! Very disappointing, but my disappointment did not last too long as during the intermission we left our seats only to spy Mister Gould near the bar and feeling brave I seized my chance to go over and say hi…
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First things first… it’s busy! And not just that, I am unprepared for how “normal” the majority of the crowd look. Momentarily forgetting how spoilt I have been recently with all the metal gigs and more eclectic musicianship. My weirdo beacon is shining brightly as I head to the front to check out the support band. Last time I was in Academy 1 it was to see Skindred, so this all feels very different.
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Well it would not be one of my gig reviews without some sort of disruption… so tonight it looks set to be a completely wasted journey as we arrive and our names are not on the list. After a few frantic messages back and forth nothing is getting resolved. I hover in the entrance to The Ritz debating whether to buy a ticket as surprisingly (or not as it’s Easter Monday) it’s not sold out and I really, really want to see The White Buffalo… but then what’s this? I overhear a man at the box office handing over a print at home ticket, saying his mate could not make it and to give it to someone who needs it… I check myself, find myself wanting and seize my chance.
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Two gigs in one weekend? Yes. It’s good and bad now everything is back up and running again, feels like everything is coinciding and not sure I can keep up. However I wasn’t going to miss this gig for anything as I bought my ticket back in 2019 and after 3 or more postponements we are finally here! We arrive early and the place is quiet, much quieter than expected. I do not know if this is due to all the rescheduling or because it’s Sunday night, but by 8pm the place is starting to fill up for tonight’s support band.
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Taxi traumas... 30 minutes late and with much swearing… it finally turns up and I arrive slightly disorientated and not in the best mood. I grab a drink and can hear Holocene, a singer-songwriter and guitarist aka Sian Kelly sounding great, but sadly she finishes as I am about to watch. Having caught up on YouTube I’m really disappointed to miss her as I’m sure she gave a brilliant performance; powerful vocals (think slightly Taylor Momsen-esque from The Pretty Reckless), melodic guitars, all a bit reminiscent of a chilled version of Garbage.
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A gig? What on earth?! Yes I’m reviewing a gig for the first time in 2022. I have managed to see Creeper and Paradise Lost so far this year, but now it’s good to be back actually reviewing… though truth be told I probably should not be out at all. Saturday morning I was in hospital at 8am having a chunk of flesh, ROCKFLESH no doubt, removed from my body and come Sunday night I am still feeling tired and sore…
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Academy 3 for the third time in just over a month?! Yes but is this the last time for a while… Sigh...? I arrive fashionably late, as usual, and am greeted by lots of familiar faces, but the room is quieter than expected and I sense that some people are obviously keeping away, some are lurking at the back and there are lots more masks to be seen.
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I arrive as A New Hope start their set within a fairly busy Academy 3. I would insert a Star Wars reference here but I know nothing and won’t embarrass myself so you can fill in for yourselves! Making my way to my usual position at the front I try to figure out their slightly squashed stage set up. A little way into proceedings it becomes obvious their singer is missing (apparently due to illness), so much respect to the band for going ahead with tonight’s performance. From where I am stood I see the drummer, guitarist and bassist. Behind the speakers I can hear someone else but I can’t see him.
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I head into Rebellion for the first time since the before times of January 2020, slightly disorientated by the new wall around the entrance (pretty sure that wasn’t there before?) and even more disturbed by the toilets now seeming to be outside… and while the original toilets were not great now I am greeted with portaloos! Bar isn’t much better as I order a pint of coke but it’s more akin to Rola Cola than something more palatable. Urgh.
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Live music on a Saturday night? On my birthday? In Manchester? Yes please. I might be gigging alone but as I enter the venue I remember what a great little space Academy 3 is.
I go back through the files in my brain and as usual (obviously my age) I draw a blank as to the last band I saw in here but I’m thinking maybe Clutch but that was a LONG time ago (before they were well-known and after I saw them originally with one of my favourite bands Corrosion of Conformity). Even further back in the annals of time I saw Jerry Cantrell in this room and what an absolutely mind-blowing experience that was…
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Walking into Academy 1 felt normal until I got to the front and suddenly it hit me... I’ve not stood here in literally YEARS. Even before lockdown I had been to gigs in Academy 3 but I could not tell you my last gig in 1, probably pre-2017 (Machine Head? – it’s actually starting to annoy me!) And now here I am at my second gig since lockdown lifted, but unlike at Devin Townsend I am not flying solo and have some companions with me
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Arriving about five minutes after the show begins my heart sinks as not only is the support act Devin himself doing an acoustic set, but the place is absolutely packed out and it looks like I might actually have to watch from outside the door! Photos are going to be impossible…
Think, think… The venue is hotter than Satan’s armpit (insert far more unsavoury metaphor here) so if I’m going to push my way down to the front I had better quench my thirst and throw myself into the (hopefully Covid-free) fray. Quick run to the bar downstairs and then I go for it… skilfully following a lady with two pints headed to the front. About a third of the way from the stage I decide this is probably the best spot.
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