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<\/a>It\u2019s been 20 years since Camp Kill Yourself first gained recognition through Jackass on our TV screens and there has been a lot of water under the bridge in that time. Following a lengthy hiatus, CKY return, albeit as a two-piece, featuring founding members Chad Ginsburg on vocals\/guitar and drummer Jess Margera.<\/p>\nWith early doors at 6 pm the duo hit the stage at the only-just rock \u2018n\u2019 roll time of 7 pm to a fair-sized crowd, it must be said. To be honest, I\u2019m unfamiliar with most of their material, but they sound pretty cool. Their skate punk\/stoner rock hybrid sound fits the bill nicely, and while I could name 10 young UK bands off the top of my head that would\u2019ve killed for the opening slot on this tour, they hold their own. Originally the guitar player, Chad excels in his role as frontman, peeling off metal-edged licks and technically proficient riffs on his CKY emblazoned Musicman guitar. He\u2019s engaging with the crowd and thankful for the support. The likes of \u2018Attached At The Hip\u2019, \u2018Escape From Hellview\u2019 and the classic set closer \u201996 Quite Bitter Beings\u2019 show a band with punk ethics and technically heavy tunes that are still here to party like its 1999.<\/p>\n
The Backyard Babies closed the show for the German dates. Now, with both bands getting an equal 75 minutes stage time, it\u2019s the sleazy Swedes chance to show The Wildhearts massive what they got going on.<\/p>\n Wrapped up in a hoodie and a leather jacket, Nicke incites the crowd to riot from the off and the packed Academy responds in spades. In skinny jeans, leather waistcoat and a straw boater Dregen is looking more rock \u2018n\u2019 roll than he has in the last few years, and the diminutive guitarist is in fine form. With his custom Gibson E335 hanging from his knees he peels off killer licks, making good use of the stage and plays every solo on his riser, high above the heads of the front few rows. A killer \u2018Nomadic\u2019 follows \u2018Shovin Rocks\u2019, the frontman getting the Academy crowd to sing every chorus with him. Yeah, the newer songs sound a lot better than I imagined to be fair, but it\u2019s not until \u2018Heaven 2.9\u2019 that things really get cooking. The following \u2018Highlights\u2019 sounds amazing before Nicke brings out the dreaded acoustic. An acoustic guitar would not have happened at a \u2018Total 13\u2019 era Backyard Babies gig, right? But hey, that was 2 decades ago and who\u2019s to argue at a singer\/songwriter wanting to channel his inner troubadour? Well, \u2018Painkiller\u2019 is pretty much a Dogs D\u2019amour tune anyways, so I\u2019m cool with that and to be fair it\u2019s a surprise highlight of the main set for me, along with the awesome, Dregen led \u2018Star War\u2019.<\/p>\n If you only made it in time for the 5 song encore you would not have been disappointed. \u2018Look At You\u2019 was a breath of fresh air when it came out back in 1998 and its easily the best tune of their career-spanning set. Even witnessing Nicke take a tumble jumping on his riser during a killer \u2018Minus Celsius\u2019 doesn\u2019t compete for set highlight.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve heard reports that Backyard Babies are not at their best live these days, but for me, they absolutely killed it tonight. They are tight, professional and they know how to put on a high energy rock \u2018n\u2019 roll show. Yes, the setlist could\u2019ve been stronger, and with the addition of a few more classics from \u2018Total 13\u2019 or \u2018Stockholm Syndrome\u2019 they could\u2019ve stolen the show from the headliners tonight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But the headliners are not going to be overshadowed tonight. This is The Wildhearts and this is their gaff! \u00a0Let\u2019s just ease the crowd in gently, shall we? No. Let\u2019s grab \u2018em by the ball sack and twist the fucker till it bleeds! They open with \u2018Everlone\u2019; I\u2019ve never seen them open with that before. The first ace has been played. But this band has so many aces in their pack right? \u2018Diagnosis\u2019 follows, not only is it one of the most important songs (lyrically) in modern history, it has quickly become a live fan favourite. The building AC\/DC\u00a0 riff into that killer refrain, it\u2019s so…dare I say it \u2018classic rock\u2019, and I don\u2019t mean that in a bad way. The first time I heard it, it was like I\u2019ve always known it.<\/p>\n The band is on fire, Ginger is remarkably happy after a few days climbing the walls in Germany with no weed and (as he later informs us) nursing a major hangover. The singer, CJ, and Danny all take to the mics and interact throughout the set between songs. And what songs!\u00a0 \u2018Vanilla Radio\u2019, \u2018…Shitsville\u2019 and newbie \u2018Let Em Go\u2019 fly by in no time at all, the packed room singing every word back to the grinning frontman. Ginger and CJ giving multiple opportunities for photographers to capture the elusive jump shot.<\/p>\n It\u2019s great to see \u2018The Revolution Will Be Televised\u2019 back in the set; personally I would love to hear more from that era. But then \u2018Dislocated\u2019 takes the energy levels up a notch or two. The intensity of this song live is up there with the feeling I got watching \u2018Suckerpunch\u2019 live for the first time, and that is a good thing to witness. \u2018My Kinda Movie\u2019 is a welcome addition to the set this time around; again, the intensity of this song live is so, so good.<\/p>\n Encore time \u2018Geordie In Wonderland\u2019 is sung probably louder than any other time I can imagine and the closing \u2018My Baby Is A Headfuck\u2019 is as good a way to bow out as any other.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Backyard Babies stroll on stage to massive cheers as oversized blue police lights flash, outlining their silhouettes in the dark. Photographers in the pit fight for the elusive killer shot, as frontman Nicke Borg and livewire guitarist Dregen, jump on their respective ego risers stage front and kick into \u2018Good Morning Midnight\u2019 from last year\u2019s return to form album \u2018Sliver and Gold\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>With a bruised ego and a battered Gretsch, the singer continues like a pro and doesn\u2019t even change guitar for the closing one-two of \u2018Brand New Hate\u2019 and \u2018People Like People Like People Like Us\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n