Category: Music

Airbourne – Glasgow Barrowlands

Airbourne - Glasgow Barrowlands 8
Airbourne – Glasgow

[Complete collection of photos in this Flickr set]

Airbourne are a band I’m familiar with and know a few songs by, but don’t know a lot about. One thing I can tell you after this gig is that they are one incredible live act!

They do often get compared to AC/DC for a variety of reasons and I would be tempted to go that direction. Their sound is similar and they focus on one key figure in the band. OK, kind of. Lead guitarist and singer Joel O’Keeffe is like Angus Young and Brian Johnson wrapped up together in one rock’n’roll shaped package.

Within three songs, Joel was walking around the crowd having walked off the side of the stage. No bouncers or security (more about those arseholes later), just a man and a guitar wandering around a sell-out crowd and jumping on a bar for a drink. He got carried around shoulder-high by a couple of fans for some time, making his way back to the stage.

Towards the end, Joel smashed a few cans of lager on his head, the crowd rocked and all was good with the world.

For me, a gig needs three things – a good band, good sound and a good crowd. Airbourne had these in spades. I’ve yet to be let down by a Glasgow crowd at a gig. Always up for it!

Someone needs to feed something down to the Showsec trolls at the front though. I had a run-in with one of these neanderthals twenty years ago when I was at Barrowlands to see Megadeth. I was dragged by the hair (I had some then) into a back room by some huge brute who threatened to break my legs and kick me out if I dared to crowdsurf again.

This time round, as Joel is telling the crowd to climb on each other’s shoulders, crowdsurf, slam – whatever – the “security” ******* were busy telling people to stop and threatening to throw them out if they didn’t obey.

So, basically, twenty years go by and Barrowlands still haven’t been able to find staff that have the slightest idea of what people having fun looks like. Quite how they’ve managed to stay in this black hole when nearby venues such as the Academy and the Garage cope perfectly well is beyond me.

Basically, an awesome gig by a fantastic live act spoiled by a small number of complete cocks. Who were being paid to be there.

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All That Remains / Soilwork – Glasgow Garage

Soilwork
Soilwork

Another quickie review. I think there were actually five bands on the bill, though my ticket “only” lists four. I missed Bleed From Within, but caught the last 3-4 songs by Caliban. They were OK, nothing special, but the last song was ace. Shame I have no idea what it was!

Soilwork

Possibly the only Swedish band I’ve ever seen live (possibly not, as well) and the second time I’ve caught them. Last time was 4-5 years ago at my first Graspop festival in Belgium when they were touring in support of their Stabbing The Drama album.

They put in a solid performance and had the crowd bouncing. The best tracks of the night – and the most welcomed – did seem to be from the aforementioned album, though. This was their breakthrough release and is certainly the one I know the best.

Good set, nice guys and it certainly had me wanting to go home and re-listen to their stuff.

All That Remains
All That Remains

All That Remains

“Apparently there’s some problems with snow. We’re from Massachusetts. That’s a ******* sprinkle out there!”

And thus began a very impressive headlining set indeed. Due to technical problems (I think) and the number of bands playing, All That Remains didn’t get a particularly long show which is a shame. I’ve not seen them before, but what I did see impressed me.

Philip Labonte is a great frontman. All posing, great rapport with the crowd and a fantastic vocal range. Standout, though was Oli Herbert. This is a man who was obviously constrained by the small stage size. It was like watching a wildcat in playpen, or a small child bouncing around during a world Ritalin shortage. This is a man who would be all over the place on a large festival stage.

They played a varied set, and I recognised quite a few tracks as I’ve had a couple of the albums in the car over the last few weeks. What I really like about ATR is that they’re not ashamed to mix three styles of music in a single song, let alone across one album.

None of the bands were ones I’m a massive fan of, but they are ones I listen to. Listening to them live was a great experience, though. Definitely worth the trip into Glasgow and the hairy drive home.

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Exodus – Glasgow G2

[Photos from the gig are in this Flickr set]

My first time in the little dingy basement of the Glasgow Garage, and my second seeing Exodus. One of the original Big Four, starting in the Bay Area at the same time as Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica they just never seemed to catch the wave those four did. Anthrax seemed to take their place, which is a shame. There should have been a Big Five. Or they should have superseded Metallica.

I only caught the last song by Man Must Die as I got to the venue (a Slayer cover), then stood near the front barrier reading HG Wells‘ The Invisible Man on my phone while I waited for the headliners. Yes, I’m old. I also don’t know anyone to go to gigs with!

The band were greeted to chants of “Gary Holt!”, the only founding member still in Exodus and they kicked off. For a small crowd, there was a lot of action and things got nice and violent early on. Unfortunately, the sound’s definitely not as good in G2 as it is upstairs in the Garage proper, but things were fun regardless.

I’d also say that the set needed more old **** for the fogies like me in the crowd. If I’m right, the only really old stuff they did was “Bonded By Blood” and “Fabulous Disaster“, and the usual encore track “Toxic Waltz” was skipped entirely from the set.

What made the gig was the band’s banter with the crowd. The night took a haggis-based turn (similarly to Bowling For Soup the other week) when Rob Dukes mentioned that the bandhad never tried it. He requested one be brought to the band’s next show, whenever that would be, for them to try.

Two tracks later and one of the venue staff, I believe, handed him a polystyrene container from one of the many takeaways on Sauchiehall Street. The haggis had arrived! As Dukes and the guys ate it, the crowd broke into a chant of “Haggis Supper!”. Tom Hunting added a drum beat, the guitars kicked in and Dukes provided vocals.

I document here Dukes’ promise that the track “Haggis Supper” would be the bonus on their next studio album. Myself and the crowd from the G2 expect him to keep this promise!

Despite the lack of material I was hugely familiar with, this was a night of good, friendly, violent fun. As it should be.

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Random 15 Music Meme

I got this one from Beth (awesome blog – please check it out!) via facebook. I’m popping it on there and also on this blog for those of you who have not yet succumbed to Zuckerberg‘s evil invention.

1. Turn on your mp3 player, ipod or the music player on your computer.

2. Go to shuffle songs mode.

3. Write down the first 15 songs that come up, song title and artist, no editing/cheating please

4. Choose 15 people to be tagged.

Either drop me a note/link to your list on your blog in the comments, or do the facebook version. That is, go to the “Notes” tab on your profile page, click “Write a note”,  paste these instructions in the body of the note, enter your 15 shuffle songs, tag 15 people under the post then click publish.

  1. Paradise Lost – Your Own Reality
  2. Kiss/Peter Criss – You Matter To Me
  3. System Of A Down – Attack
  4. The Wildhearts – Splattermania
  5. Megadeth – Disconnect
  6. Cavalera Conspiracy – Must Kill
  7. The Calling – Unstoppable
  8. Megadeth – Symphony of Destruction
  9. Hayseed Dixie – Donkeys in Morocco
  10. Death – Killing Spree
  11. REO Speedwagon – Ridin’ The Storm Out
  12. T’Pau – Heart and Soul
  13. Slipknot – Liberate (live)
  14. Norther – **** You
  15. Kiss – No No No
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Annihilator – Glasgow Garage, Nov 14th 2010

Annihilator, Glasgow Garage 6
Annihilator, Glasgow Garage

[Photos: Flickr set for the gig]

Just a quickie little review of a great little show. The last time I saw Annihilator (in fact I think the last time they were in the UK) was around 20 years ago. I saw them opening for Judas Priest on their Painkiller tour at Newcastle City Hall. If memory serves, they were touring on their second album Never, Neverland. I was with Jon Toward and we were late so missed them hitting the stage.

This time I arrived about ten minutes before they came on. Just enough time to wait at the bar, fail to be served and save myself four quid. Bargain.

In honesty, I was a little taken aback by Jeff Waters‘ lack of hair. As I said, I’ve not seem them in 20 years, even if I have kept up with the music! The sound was excellent, though, and the crowd very receptive although it was nowhere near a packed house. Plenty of room to move around and get some good photos.

I’m old (school), so was waiting for the material that matched my wrinkles. I wasn’t disappointed with a great variety of it amongst some of the newer stuff. “King of the Kill” and “Hell is a War” were superb, the intro to the latter sending chills up my spine.

A surprise sit-down session occurred towards the end of the set as the band played two oft-requested tracks that haven’t been given a live airing before (we were told). “Phoenix Rising” had Jeff playing away with an expression on his face which spoke volumes. It said “I have the best job in the world and I ******* love it”.

Chants of “Jeff is God!” rang out as the band closed with a final flurry of thrashy goodness including “The Fun Palace”, “Phantasmagoria” and “Alison Hell”.

A great set, no showboating, an obviously happy band, mad crowd and top sound quality (thanks to the Garage once again). I only find it a shame that despite Waters being consistently rated one of the top guitarists in metal and a huge influence on many bands, Annihilator never reached the size of the likes of Metallica.

Having said that, I’d still rather pick up a new Annihilator album than one from the greedy Dane and his mates.

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