Black Spiders

Black Spiders, Hawk Eyes and Baby Godzilla

Club Academy, Manchester

October 4th, 2013

Club Academy is located in the basement of the Manchester Student Union building on Oxford Road.  It is a small dark room deep in the depths of the old stone building and when you have a big crowd in there I have literally seen the sweat drip from the ceiling.  It is in this dark sweaty room that I have discovered some amazing bands including tonight's headliners.

Kicking off the night is Baby Godzilla, a quartet from Nottingham.  Baby Godzilla are loud, brash and very in your face, but there is something very likable about them.  For a start they are a security guards worst nightmare as singer Matt Reynolds and guitarist Jonny Hall spend 95% of the show in the pit, moshing alongside the unsuspecting crowd. Tonight even the drummer, Tom Marsh, joined them in the pit taking one of his drums with him!  Whether they are jumping around or hanging upside down from the pipes on the ceiling they put on one hell of a performance.  If you like your music heavy with a capital H check them out!

Hawk Eyes turned the chaos down a notch but kept the rock at full belt!  The quartet from Leeds played songs from their upcoming EP 'That's What This Is' .  Although they still have a heavy vibe to them their songs had clearer lyrics and some great guitar riffs.

 

Even though they borrowed their drummer from Ginger (of The Wildhearts) with only two days to rehearse they played a flawless set and I would not hesitate to see them again.

Headlining tonight were a band I first saw in this very basement in September 2009 when they supported The Wildhearts.  I remember watching them that night and being totally blown away by the five long haired, bearded guys from Sheffield.  The band comprises of Pete 'Spider' Spiby, Andy 'Ozzy' Lister, Mark 'Dark Shark' Thomas, 'Tiger' Si Atkinson and Adam 'The Fox ' Irwin, and although they look intimidating, the three of them that I have been lucky enough to meet were really nice guys.

Tonight the Black Spiders played a full set of face melting rock playing songs from their previous albums 'No Goats In The Omen',  'Sons Of The North' and their new album 'This Savage Land'.  Songs  Included 'Stay Down',' Just Like A Woman',  'Kiss Tried To Kill Me', 'Balls', 'Stick It To The Man', 'Teenage Knife Gang' and 'Trouble'.

Whether you buy the foam middle finger or use your own you can guarantee that even the most lady like of women will be joining in when asked to raise a finger and join in the Black Spider salute shouting 'F#@k you Black Spiders!' towards the men on the stage.

In their usual style, the Black Spiders saved the best until last singing both of my favourite songs in the encore.  Coming back on stage they played 'St Peter' and then finished off with a bang with 'What Good's A Rock With Out A Roll', which viewers of Scuzz TV will recognise as the theme tune to the Lowdown.

I have now seen the Black Spiders on numerous occasions and they never fail to disappoint me.  Their energy and showmanship always make me want to come back for more.  Check them out on you tube http://www.youtube.com/user/blackspidersuk