Taking Hayley Farewell Tour

Taking Hayley, White Clouds and Gun fire and Twister

Rescue Rooms Nottingham and Academy 3 Manchester

February 15th and 18th, 2014

On the 6th December 2013, Taking Hayley, a relatively young band, announced their farewell tour, and as a thank you to their fans they announced that the show would be a free entry show, so it only seemed right to go and see them a couple of times.

The tour consisted of Taking Hayley, White clouds and Twister as the set bands on the bill, however, dependent upon which venue you went to you were treated to different guest acts.  At the Nottingham show we saw Kill the Ideal and In Hindsight and at the Manchester show we saw Bentley Park.

Of the guest support acts the one I enjoyed the most was the acoustic set offered by Michael and Isaac of In Hindsight.  They had great voices and a great stage presence, and considering that they were the only acoustic set on a full electric set they really got the crowd engaged.

Kill the Ideal and Bentley Park offered decent sets but neither of them really grabbed me enough to make we want to see them again, although I couldn't help but laugh when Bentley Park tried to get the audience involved, as I have never seen an audience that has been asked to bounce stand so still!

Twister are a four piece rock band from Newcastle.  They have great stage presence and a great sound.  Their set consisted of songs from their first album 'This Isn't Wonderland' and included 'Feeding Frenzy' and 'Famous Last Words'.

They also did a great rock version of Taio Cruz's 'Dynamite', which succeeded in getting the crowd moving and singing along.

Twister also managed to get me to do something that I very rarely do when I see a band for the first time.  I bought their CD.  

I can honestly say that I will be looking out for these guys coming to town as I really did enjoy them.

Next up were White Clouds and Gunfire, who I first heard in December.  I was impressed with them then and I was impressed with them again on both nights of this tour. 

Their set included songs from their new album 'For All The Believers', which included, 'Since You Were Gone' and 'Satellites'.

These guys have a great energy and really get the crowd moving.

Headliners Taking Hayley have obviously accrued quite a following during their three years together as they were welcomed on to the stage with  loud cheers.

Taking Hayley performed a jam packed set which included songs from their album 'Tricks and Games', including 'Tonight (We Come Alive)' and my favourite 'Crying Eyes'.

It's a shame that these guys have chosen to disband as they have the talent and the fan base to take it further.

Matt Pryor, Allison Weiss and Lacey

Matt Pryor, Allison Weiss and Lacey

The Bodega, Nottingham

February 16th, 2014

Tonight I found myself back in Nottingham and back to the first venue I ever visited in the city to catch up with that very same band that I saw on my first trip here.

Tonight is billed as a full band acoustic set by the Lacey boys but when I got there I was a little shocked to discover that they had a full drum set and electric guitars. 

Although tonight's set was a mellowed and slower set by the Lacey boys it was not a full acoustic set, however the Lacey boys didn't disappoint and played a short but flawless set including crowd favourite 'Lights Out' and their latest single 'Hometown', which they have recently recorded a video for and can be found on YouTube at http://youtu.be/FfKNYp7-miQ (or click the video clip at the bottom of the review)

After hearing the full acoustic versions of 'Burning Out' and 'Let It Go' on 'Beat on the Beeb' (BBC Radio Nottingham) just before Christmas I was really looking forward to hearing them play this way live so I have to admit that I was a little disappointed.  

I was also disappointed as I thought that the five song set was far too short! 

I guess I will just have to wait a little longer to hear them play a full acoustic show. 

Next up was Allison Weiss and although she was good, she didn't set my world alight! She had a very good voice and played well but it just didn't do it for me.  I found her songs very melancholy and she just didn't excite me or grab my attention in the way that some other artists have.

Headlining tonight was Matt Pryor of the Get Up Kids.  I have heard people raving about The Get Up Kids and after hearing so many good things I was really looking forward to hearing him, as he was someone I had not experienced before. 

Again I found myself slightly disappointed because although he was good and had a lovely voice, he failed to spark my interest and although I tried to work out what the all the fuss was about I just didn't see it. 

Maybe I was having an off day but I will be honest and admit that had it not been for Lacey I would have walked away quite disappointed.

Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and Zebrahead

Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and Zebrahead

Manchester Academy

February 3rd, 2014

According to the internet pop punk is dead but try telling that to the two and a half thousand people that helped sell out tonight's show at the Manchester Academy.

Starting the night were Zebrahead, from California, consisting of  Ali on Vocals, Dan on Guitar, Ben on bass, Ed on drums and Matty on vocals and guitar.

Their set consisted of songs from across their discography including the title song of their latest album 'Call Your Friends', along with 'Sirens', 'Rescue Me' and 'Hello Tomorrow'.

We were also treated to a special rendition of 'Manchester, Drink Till You Pee!' and two 'real life Germans' in lederhosen chugging beer.

The Zebrahead guys had a brilliant stage presence, a lot of innuendo and sexual references but they had the crowd singing and jumping along.  This is one band that isn't suitable for younger ears but for the adults among us they are a must see.

Zebrahead are back in Manchester in May and I'm now counting the days until their return!

Next up were Reel Big Fish from Orange County California.  These six guys are a ska punk band with massive personality who really know how to get a party started.

Made up of Aaron on vocals, Billy on trombone, Johnny Christmas on trumpet, Ryland on drums, Derek on Bass and Matt on Sax, these guys played a good length set consisting of songs such as 'Everyone Else Is An Asshole', 'Sell Out' and 'Beer'.

Reel Big Fish also had two guests joining them on stage for 'She Has  A Girlfriend Now' as they introduced Leila and Barney from Manchester band Sonic Boom Six.

Finishing with a cheeky cover of A-ha's 'Take On Me' they lifted the roof!

Between the catchy lyrics and the onstage antics you get much more than your average band and I guarantee you won't be able to stop yourself dancing/bouncing along.  I would not hesitate to go and see Reel Big Fish again.

Last on the bill tonight are Less Than Jake, a ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Made up of  Chris on vocals and guitar,  Roger on vocals and bass,Vinnie on drums, Buddy on trombone and JR on saxophone.

Again these guys played a good length set and really had the crowds dancing and bouncing along as they played songs from right across their 22 year career. 

They also managed to sneak a cover song into their set as they launched into their rendition of The Offsprings' 'Self Esteem'.

All three of the bands managed to get good circle pits going but the most spectacular had to be during the last song of the night, 'Gainesville Rock City', which saw the pit spread across half of the room.

The show tonight is the best party I have been to in a long time, for both entertainment and atmosphere, and I can assure you, punk, whether it be pop punk or ska punk, is definitely not dead!

Kill The Power Tour

Skindred, SOiL and Viza

Manchester Academy

February 2nd, 2014

Last night took us to the Academy at Manchester to see one of the most unique bands that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing, but before the main event we were treated to sets from Viza and Soil.

Viza are an unusual bunch of guys from LA, consisting of six metal looking guys, an oud and some very questionable dance moves.

Viza have a very international sound to them which is also reflected in lead singer K'noup's dance moves, as some seem to have a greek influence while other have a more bollywood style.  Making up the rest of the band are Orbel on electric guitar/harmonica/vocals, Shant on electric guitar, Andrew on the oud, Alex on bass and Chris on drums and percussion.

Their music is very upbeat and mixes international sounds with traditional metal.  However you choose to describe them musically they really know how to get a crowd moving.

I will be searching the internet to find out more of these and hopefully find their music as I am intrigued to learn more about these guys, as I have never heard anything like this before.

Next up were SOiL, a band that I first encountered at Sonisphere in 2009.

Singing songs that spanned their 17 year career, they got the mosh pit racing and the crowd jumping and singing.  Songs to note included 'The Hate Song', 'Shine Down' and 'Black Betty', which had the whole crowd singing along.

Closing with crowd favourite 'Halo', which Ryan sang from the mosh pit, SOiL left the stage to thunderous applause.

As soon as the stage had been re-set the Academy was plunged into darkness before the stage lit up in a rhythmic light show to the sound of AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck'.

If you have never experienced Skindred before it is safe to say that you will be amazed by the show. I know the first time I experienced them, again at Sonisphere 2009, I was stopped in my tracks in amazement.  

Skindred hail from Newport in South Wales and is made up of Benji Webbe on vocals, Mikey Demus on Guitar, Daniel Pugsley on bass and Arya Goggin on drums.  As Benji puts it 'four brothers and a prodigal son'.

One thing that is instantly noticeable about Skindred is that they don't have the typical Welsh sound as Skindred are a unique crossover of metal and reggae. 

Older songs in tonight's set included 'Nobody', 'Pressure', 'Doom Riff', and my personal favourite 'Stand For Something', the song that stopped me in my tracks five years ago.

They also played a selection of songs from their new album including the title track 'Kill The Power', as well as 'Worlds On Fire' and 'Ninja'.

Half way through the set we were treated a musical interlude which incorporated Arya on drums and DJ Dan Sturgess, featuring 'Intergalactic' by the Beastie Boys, 'Jump Around' by House of Pain and 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Queen to name but a few of the featured songs.

By the time Skindred left the stage to prepare for their encore it was already quarter of an hour over curfew, but they returned to the stage to do a couple more songs and to finish with 'Warning' and the now infamous 'Newport Helicopter'. For Skindred newbies the Newport Helicopter is a sight to behold!  During the song Benji instructs the audience to remove a piece of clothing and hold it still in the air, then when Benji reaches four you wave it around your head like a helicopter propeller.  We were lucky enough to be sat on the balcony and see the Newport Helicopter in all its glory and the sight of 2,000 t shirts being spun in the air really is an amazing sight.

Skindred really are unique and I defy anyone to go and see one of their shows and not come away totally buzzing! 

The Fly Awards Show

Swim Deep, Bleeding Knees and The Magic Gang

Manchester Ritz

February 1st, 2014

Tonight's concert was a surprise concert as I only discovered that I was going last night.  My husband won tickets to see three bands playing at the Ritz and never being one to turn down a night of live music I agreed to go.

The first band on the bill tonight was The Magic Gang.  These are a young four piece band from Brighton who sounded good  and had some great melodies, but they had a real melancholy sound to them which failed to get the audience excited.

Next up were Bloody Knees from Cambridgeshire and although they only played for 25 minutes they managed to do what the previous band had failed to do.  Their punk rock sound got the crowd bouncing and clapping along, and although they didn't get any takers,  they were encouraging crowd surfers.  (It's a good job no one took them up on the crowd surfing as there was no security presence front stage to catch them).

If you like your music with a bit of punk, these guys are definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Last up were headliners, Swim Deep, from Birmingham.  These guys came on to the stage in matching white long sleeve t-shirts to cheers and applause from the crowd.  Unfortunately  they had a very electronic sound to their music which wasn't to my taste. 

I did however persevere to see if they had any tricks up their sleeves...  until they announced that they would be playing a cover song and launched into Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun', which is a song I have always liked but when played and sung by men, it sounded really wrong!   Hence to say we did not stick around for much longer after that.

Usually I love it when we gets tickets for these kind of shows as it is a chance to hear music that we wouldn't normally listen to and maybe discover a new band or two along the way, but  had it not been for Bleeding Knees I would probably have walked away very disappointed. 

Monsters Overseas Tour

Mayday Parade, Man Overboard, Decade and Divided By Friday

Manchester Academy 2

January 30th, 2014

First up tonight were Divided By Friday, a pop rock band from North Carolina.

These guys were the perfect starting band for the evening as they had the crowd jumping, clapping and singing along to the point where the whole academy room shook.  Their music had a feel good vibe to it and stand out songs included called 'Relapse' and one called 'Better Off'.

Until tonight I had never heard of this band but after hearing them tonight I will definitely be checking out more of their music. 

Next up were Decade, a home grown band from Bath.  This five piece band had a heavier sound than the first band but still managed  to get the crowd joining in and jumping. 

Playing songs from their debut album 'Good Luck' such as 'Callous' and 'Fools Gold', they showed Manchester what they are made of.  This is another band that I will be checking out again in the future.

Following Decade, were New Jersey pop punk band Man Overboard.  Although I normally like pop punk, these guys did not grab my attention as much as the other bands in their genre or even the other bands on tonight's bill.  

Don't get me wrong they had plenty of energy and some good guitar lines but  they just didn't give me enough to make me want to listen to them again.

Headlining tonight were 'Mayday Parade' a five piece band from Tallahassee, who sound very pop punk with a rock edge to their music.

I first encountered these guys when I saw them support You Me At Six back in March 2012 and thought that they sounded great.

Tonight they sang a range of songs from across their discography such as 'Three Cheers for Five Years', 'Black Cat', 'Stay' and 'Hold On To Me'.

Mid way through the set lead singer Derek, requested permission from the audience to slow things down a bit, before singing 'Miserable At Best', just him and his keyboard.  This is a beautiful but sombre ballad and Derek's powerful voice held the audience throughout the song.

Mayday Parade left the stage to loud applause and cheers for more, before re-taking the stage to sing 'Jersey'.

 
  When I first heard them in 2012 I knew that I would see more of them in the future and in the last two years it seems that these guys have honed the raw talent that was evident back then and have become even better. 

The Blackout, LostAlone and Rat Attack

The Blackout, LostAlone and Rat Attack

53 Degrees, Preston

January 24th, 2014

First concert of the year and as we did last year we have started the party with The Blackout!

When I eventually found one of my Christmas presents from my little sister hidden in the tree on Christmas Day I couldn't have been more excited to open it to find tickets to see the Blackout and LostAlone.  I have been following both of the bands since they toured with My Chemical Romance way back in February 2011, which was the day that I discovered both bands.

Tonight started in style with Rat Attack, a four piece band who have been in existence since 2010.  Although I didn't know any of their songs, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed their set.  They have a  really good energy and got the crowd warmed up nicely.  I will be looking out for Rat Attack again in the future.

Next up were Derby trio LostAlone, who comprise of Steven Battelle, Alan Williamson and Mark Gibson.  From the opening  riffs of The Bells, The Bells to the closing cords of 'Love Will Eat You Alive', the boys gave nothing short of 100%.  

Their set included 'Hostages' and 'Crusade' which are new songs from their upcoming album, which will be released in April and old favourites such as 'Vesuvius' and 'Do You Get What You Pray For?'  from their previous album 'I'm A UFO in the City'.

It's no wonder these guys have made such a good name for themselves, with catchy lyrics and face melting guitar riffs they have the crowd in the palm of their hands throughout the whole set.  I will definitely be seeing LostAlone again the next time they are in town.

Tonight's headliners are The Blackout, six men from Merthyr Tydfil, comprising of Sean Smith and Gavin Butler on vocals, James 'Bob' Davies, Matthew Davies, Rhys Lewis and Gareth 'Snoz' Lawrence.

Kicking off with 'I'm A Riot You're A F****** Riot', Sean Smith jumped over the barrier and straight into the middle of the pit before throwing his microphone over the lighting bar so that he could join in the chaos and sing hands free.

The Blackout played a sixteen song set which covered songs from all four of their albums.  Some of the songs included were 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things', 'Higher And Higher', 'Running Scared', 'Children Of The Night', 'Ambition Is Critical' and 'Spread Legs Not Lies'.

Anyone who has seen the Blackout before will be aware of the protocol during 'Save Our Selves (The Warning)'  as ALL members of the crowd are expected to join in, unless they can supply a note from their mother.  Last night someone actually surprised them by producing a note from their mother explaining why they should be allowed to sit out.  Everyone else however was expected to crouch down on the floor and await Sean's cue at which point the whole pit jumped up in unison and the pit chaos continued.

Team Sean and Gavin's banter  with fantastic music and you have a real recipe for success. 

Ending with 'Start The Party',( which I had expected them to start with but then again this is The Blackout), they left the stage to cheers and loud applause from the crowd.

I have seen the Blackout play in packed venues such as the MEN Arena and The O2 Academy in Liverpool but seeing them play to a smaller crowd in the club room of the 53 Degrees reminded me why,  no matter what size crowd they play to, they don't just 'Start The Party',  they are the party and they really are 'The Best In Town'!

Review of 2013

Thank you to each and every one of you that has taken the time to look at my little blog since I started it in May. 

Each year for the past few years I have kept a record of the shows that I have been to and the number of individual band sets that I have seen each year.  As a close to the year I thought I would share with you the statistics for 2013.

This year I have attended 33 concerts, 2 one day festivals and 1 weekend festival.  This took me to 18 venues in 10 towns/cities.

All in all I have seen 145 individual band sets with the top three most seen bands being:

Lacey x 10

                                                                            Patent Pending x 7

Fearless Vampire Killers x 5

I have already got a few concerts planned for 2014 and will be bringing you the reviews as soon as the dates come around.  Until then, thank you again for taking the time to read my blog and I wish you and yours a very happy and safe 2014

The Lacey Christmas Show

The Lacey Christmas Show ft. Lacey, White Clouds and Gunfire, I'm A Model Baby and Hello Tomorrow

December 21st , 2013

Rock City Basement

Tonight is the last gig of the year and I have once again travelled down to Nottingham to see Lacey as they headline their Christmas show.

Kicking off tonight is a band by the name of Hello Tomorrow.  They are a very young pop punk band who try their best to get the crowd to join in with them.  Unfortunately a not too brilliant cover of Blink 182's 'Dammit' and a terrible, out of tune cover of Fountains of Wayne's, 'Stacey's Mom' fell as flat as the notes they were singing.

Next up were I'm A Model Baby, a quartet from Nottingham who although they were much livelier than the first band, also did not manage to get the crowd as involved as they should have done.  These guys were in tune though and had a great sound.  I'm A Model Baby will definitely be worth watching again in a few months to see how they have grown and progressed.

There was an obvious shift in the energy of the room when White Clouds and Gunfire took to the stage.  They are a female fronted band and although I don't usually like female fronted bands this one was good.  The five piece band from Peterborough had a great energy and finally got the audience participation that the other two bands had failed to get.

Vocalist Eveline may be petite but her vocals and personality definitely aren't.  

They have a fabulous sound and vibe to them and I will look forward to trying to catch them again next year.

What can I say about headliners Lacey that I have not said before.  It is obvious that they are making a big name for themselves on the local music scene as the audience had pretty much doubled in size by the time they took to the stage. 

Starting their set with a cheeky rendition of Wham's 'Last Christmas', the Nottingham four started things with a bang. 

Their set tonight was packed with old favourites such as 'Let It Go', 'Hometown', 'Contender' and 'Burning Out' as well as a sneak peek at three songs from the new album, which is to be released in 2014, including 'Reach Out', an amended version of 'Reset To Zero' and a beautiful ballad which is as yet untitled.

Lacey left the stage to shouts for an encore and eventually gave in bestowing the crowd with an early Christmas present by bringing back the fans favourite 'Lights Out', which they had officially retired at their EP launch in June at the Bodega. 

This is a beautiful song and it is easy to see why the fans love it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WHsy0NyI3Y

This was a fantastic show to finish the year with and I look forward to seeing more of Lacey next year when they tour the UK in April with Patent Pending and People on Vacation.

A Hell of a Vacation!

People on Vacation

Liz's House and Manchester Academy

November 15th and 18th, 2013

There is a lot of talk in the press at the moment about super groups following the recent announcement of the McBusted tour, but a tour for one super group seems to have been overlooked....

People on Vacation comprises of Jaret Reddick from Bowling for Soup and Ryan Hamilton of Smile Smile and this week I have had the pleasure of seeing them twice under two totally different circumstances.  People on Vacation have hit the UK to play a six date tour consisting of three acoustic house parties in Great Yarmouth, Peterborough and Derby and then three dates with Blue October in Birmingham, Manchester and London.....  and I have been lucky enough to experience one of each!

On Friday we made the four hour journey and travelled down to Peterborough, where hostess Liz had opened her house to the fifty eager fans waiting for the Texas duo.  Unfortunately we missed the start of their set as we encountered very heavy traffic on the way down and I believe we missed 'Lonely Fish' and a rendition of 'Phineas and Ferb', but we did have the pleasure of hearing most of the set including 'It's Not Love', 'Where Do We Go', 'Lonely Chris' (a parody of 'Lonely Fish' dedicated to one of the fans in attendance) and Bowling for Soups latest single, 'Circle'.  

The whole set was an acoustic set and although it was a much smaller venue than they usually play, they sounded great!  The house had a through lounge/kitchen/conservatory and although it was full it was not uncomfortably full. 

After Jaret and Ryan finished their set they joined in the party with the rest of us, chatting and chilling out with everyone who wanted to talk to them.  They also posed for photographs, including posing on the sofa with a young child who had wanted to meet them but had fallen asleep.  Jaret posed as though he had passed out on the sofa and Ryan as though he was about to beat him up.  Luckily the child in question woke up before the end of the party and actually got to meet his idols but I would love to have seen his face the next day when he saw the pictures his parents had staged with Jaret and Ryan.

The party was a great night and it is clear to see why all three of the house parties sold out.  I would not hesitate to attend another house party event. (Thank you Liz for being a great hostess!)

Going to the other end of the spectrum are the three shows supporting Blue October which saw Jaret and Ryan play a full band set with the accompaniment of Rob Lane (Teenage Casket Company) on bass and Michael Richards (Session Drummer) on drums. 

Starting the night with 'Back To Being Friends' and finishing with 'Where Do We Go', we were treated to a similar set to the house party but with all the punch of a full rock set.  Singing songs such as 'I Get You', 'Because Of The Sun', and their latest single 'Lonely Fish', they had the crowd in the palm of their hands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gijqq8f3UEA

Included in the set was the song 'Prettiest Girl' from the album 'The Summer And Fall', which Ryan had been singing each night during the  last UK Bowling for Soup tour, which had been an elaborate plan to propose to girlfriend Holly on the last night of tour.

Between songs we were treated to plenty of banter from Jaret and Ryan.  Whether it's Ryan comparing himself to Erik Chandler (of Bowling for Soup) or Ryan sharing that Jaret tweets while he poops, these guys make you feel as though you are hanging with the cool kids and really make you feel part of the People on Vacation family.

Until tonight I had only ever heard People on Vacation play an acoustic set but hearing them with full band has made me love them even more.  Whether they play acoustic sets or with the full band I will definitely be seeing these guys the next time they are in the UK.

Unfortunately I couldn't say the same for Blue October, as although they were good they were not my cup of tea and we left the set half way through, which turned out to be a good thing as we were able to  chat with Jaret, Ryan, Rob, Michael and Holly, which turned the night from a great night to a fantastic night.

(People On Vacation will be back in the UK for a ten date tour in April 2014, along with Patent Pending and Lacey)

J.D.Roots Picks of 2013

Toy, Young British Artists, The Delaplains and The Mysterians

Manchester Ritz

October 25th, 2013

Tonight's gig took us to the Ritz venue in Manchester to an event hosted by J. D. Roots which showcases their picks of 2013's upcoming local bands.  All four of the bands on the bill were from Manchester and I hadn't heard of any of them until tonight.

 

The whole event was hosted by Jack Daniels and you even received a token for a complimentary drink of JD on entry to the venue.

The first band up tonight were the Mysterians who are a five piece band from Manchester.  I usually don't enjoy female fronted bands as I find many female singers very screechy and high pitched but this lady had a lower tone and was really good. 

The Mysterians had a reggae/ska feel and their upbeat melodies had you tapping along with them.  The song that caught my attention was a song called 'Mr Famous' which had a really bouncy melody and great lyrics.

Next up were The Delaplains who again were another five piece band.  These guys were reminiscent of band such as Oasis and although there wasn't much movement on the stage they played a great set.  Stand out songs included 'Helena' and 'Gypsy Blood'. 

 

Young British Artists were third on the bill and from the look of them I thought we were going to get another ska set, however that was not the case.  The music they played leaned more towards alternative rock, but unfortunately I can't tell you what any of the songs were called as I couldn't make out a single word the lead vocalist said either while he was speaking or singing.  I was really disappointed with this group as the melodies held promise of good lyrics but any lyrics were lost.

Headlining tonight were Toy.  These guys were a little different to anything I had ever seen before, as before they took to the stage they filled it with smoke and so all you saw during the performance were silhouettes against a vibrant light show.

Their set was very different too as most of the songs had good strong lyrics to them but the lyrics were short lived and every song had major instrumental sections.  Stand out songs from Toy were 'Join The Dots' and 'Dead And Gone'.

 

My only criticism of this band was the keyboards were a little too shrill and loud in places and took away the impact of the great guitar lines.

All in all a good night and a I have found a couple of bands that I will be watching out for again in the future.