STONE BROKEN RE-ISSUE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM – ‘ALL IN TIME’ – AVAILABLE OCTOBER 11TH

STONE BROKEN RE-ISSUE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM – ‘ALL IN TIME’ – AVAILABLE OCTOBER 11TH

FEATURING 6 UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS, INCLUDING 2019 VERSION OF ‘WAIT FOR YOU’

REMASTERED AUDIO

REVISED & EXPANDED ARTWORK as the band head out on tour to support Black Star Riders.

Stone Broken officially re-issue ‘All In Time’, the debut album that started it all back in 2016.

Previously only available as a low-key digital release and limited CD merch item, ‘All In Time’ will now finally be available with revised artwork and lovingly remastered audio, along with expanded liner notes and premium physical packaging, including song lyrics and band reflections.

Additionally, fans will receive 6 never-before-released bonus tracks, including a stunning 2019 recording of fan anthem ‘Wait For You’, featuring strings by The Bristol Ensemble. SB chose to re-visit ‘Wait For You’ to spotlight its significance to their ever-growing fan-base, The Broken Army, who have effectively taken ownership of both the sentiment and the song, using it to celebrate key moments of happiness and as a source of hope in more reflective times.

All In Time 2019 will be released by Spinefarm on CD / DL / LP, with the vinyl version carrying a download card so all of the bonus content can be included.

 

Stone Broken frontman, Rich Moss, says: – 

“‘All In Time’ wasn’t just a stepping stone for us, it wasn’t just our debut record… it literally changed our lives! When we were writing the album, I don’t think any of us realised just how important it was going to be. We released it independently, and within the first couple of hours, the CD stocks had all sold out! We managed to tour right across the UK and Europe and gain some incredible fans and friends along the way! We feel now is the right moment to put ‘All In Time’ back into production and to let people have a piece of our history”

Pre-order your copy Here:

Having just completed a highly successful run of European shows with Black Stone Cherry, Stone Broken – completed by Chris Davis (lead guitars), Kieron Conroy (bass) & Robyn Haycock (drums) – will play a 14-date tour of the UK & Ireland this October as Special Guests to Black Star Riders. Wayward Sons are also on the bill.

Tour dates w/ Black Star Riders

Thu 10th    Oct       O2 Academy, Bristol

Fri 11th      Oct       Corn Exchange, Cambridge

Sat 12th     Oct       O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

Sun 13th    Oct       William Aston Hall, Wrexham

Wed 16th  Oct       Academy, Dublin *

Thu 17th    Oct       Limelight, Belfast *

Sat  19th    Oct       O2 Academy, Newcastle

Sun 20th    Oct       Rock City, Nottingham

Tues 22nd  Oct           De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill

Wed 23rd  Oct       O2 Academy,  Bournemouth

Thu 24th    Oct       University Great Hall, Cardiff

Fri 25th      Oct       KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

Sat 26th     Oct       O2 Academy, Leeds

Sun 27th    Oct       O2 Ritz, Manchester

KINGS X and TROPE kick off their UK shows on 17th September.

KINGS X and TROPE kick off their UK shows on 17th September.

The tour starts the build-up to the release of the long-awaited new album from KINGS X which is due early spring next year.

Supporting the band is LA’s TROPE. Trope’s music has been likened to A Perfect Circle and Tool with female vocals, their sound falling into the Art-Rock genre. Their ‘music first’ focus pairs with the group’s sound, which is quite progressive.

17 Sept Wales Cardiff Tramshed Cardiff
18 Sept UK Nottingham Rescue Rooms
20 Sept UK Holmfirth The Picturedrome, Holmfirth
21 Sept UK Gateshead Sage Gateshead – Hall 2
22 Sept Scotland Glasgow The Garage
24 Sept UK Manchester Manchester Academy 2
25 Sept UK Wolverhampton KK’S Steel Mill – Live Music
27 Sept UK Cambridge Cambridge Junction
28 Sept UK Norwich The Waterfront Norwich
29 Sept UK London Islington Assembly Hall

KING’S X online:
www.kingsxrocks.com
www.facebook.com/kingsxfanpage
www.twitter.com/kingsx
www.instagram.com/kingsxofficial

FRANK TURNER – ANNOUNCES 9 DATE UK HEADLINE TOUR

FRANK TURNER – ANNOUNCES 9 DATE UK HEADLINE TOUR

 

 

Tickets and pre-sales Here

NEW ALBUM ‘NO MAN’S LAND’- OUT AUGUST 16TH 2019
Details for a 9 date UK headline tour – including two dates at London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre on November 30 and December 3, 2019 – in support of his forthcoming eighth album, ‘NO MAN’S LAND’ (out August 16th on Xtra Mile Recordings/Polydor Records). Produced by Catherine Marks and featuring an all-female cast of musicians, ‘No Man’s Land’ is dedicated to the fascinating stories of women whose incredible lives have all too often been overlooked by dint of their gender. The album is accompanied by a new 13 part podcast series, ‘Tales From No Man’s Land’ (created in collaboration with Somethin’ Else), which hit #2 on the Apple UK podcast chart upon launch. Tickets for the UK headline tour will go on sale on July 19, with a special fan pre-sale via Frank’s store – https://store.frank-turner.com/.

The tour dates will see Turner put a new twist on his formidable live set up, featuring a solo set followed by an unplugged band performance in seated venues. Speaking about the format, Frank says; “For this tour, I thought it would be good to give the new album some proper attention, so the first set of mine of the night will be a solo run through some of those songs and stories; once the Souls are up with me, we’re playing around with a slightly more stripped back, thoughtful folk approach to some of the older material, which feels different and powerful. Looking forward to sharing a slightly different show with everyone for this run.”

The women featured on ‘No Man’s Land’ come from across wide geographical and historical lines. They include Byzantine princess Kassiani (The Hymn of Kassiani), Egyptian feminist activist Huda Sha’arawi (The Lioness), and Resusci Anne (Rescue Annie) an apocryphal drowned virgin whose face was used as the model for the medical CPR mannequin across the world. There’s the serial killer from the Deep South who plucked her victims from lonely hearts pages (Nannie Doss), the jazz-obsessed heiress who fought for the Free French (Nica Rothschild) and a rowdy coach house landlady from 17th century Camden Town accused of witchcraft (Jinny Bingham).

“It’s bringing together my two main interests in life, which have always been separate from each other – history and songwriting,” explains Turner, who can be found seeking out long-forgotten historical sites on self-guided psychogeographical strolls when he’s not packing out arenas or headlining festivals.

IDLES announce short tour for December

IDLES announce short tour for December

IDLES today announce a short tour for December – including their biggest headlining date yet on Saturday, 7th December at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Tue 3 Dec Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom
Wed 4 Dec Manchester, Academy
Thu 5 Dec Leeds, O2 Academy
Sat 7 Dec London, Alexandra Palace

Tickets will go on sale this Friday 28th June at 9:30 AM BST but fans can gain access to artist pre-sale on Wednesday 26th June 9:30 AM BST by signing up at https://www.idlesband.com

 


Tickets will go on sale this Friday 28th June at 9:30 AM BST but fans can gain access to artist pre-sale on Wednesday 26th June 9:30 AM BST by signing up at https://www.idlesband.com

With their last shows selling out in minutes IDLES wanted to give as many fans as possible an opportunity to acquire tickets to celebrate what has been an incredible year. Tickets will be limited to 4 per person.

The band will also be working with Big Green Coach to provide a return coach service for fans to travel safely to and from the Alexandra Palace show. There will be services ran from Bristol, Bournemouth, Reading, Southampton and Swindon and tickets will be available direct from: https://www.biggreencoach.co.uk/idles

The band’s latest release “Mercedes Marxist” is currently A-listed at 6 Music and will be released physically on August 2nd as a 7″. The single will include another new song on its B-side, entitled “I Dream Guillotine.” Both tracks were written and recorded during the band’s sessions for “Joy as an Act of Resistance.” and pre-orders are available HERE.

 

More info:
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Dboy/The Vega Bodegas/Nigel – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach – 14th May 2019

Dboy/The Vega Bodegas/Nigel – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach – 14th May 2019

I know what you’re thinking,” just who the fuck are Dboy?”

I thought exactly the same when just a few days before this gig I was instructed by the one and only Simon Phillips (yes he of Cheap Sweaty Fun fame) that I had to go to this show at all costs, “this band are the new Turbonegro” he boldly claimed, ”yeah Turbonegro or The Dead Boys”.

High praise indeed I’m sure you will agree…. but most importantly he had me intrigued.

A couple of Bandcamp listens later (I’ll never truly understand the anti-streaming brigade like multi-millionaire Steve Lukather I really won’t) and I’ve secured a ticket for tonight’s show, the last on the band’s debut UK visit. £6 is all it cost me and I feel like Charlie Bucket as I bowl up to Clwb Ifor sixth sensing I’m about to witness something very special indeed.

Also on the bill tonight are two local supports; Nigel, who plough a late 80s early 90s alt rock furrow seemingly intent of making me dig out my Chuck Mosely era Faith No More LPs when I get back home, by splicing the agit punk undertones of that band with some of the more “out there moments” from Pearl Jam into one glorious cacophony of sound. Plus there’s The Vega Bodegas who take the influence gene pool of their predecessors and add a twist of the pop suss of Grunge complete with the dry sense of humour that only growing up in the south Wales valleys can gift you. ‘Complete History of Witchcraft’ which comes complete with frontman/guitarist Jimmy telling a seemingly true story of sitting next to a witch on an Easyjet flight is for me the highlight of the band’s uber tight set. Before a frenzied ‘Monkey Ate The Monkey’ also sees Nigel re-join the band on stage for one last foray into the mosh pit. I can’t help but wonder what chaos these two might be able to conjure up if they were ever to head off on a tour of the UK’s fast diminishing smaller live venues.

The delights of which tonight’s headliners have been experiencing for themselves this past week or so, but then again when you have escaped the Gulags of Russia just to be able to deliver your debut record, I’m sure stomaching a few motorway breakfasts will seem like a dawdle by comparison.

Granted the Soviet refugees decamped to Canada back story that Dboy trade on might be bending the truth just a little bit, but the trio’s mission statement regarding “ending sonic austerity” is one we should all buy into. I mean just yards away there is a venue promoting tribute bands like they are the live music scene’s one and only salvation, and that brothers and sisters I can assure you they are fucking not, bands like Dboy are the salvation and their debut album   ‘Prove Your Love – Live in Belem’ is one I demand you all go out and buy! It’s brilliant in its ability to stun the listener.

Hitting the stage (okay make that floor) with their sublime ‘Dboy for President’ single, I’m immediately mindful of that original comparison Mr Phillips made regarding the mighty Turbonegro. Yes they sound like them (well early days Turbo anyway), yes they have an instantly recognisable image and yes they also have a horde of insane fans (all wearing balaclavas) who seemingly worship the band.  There’s no messing around either as the band take us on a rip ride of 13 songs in what must have been 20 minutes maximum, and as the masked bass player launches himself into his devoted Scouts (that’s what the band’s fans like to be known as) I can’t help adding the muthafucking Dwarves to the list of influences Dboy display.

Special mention must go to the band’s masked drummer who not only hammers his kit like he’s on a hand forging episode of Forged in Fire but also somehow manages to out mince the king of mincing the legendary Pål Pot Pamparius in the process.

Finishing with the double whammy of ‘Born With A Hard On’ and the awesome ‘Three Piece Band’ before then trashing their backline and this ensuring no encore, tonight once again reinforced the fact that great live bands playing original music are still out there, you just need to do the digging, or have your mates do it for you.

Simon Phillips, I owe you one.

Author: Johnny Hayward

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The Hip Priests / DC Spectres / Deathtraps / Red Light Syndrome – Le Pub Newport 11/05/19

The Hip Priests / DC Spectres / Deathtraps / Red Light Syndrome – Le Pub Newport 11/05/19

This one has long been on the list of must-attend no excuses shows.  Regardless of what else might be on a few miles away as tonight Matthew the hills are alive with the sound of music.  But, there was only one place RPM Online was going to be. With all due respect to other venues in the region and other events taking place this was the only Rodeo we were interested in.

First up – Red Light Syndrome. Ably led by Craigy Rees on vocals and guitar this four-piece are somewhere between Husker du, Lemonheads and early Soul Asylum and to be fair they have crafted some really excellent songs that on first listen sound epic. Opening with ‘Stop’ the quality and passion were evident. In their brief set, they managed to impress those clued up people wise enough to come to see all the bands on offer and it’s obvious they have an understanding of the music that inspired them to put these chords together and write music. Bands like The Replacements spring to mind – sure it’s early in proceedings to lay such mammoth role models upon them but if you’re going to aspire to anyone it might as well be the best in the genre. The excellent ‘See Things Through’ was a highlight much like the closing ‘6 Feet Bellow’ and ‘Heartburn’ what a great opener.

Deathtraps.  what can I say about the band who I’ve seen more than my own kids recently – everywhere I go they seem to be as well (not that I’m complaining mind), getting on the bill of some great shows lately and every time I see them they improve on the last time to be fair.  (Regardless of that being the night before in this case but you know what I mean) With a decent crowd in front of them, they get to work on demolishing some of their finest tunes (and a few new ones to boot).  To be fair the band are hot (not in that way) – na, make that red hot at the moment and playing all these shows are turning people onto their uncompromising Action Rock and Roll as they hammer it home. It’s good that Both Fraser and VJ share vocal duties to mix it up as they motor through the setlist lurching from the bulldozer punk rock not quite as speedy as a Zeke more your Rocket From The Crypt with some of the chord-heavy chops like the outstanding ‘Cool Kids’ which again sounds excellent.  I can assure you that Rock and Roll isn’t anywhere near dead with bands like this knocking it out and playing plenty of shows with a variety of bands will win them an ever-increasing following. More of the same next time, please (which I’m sure won’t be far away).

DC Spectres are on next and a twist on the Rock and Roll melon man with their garage fuzz fix high on the menu. With the heat in the venue meaning the walls are perspiring its nice to relax with some Psych fuzzed up surf punk (if there’s such a genre).  Imagine The Fuzztones jamming on The Cramps inspired by those Stooges and your somewhere in the same ballpark.  As the set got going they really hit their groove and for about ten minutes they were on fire until the dreaded technical hitch sidelined them briefly. Those damned guitar string breaks and the momentum is halted. By the time the band have regrouped and got going again, there wasn’t enough time to regain the same momentum  I do think they did enough in half an hour to impress the ever crowd that had gathered and joined them on their journey. The highlights were  ‘Later Than You Think’ and a new song I believe was called ‘I Gotta Know’ Which was most excellent.  I look forward to seeing them again and what they come up with to follow up the excellent ‘Vibrations’ album.

So, onto tonight’s headliners The Hip Priests.  what can possibly be said that hasn’t already been splurged over the internet about our favourite east Midlands fuck ups?  Now with brand new six-stringer Ben in situ? I took my place and waited for the sonic solution to all this turmoil around us in society. As I waited to have my hearing interfered with by an hour of the finest Rock and Fucking Roll I was pleased that there was a good turnout considering everything else that was happening in a ten-mile radius of the ‘Port these boys deserve it for always playing South Wales even when South Wales hasn’t turned out in force – maybe the tide is turning and these fucking boys finally get the kudos they thoroughly deserve.

Anyway.  tonight begins with a tsunami of sound washing over the attendees but with no lifevests needed as we were all going down together this latest incarnation of the Hip Priests sounds absofuckin’lutely huge! I kid you not. With their best album under their belts, they have every reason to attack these shows with a cocksure swagger (not that it’s stopped them before mind) but this time seems different – if they could bottle this it would be lethal.  I’ve said it many times before and I’ll keep on saying it – when you see some bands getting great tour slots and people falling over the sound of some plodding rock like its the second coming of The Stones or the New Stooges has finally arrived it’s one of those scratch your head times as to how can’t others see or hear what you hear. ‘Stand For Nothing’ is the finest loud record recorded by any band on Shit Island in a decade – no question about it. Whilst their audience is slowly growing I can’t believe it’s not exploding.

Anyway, with the dual lead guitar swinging on either side of the stage the band aren’t fucking about and get on with the job of leathering the shit out of the new album. Sparks fly and song after song spills forth from their instruments. from the minute ‘Motherfucker Superior’ attacks you it’s like your being chased down by a pack of rabid dogs such is the ferocity of this current line up.

It’s great to hear some fresh new songs sprinkled throughout the set as ‘Stand For Nothing’, ‘Shit Island’ and ‘Social Hand Grenade’ blend in seamlessly much like the new youf on guitar.  With Oz and Ben things seem like they are pushing each other with each song to be better than the last one and they’re rising to the challenge and it seems to have worked superbly well. Weaving in and out of the songs new and old. ‘Deja FU’ and then ‘Cheers To Me’ was a particular high point in the set which only left ‘Sonic Reproducer’ of in the main set.

The audience felt it and I’m sure the band felt it there was something a little different tonight something a bit special was happening and when Von Cruz offered an extra number be it Iggy or Hip Priest original it was the original Hip Priests song that got a louder cheer surely it was a sign?  I don’t know what for but I’m sure Lee Love was seen smiling which must be a sign so get out of here and get excited because when the Hip Priests come to your town – which they will do then you make sure you’re there and you’re ready – now, people of Shit Island and further afield what are you going to stand For? Stand for Rock and Fucking Roll and Stand for The Hip Fucking Priests who’s time is now, Right Now!

Author: Dom Daley

 

Press Club / Human Heat / PeachFuzz -Clwb Ifor Bach. Wednesday, 08 May 2019

Press Club / Human Heat / PeachFuzz -Clwb Ifor Bach. Wednesday, 08 May 2019

As part of Alt-Rockers Press Clubs European Tour their Cardiff date was the final headline show on the tour and opening tonight are PeachFuzz who are a three-piece band from Bridgend and are the vehicle for the excellent songsmith that is Adam Jones.  tonight they open up with a short but sweet burst through their box of excellently crafted songs such as ‘Where Do I Stand’ and ‘Kicking My Heart Around’ and the audience warms to their craft as Adam shows that its not only the likes of Bob Mould or Evan Dando who can write great alternative music and turn the guitars up just as they were hitting their stride with ‘Down To Me’ and ‘Lets Get Healed’ it was time to call it a night but I’m sure anyone in the audience who was new to their songs would have been impressed with what they heard.

Next up were human Heat and their alternative tunes – again a three-piece again influenced by the American College scene of Dinosaur Jr and Husker Du but quite different to Peachfuzz the band alternated between the two vocalists for their Emo screamo tunage. There seemed to be a lot of Against Me happening at times as well as big dollops of Taking Back Thursday but whilst they went down well it wasn’t really my thing at all.

Then came the headliners led by the hyperactive  Natalie Foster who couldn’t stand still and led from the front with a wonderful voice full of passion and conviction.  She drew every ounce out of her performance as she worked the room really well. the band sounded like a band who’d been on the road a while and were comfortable with their surroundings as they crashed through songs like the rush of ‘Let It Fall’ or the anthemic ‘Crash’ but the band have enough catchy songs that will see them a success and the obvious work ethic that sees them travel halfway around the world to entertain a room full of strangers in Cardiff.

Seemingly genuinely chuffed that people are into what they are about and singing along to songs like the epic ‘My Bodys Changing’ and the excellent ‘Suburbia’ the album ‘Late Teens’ was obviously well represented and for the hour on stage they showed a hunger and passion for the music that was infectious and a joy to behold.  I’m sure the next time they sweep through South Wales it won’t be in the small room of Clwb Ifor on a school night it’ll be a much bigger room regardless of what night of the week.  Great effort guys see you again no doubt.

 

 

 

Author: Dom Daley

Bandcamp: Press Club

Bandcamp: Human Heat

Bandcamp: Peachfuzz

Rolling Stones Re-Scheduled Tour Dates Announced!

Rolling Stones Re-Scheduled Tour Dates Announced!

Re-scheduled the Rolling Stones US and Canada tour dates. As of today, we are delighted to announce the new dates and all of the cities from the previous postponed shows are locked in, starting at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 21st and including a brand new date in New Orleans!

 

JUNE 2019

21 – Soldier Field CHICAGO, IL

25 – Soldier Field CHICAGO, IL

29 – Burl’s Creek ONTARIO, CANADA

JULY 2019

03 – FedExField WASHINGTON, DC

07 – Gillette Stadium FOXBORO, MA 

14 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome NEW ORLEANS, LA**

19 – TIAA Bank Field JACKSONVILLE, FL 

23 – Lincoln Financial Field PHILADELPHIA, PA 

27 – NRG Stadium HOUSTON, TX 

AUGUST 2019

01 – MetLife Stadium EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (original date was Jun 13)

05 – MetLife Stadium EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (original date was Jun 17)

10 – Broncos Stadium at Mile High DENVER, CO 

14 – CenturyLink Field SEATTLE, WA 

18 – Levi’s® Stadium SANTA CLARA, CA

22 – The Rose Bowl PASADENA, CA 

26 – State Farm Stadium GLENDALE, AZ 

31 – Hard Rock Stadium MIAMI, FL

 

Tickets sold for the original date will be honoured – fans do not need to exchange their tickets. Those who cannot attend the re-scheduled date can refund their tickets by accessing their Ticketmaster account. For transferred tickets, the refund will go to the fan who originally bought the tickets, once they have been transferred back. You can contact Ticketmaster here.

**Tickets for New Orleans will go on general sale Friday May 31, at 10am (local time). The pre-sale for the Rolling Stones mailing list will run from 10amon Wednesday May 29 to 10pm on Thursday May 30 (local time).

We apologise again for any inconvenience the re-scheduling of these dates may have caused you and hope to see you at a show very soon!

The Wildhearts/Massive Wagons/Towers Of London – Leeds, Stylus – 11th May 2019

The Wildhearts/Massive Wagons/Towers Of London – Leeds, Stylus – 11th May 2019

 

 

The Wildhearts are riding on the crest of a wave right now. ‘Renaissance Men’, their first album in 10 years is an absolute monster, it’s currently at number 11 in the album charts and at least 3 of these 8 dates to promote it are already sold out.

It’s not just a good time to be a Wildheart either; it’s a good time to be a Wildhearts fan. With a sizeable chunk of the back catalogue getting re-mastered and re-issued on deluxe vinyl and the promise of plenty more dates this year, it is also an expensive time to be a Wildhearts fan, but we wouldn’t want it any other way would we? In 2019, there is more interest and more excitement about this band than I can ever remember.

Re-united and re-invigorated, the classic line-up of The Wildhearts is back, but are they back for good? Only time will tell. While this current wave of excitement could open doors and see great opportunities for a band who, let’s face it, have certainly paid their dues, I keep getting this niggling feeling that it could all go drastically tits up at any moment. So let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

Talking of things going tits up… fuckin’ Towers Of London are back! Where the hell did that come from?  The original line-up that recorded the most excellent debut album ‘Blood, Sweat & Towers’ and then proceeded to burn out in a blaze of arrests and fisticuffs, are back together. There’s new music on the way too, they have unfinished business to attend to. What a time to be a rock ‘n’ roll fan!

Donny Tourette and the boys take to the stage with air raid sirens blaring and fire straight into ‘I’m A Rat’. It sounds fuckin’ ace! Dressed in matching black boiler suits and shorn of the gravity-defying hair of ten years ago, they may look a bit different, but with a newly reinstated The Rev delivering cool licks and a bare-chested Snell bashing seven shades of shit out of his kit, the band are on fire and looking like they really mean it.

While Donny’s nonchalant punk attitude is more Gallagher than Iggy, the delivery is still fantastic. ‘Beaujolais’ is punked-up to the max goodness, and newbie ‘Get Yourself Out Of Here’ with its chanting chorus and sleazy delivery is full of the right kind of attitude, it promises much for the new album.

A blistering version of ‘Fuck It Up’ surely silences any non-believers in the room and ends a high energy set from a band that is truly back to their best form.

While Towers Of London are not the fucked up kids of yesteryear, they have matured, learned a few things, but still have that edginess I desire from sleazy punk rock. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, no one can deny they were spot on tonight.

Whether they’ve got the new songs to rival the likes of the fantastic ‘Air Guitar’ or ‘On A Noose’ we will see, but I for one can’t wait to find out. Bring on new music, headline gigs and world domination then.

Now, if someone could please explain the appeal of Massive Wagons I would be most grateful, as I don’t get them at all. I’ve tried, but they are just not for me. A band fronted by a diminutive Game Of Thrones extra who sounds like Biff Byford, backed by a band who look like they scan your shopping in Aldi, call me fussy but…

Joking aside, in a live setting I can’t really fault them. They have energy, I’ll give them that much. Baz is an animated frontman and a loveable character, who can work a crowd and The Wildhearts crowd seems to love them. But that’s not enough. It would probably be ok if they had the songs, but for me, Massive Wagons just don’t have the songs, pure and simple.

I’ve seen them live several times now and my opinion hasn’t changed. I’m afraid to say I head for the bar not long into their set. Most Massive Wagons reviews I’ve read are positive, with many citing them ‘retro’. Me, I cite them ‘dated’. And in my defence I present their closing song ‘Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum’ as evidence, the cheesiest song I’ve heard in many years, and on that note I rest my case.

In all my years of seeing Wildhearts live shows, I can honestly say I have never seen a bad one, come to think of it I have never seen even an average live performance from Ginger and co, whatever the line-up has been.

Tonight is no exception, in fact tonight is probably the best I have seen them. It’s up there with the hot and sweaty Bristol Bierkeller show of ’94, its as heavy and loud as Edinburgh and Glasgow were in 2004, and it’s even as euphoric as the Chutzpah! show in Leeds 10 years ago.

From the moment Ginger cranks out that opening riff to ‘Dislocated’, the place goes nuts. Such a great response to a new song. A relentless cacophony of riffs and melodies that has the pit bouncing as one, signaling that this brand new song is already classed as a fan favourite.

It leads perfectly into ‘Everlone’, ‘Vanilla Radio’ and ‘Suckerpunch’ all delivered in quick succession, leaving no time to talk or even breathe. Going with the theme of ‘Renaissance Men’ it is a well chosen, heavy set of songs tonight. Mixing it up nicely, there are a few surprises in amongst the usual live favourites. ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ and ‘Jackson Whites’ are especially awesome and even ‘Urge’, which I imagined would be a disjointed mess, actually sounds amazing.

Bearing in mind that most people have only had ‘Renaissance Men’ in their ears for a week, the new songs get a great response. ‘Let ‘em Go’ was always going to go down well, it’s got a stadium-sized chorus that is up there with their finest hits. But it is ’Diagnosis’ that probably gets the best response of the whole night. What a fucking tune live! The way they build that AC/DC style riff to gain momentum, before releasing that main hook on an unsuspecting crowd, who in turn go absolutely bat-shit crazy for it. It’s a great feeling being right in the middle of the chaos for the duration. Like being a teenager discovering live music for the first time, all over again.

The band seems truly invigorated and on fire. Ginger and CJ’s vocals are spot on and the pair are full of energy, bashing out riffs and jumping in unison, giving photographers every opportunity to capture that elusive jump shot.

With bassist Danny McCormack now fit enough to make it through a whole set without needing his stool is a big, big thing. The loveable Geordie with a big heart and an even bigger bass sound just brings something special to The Wildhearts and it’s a joy to see him back where he belongs.

Post encore, the band mime through a version of ‘The Renaissance Men’ which is being videoed for a commercial single release on each night of the tour. Bit weird for all concerned, but the show doesn’t suffer or lose momentum.

A five-song encore is pretty good value at any show and with the likes of ‘Mazel  Tov Cocktail’, ‘My Baby Is A Headfuck’ and ‘I Wanna Go Where The People Go’  rounding the evening off nicely, who could ask for more?

 

Where The Wildhearts go from here is anyone’s guess, but my advice is to go out of your way, sell your children or steal money if you have to, but whatever you do, do not miss The Wildhearts live right now, as they are on top of their game.

 

Buy Renaissance Men HERE

Author: Ben Hughes

Photographs: Neil Vary