- Live Reviews
Praising Private Ryan
It is time for a Ryan Adams review that neither questions nor reflects on whether the singer-songwriter is in a happy place or a sad place. It doesn't matter because has Ryan Adams ever sounded any better? probably not. Have his records ever been any better? probably but, it doesn't matter.
These were outstanding gigs in London. Longstanding admirers or even newcomers - remarkably, Adams was #6 in the 'album' charts at the time of these gigs - will have been wowed by the singer and his new band, The Shining.
These performances rate among the best I've seen of Ryan Adams, and that is up against some fantastic history. And the evenings were not without a sprinkle of stardust. As guest appearances go, this was among the more unusual.
Johnny Marr would have been good, but Johnny Depp? Opinions will be divided. His presence caused a right old stir in the cheap seats. From rattle-your-jewellery distance he looked more like a farmhand from Countryfile than Donnie Brasco.
Depp and Adams are jamming buddies and the Hollywood star can clearly play guitar too. He didn't seem at all phased. This good thing was that this starry distraction for the encore on both nights at Shepherds Bush did not detract whatsoever from the quality of the band's performance. And nobody called out for Joe Le Taxi.
Throughout the gigs, Ryan Adams stands mostly at the centre-left of stage, seemingly changing guitars for fun. Laughing, smiling and joking, he thanks his besotted audience, time and again.
He's been a witty stage presence in recent years, but even when he thinks his US humour hasn't fully connected, he has a sharp and self-deprecating banter: "They think I'm hilarious in the States! You guys are just too clever - I must've passed at least seven book shops on the way here."
A Stars and Stripes flag with a nuclear disarmament symbol is draped behind him on stage. The crowd is delirious and Adams points out that they may have been consuming alcohol. The crowd gets him; it's a very different setting to his brief Olympic Park appearance for the Invictus Games ceremony, where that same modified flag could easily have been misconstrued.
Recent solo acoustic tours have provided what many fans wanted most: a sort of intimacy with the singer. Alone on the stage, Ryan Adams' unplugged and heart-rending versions of his songs did allow us a little closer. Less can be more, and often it is with these songs.
But most of those songs were recorded with a band. This 2014 tour demonstrates that there is life (and electric) beyond the one man show. It's obvious that Adams gets a real kick out of playing with other musicians, bringing a deeper pulse to those (mostly) sad songs.
With the Cardinals, Ryan Adams produced some memorable shows. With the Shining, he's once again surrounded by outstanding musicianship, but also a bunch of players who seem to understand him and share his musical headspace.
The result is a kind of magic and it is most evident on some of the songs that were recorded with the Cardinals. In particular, 'Easy Plateau' and 'Peaceful Valley' are getting better with age. Previously country-soaked, these numbers have re-emerged as a new kind of Californian soundtrack.
The Shepherds Bush nights draw on songs from across his extensive catalogue. Some of which feels positively vintage. But then maybe it always did. The new eponymous album gets a lot of attention and mostly it stands up well alongside Adams' most loved material. It feels handmade for live performance.
Critics have name-checked Petty, Springsteen & Co in terms of influence for the new stuff, but to my ears they've often figured in his Americana pick 'n' mix. On stage, and especially in Adams' voice, those rich sources are certainly there but they're not at all plagiarised.
Like with 'Ashes and Fire' and other more recent records that may not have had the immediate 'Wow' factor, I suspect the new songs will find their own moments to invade our consciousness - and once again we won't understand why we ever thought they were anything less than brilliant.
Opening the second night in west London with the single 'Gimme Something Good', as he did the first night, he jokes that repeat visitors are in for the same songs all over again. But as usual, the set lists for each date were quite different. Adams is great value for those compelled to go to more than one gig per tour. Both nights included a mix of old and new, and some of the new songs proved exceptional.
- Live Reviews
Why Anathema are not yet selling out arenas around the country, or at least the Apollo's of this world, is a total mystery. An unsurprisingly sold out and sweaty Academy 3 was my first chance to catch the Liverpudlian band who are now on their 10th album and were touring on the back of new release Distant Satellites. I may have been the only member of the crowd without an Anathema t shirt on, so clearly they attract a devoted fan base.
After complicated Austrian prog rock band Mother's Cake had cleared the stage, on came the main act, all 6 of them, including 2 drummers no less, crammed into the tiny space, and immediately launched into The Lost Song Part 1 and 2, from Distant Satellites. The powerful, symphonic prog rock continued with Untouchable Parts 1&2 from Weather Systems and we were well and truly warmed up. Even the band was struggling with the heat, with Dan Cavanagh asking for the air conditioning to be turned on. Fat chance, there isn't any.
The rest of the first act, wonderfully, was more of the same, playing most tracks from the new album, and selected tracks from Weather Systems and We're Here Because We're Here. The interaction of Vincent Cavanagh's and Lee Douglas's vocals is even more fabulous and powerful live, and a real highlight of the night. Anathema's doom metal past seems well and truly buried.
Surprisingly, most of the on stage banter was from Dan Cavanagh, not brother and lead vocalist Vincent, and he really excelled when all stage sound was lost at one point, so he led the crowd in an acoustic version of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. That went down well with the prog centric audience. The synth vocalled Closer, closed the main set, one of only 2 songs performed from their pre 2010 catalogue.
The first 3 songs of the 5 played as encores were the last 3 off Distant Satellites, and a slight change of pace from the rest of the night. All twitchy programmed drum beats, and synth heavy, I'm not yet in love with these tracks, especially as Lee's vocals are also absent. Maybe they'll grow on me yet.
Finally, old track Fragile Dreams had us bouncing and sweating some more as they completed a more than satisfying set and everyone around me had a smile on their face.
Yes, it's a pity from a commercial perspective Anathema is not selling out arenas when they tour, but from a selfish viewpoint, I'm delighted to be able to get up close and personal and feel the real power and passion of this wonderful band.
Keith
@kjsmith4082
- Live Reviews
Before tonight, I thought I was a big fan of Throwing Muses, having seemingly played constantly The Real Ramona in the early 90's, and between us, Ali and I reckoned we had most of their albums. I'll explain that statement later. I was definitely a big fan of the lovely Tanya Donelly when she went on to form Belly, so was really looking forward to the gig, especially as it was on the doorstep in Holmfirth. They played here 3 years ago according to the merch guy but must have missed that night.
Tanya Donelly opened the evening as the support act, and was joined on stage by 2 guys playing electric guitar and cello respectively, while she played her Gibson SG. Not sure why didn't she have a drummer with her, or at least borrow the Muses one?
Didn't recognise the first few songs, but eventually she went into Belly songs Red, Dusted and Slow Dog, all of which were seemingly 3/4 versions of the originals but still has a hell of a set of lungs to belt them out. The closing track was the Muses song Not Too Soon which I was hoping the main act would be playing tonight, but I suppose as she was in Throwing Muses she was more than entitled. She invited 3 seemingly random audience members on stage to dance behind her for this final song which everyone enjoyed and that was her done.
Half an hour later, on came a bleached blonde stick thin figure which we eventually recognised as Kristin Hersh, joined by the rest of the Muses and they started with Sunray Venus, lead single from last album Purgatory/Paradise. The next couple of songs were also from the same album. For those who don't have it, it was released as a book with a 32 song cd, many of which are fragments of songs.
And that's where my recognition of songs ended, even when she was joined half way through the set by her half-sister Tanya Donelly. Does that mean she's in the Muses, or not ?
Where was Dizzy or Counting Backwards or Hate My Way ? In my opinion, they chose songs they wanted to play, rather than what the audience wanted.
Don't get me wrong, it was a perfectly good performance, and she still has the fantastic, raspy voice she's always had, and it barely seemed they have been away for so long, but for me it lacked a certain emotion and I don't think I was the only one in the audience feeling the same. The will they, won't they play another encore (they didn't) ended the night and we left, slightly underwhelmed and rueing their choice of setlist.
Keith & Ali
@kjsmith4082
- Live Reviews
So eight years following Sam Duckworth, aka Get Cape Wear Cape Fly had led us to Kentish Town Forum where the referee had drawn a shave-foam line beyond which GCWCF will never cross. Truly the end of a chapter - a chapter that started ten years ago when troubadour Sam, then struggling in non-league began his ascendancy to the Premiership. Tonight truly marked the 'Last Ever' GCWCF show but, this is not a question of Sam Duckworth going into retirement, quite the opposite; what Sam has in his sights is to defend this free-kick, hit on the counter-attack and, score a hatful of goals.
We know this is entirely possible evidencing the releases of the last 2-3 years under Sam Duckworth's own name, but tonight was more a backward glance to the GCWCF-era.
The evening's supporting bill allowed a glance to the future, a nod to the past and a massive statement of the here and now. First up was Sean McGowan with cheeky swagger and fulsome praise for how great a bloke Sam truly is. X-Certs were on next, taking us back to early GCWCF collaborations. Wonderful Idlewild-like lyrical prose with superbly-executed thumping guitar. Jehst took the stage by storm with his top-notch rapping. Reminded us what eclectic value we had within the ticket price. It's difficult to take your eyes of this man.
And so to GCWCF. Tonight's show was a culmination of a mini UK tour of classic venues. We were lucky enough to have witnessed the Southampton Joiners event, a highly sweaty affair, with Sam belting out his 'Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager' album accompanied by beat box, just like the early days. Tonight’s affair boasted a full band line-up supporting Sam through his 16 song set, incorporating the whole of his 2006 album. In contrast to the excellent yet raw Joiners set the songs were delivered with pomp through the 4-strong brass section including fantastic lead-man 'Mikey' on cornet.
A Shy FX dj set followed the Get Cape show, a reminder, as if we needed it, that rock n roll can be (and should be) multi-dimensional.
Si
- Live Reviews
Dan Michaelson's voice is unique. So low that at times you can almost hear the individual wave forms of the notes. If he sang any lower it might just become inaudible to the human ear! His singing style however fits perfectly with the melancholy sentiment of the songs. Most songs centre on heartbreak from relationships and when Dan announced the next song "would be about heartbreak" someone called out “no sh*t!” to Dan and everyone’s great amusement.
He has a fine band in The Coastguards. A four piece guitars, bass, drums, with constant musical companion 'Horse' who played a steel pedal guitar to great effect adding a country widescreen feel to some of the songs. The band had an uplifting affect on the songs themselves which otherwise, might have been a bit too sombre for a Monday night.
Lost Map's Rozi Plain had the first turn on stage; she sung gentle songs accompanied with her guitar. The emphasis is on her fine vocals which were enhanced by the harmonies sung by Kate and Rachael who joined her for the set. Her new album is recorded and will be released next year. Rozi is also appearing with Rachael Dadd at St Pancras Old Church on 29th September.
The Slaughtered Lamb in Clerkenwell London is such a good venue. In the basement of the pub the space is small and intimate and was named after the pub in the cult film 'American Werewolf in London'. It has the bonus of some excellent real ale and after the gig we also discovered rare single malt from Islay called 'Kilchoman Machir Bay'; a perfect finish to a perfect gig.
In our recent interview, Dan told us told us “My records are in their own world and you have to go there. If you don’t like it, I’ll make sure you get home safely”. So you can rest easy at any at any Dan Michaelson gig.
Ken
- Live Reviews
Rather unexpectedly, a message appeared on the Blue Aeroplanes website at the beginning of the year that there was a possibility they would be travelling to Spain in the summer to headline a festival. Well, that became fact and so to make the trip worthwhile, this gig on Friday night was arranged to act as a warm up and further spread the Aeroplanes love to the Spanish capital.
Pre gig drinks with some of the band members and friends at an outside bar, in the high 20s Spanish heat was adding to the whole slightly surreal experience, however there was an element of concern that relatively few tickets had been sold.
We made the short journey down to Boîte for the 11pm start time, and though not the biggest of crowds, there were more there than expected, and it was great to meet with Spanish fans of the band for whom this was their first time seeing them.
So, onto the stage they came, with the impressive backdrop of the band name in neon lights and with enigmatic dancer Wojtek in tow, they kicked off with oldie, and first ever single Action Painting. They then launched into Broken and Mended, an often used opening track due to explosive opening riff and first line with Gerard asking "Hi, How are you, how's it going?"....We were all doing fine by now thank you very much.
Brand new as yet unreleased new tracks sat alongside established songs such as Jacket Hangs (never not played live), Huh! and Yr Own World. It's almost as if these new songs have come from sessions from old classic albums but have not yet seen the light of day. They are that good.
The finale for the evening is, as ever, Breaking In My Heart, a Tom Verlaine cover during which the band is often joined on stage by even more guitarists. They didn't need this tonight. The trio of Bec Jevons, Mike Youe and Gerard (Starkie) are the new vibrant heartbeat of this band, add to them longer termers John Langley on drums, Chris Sharp on bass and of course chief Aeroplane Gerard Langley on vocals, and you have a band you would swear were on the verge of a big label breakthrough, not one that has been going for 30 years. This might just be the best Aeroplanes line up Gerard has assembled.
Bring on the new album, bring on the new tour and bring it on as soon as possible please. Up in a down world? You better believe it.
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Live Reviews
“ It's not really sunk in yet. It's the one that we've wanted to do .. like a Spike Island, Knebworth,.. monumental shows... in our home town.”Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno.
Spike Island, Knebworth, Maine Road, Hyde Park, Glastonbury; there are particular gigs which come to represent a defining or special moment in a band's career.
Before you doubt that tonight could rest easily in such company, let us consider some Kasabian facts : 10 years since the release of their first album; 4th consecutive #1 album ( #1 in the album chart this week); 50,000 tickets to this show sold without any support being announced; biggest gig in the city which all of the band were born and still live in (unless Engelbert Humperdinck and Showaddywaddy are planning a co-headline soon); closing the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 8 days time; regular donations of stage costumes to local charity shops and even attendance at Leicester City home games ,this could one of those moments.
Upon entry to the park there's an enormous stage flanked by giant video screens , at the back there's another screen in a shocking pink (you've seen the colour on the '48:13' album cover) showing an excitement-building counter ticking down to zero for the start of the show. At 00:00:00 coloured smoke flares spark up in the crowd and Tom, Serge, Chris and Ian plus associated touring band members walk on accompanied by the instrumental '(shiva)' from '48:13', Serge with giant black foam hands and a white T-shirt with the legend 'les-tah' ( just in case we've forgotten where we are ) and Tom sporting huge Johnny Depp style Willy Wonka shades. The instrumental builds into the opening “ yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” of 'bumblebeee' and the whole place fuelled by sunshine, not so cheap lager and local pride goes MENTAL ,“ cause when we're together I'm in ecstasy … all you pretty things get on board this mothership”.
For the next 80 minutes the pace doesn't stop 'bumblebeee' leads to 'Shoot The Runner', 'Underdog' and 'Fast Fuse' we jump, dance , sing , shout , throw our beer in the air like we just don't care through 3 or 4 tracks from each album, a Kasabian Greatest Hits show treated like it's the best house party Leicester has ever had. Each time Tom asks “ Leicester, Victoria Park , are you ready ?” a beery roar indicates we might be.
The final double punch is 'Empire' and 'Fire' with the massive chorus drop “ I'm on fire ”, the lights ripping holes in the finally darkened skies and hands, feet, empty and not so empty plastic cups in the air.
Encores are 'Switchblade Smiles', 'Vlad The Impaler' then the first verse and chorus of Fat Boy Slim's 'Praise You ' which morphs into 'L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever). At the end of L.S.F Chris addresses the crowd “ Thank you Leicester you made my f*****g year” , Tom starts the chant from L.S.F off again “ laaaah la-la la la la la la la la”; and twenty minutes later in the crowd walking up London Rd back to the car parks it's still going. This says something about this band and this city.
I've seen some write that this was the taster for small matter in a field in Somerset next weekend, but sorry Glastonbury you're the garnish, the main meal was served tonight. It's a combination of a band at a particular point in their career and the location that makes the occasion. Kasabian in Victoria Park Leicester, 21st June 2014 was something special.
Alisdair Whyte
- Live Reviews
At £27.50 this was an expensive ticket for a Junction show (venue was around two thirds full) but, having never seen Gary Numan live, this show was too close to my doorstep to turn down.
Roman Remains are support on tonight's bill. Made up of two thirds of The Duke Spirit, Toby Butler and Leila Moss, this side project from the mothership, seems to have turned into a full time job with the debut album, 'Zeal' already released.
The Band made up a trio with an added drummer, delivered a lengthy 'Horrors' like, darkness and dry ice set. All established musicians this should be an interesting project, they certainly made an impact on the night.
Being around in the 70's I go back a long way with Garry Numan's music and as an admirer of NIN (Nine Inch Nails) I was impressed when Trent Reznor bought Gary onstage at an O2 show a few years back. NIN definitely have Gary Numan as an influence and you can see that influence flowing back from Trent Reznor to Gary on his latest work, particularly last year's album 'Splinter' (Songs from a Broken Mind)' which features NIN's Robin Finck on guitar.
As soon as the band hit the stage to the almighty opening riffs of 'Resurrection' from 'Dead Son Rising' you can see where 75% of the ticket price has gone; the light show! Big enough and bright enough for Wembley Arena, the effect is mind numbing within the confines of the Cambridge Junction.
'Splinter is an outstanding record and the songs feature heavily in the set. The first 45 minutes which were a fabulous assault on the senses, with the band in intense and heavy mode (as they are throughout). The sound is spot on and Numan is centre stage, a Peter Pan figure (the guy is ageing well), hanging off the mic and moving around the stage like a man many years his junior.
A set stretching across his massive catalogue brings out Down in the Park, Cars and Are 'Friends' Electric? 'Absolution from 2008's 'Exile' album is stunning in its delivery, but, really it is the new 'Splinter' era Numan that remains the most impressive.
This guy has reinvented himself many times but it is testament to his abilities that songs from the 70's and songs from 2013 sound equally as fresh and impressive next to each other.
Pete
- Live Reviews
EELS have visited the Corn Exchange in Cambridge many times in the past so, you would have thought Mark ('E') would have realised by now that he cannot exchange his corn there these days, (his 'corny' joke). Tonight it's the unplugged 5 piece version of EELS, Along with Mark, the long-standing line-up of The Chet, Knuckles (Derek Brown), Honest (Upright) Al (on upright bass) and P-Boo (Mike Sawitzke).
With the whole band suited and booted this was a total opposite to last year's electric and track suit clad version of the band at the End of the Road Festival.
With the excellent acoustic 'The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett' released recently, there was a selection of songs from that record plus a really a good selection from the back catalogue as well a selection of covers.
E. himself shifting between electric guitar and piano pretty much had the audience watching in and listening intently. A solid hour of 18 songs after which a trail of "let's play one more song" brought the set to a close 75 minutes in. I guess the only criticism you could make of such a sublime gig was its length. With the volume of material available to the band another hour would have been great.
Where I'm At
When You Wish Upon a Star
The Morning
Parallels
Mansions of Los Feliz
Daisies of the Galaxy
A Line in the Dirt
Where I'm From
It's a Motherf*cker
Lockdown Hurricane
A Daisy through Concrete
Grace Kelly Blues
Fresh Feeling
I Like Birds
My Beloved Monster
Gentlemen's Choice
Mistakes of My Youth
Where I'm Going
Encore:
I Like the Way This Is Going
Blinking Lights (For Me)
Last Stop: This Town
3 Speed
Can't Help Falling in Love
Turn On Your Radio
- Live Reviews
To be honest, this time last year, I was not consciously aware of Swans, or even that the band even actually existed. How I had missed a bandthat has been going since 1982, is anyone's guess, but I had. My attention was drawn to them by Stuart Maconie on his 6 Music Freakzoneshow when he played Lunacy from The Seer, featuring as it turns out, Mimi Parker from Low.
So having bought ‘The Seer’ and this years follow up ‘To Be Kind’, I couldn't pass up the chance to see them live in Leeds at a packed out Cockpit.
Thor Harris, one of the bands 2 percussionists, took to the stage first without fuss or ceremony and started hammering away on a gong then symbols creating a crashing spiralling wall of sound to which the rest of the band joined him after about 10 minutes. Then the guitars kicked in.....the last time I had been exposed to this volume, I was walking along Heathrow's perimeter road while Concorde was taking off. The Cockpit is squeezed under the arches near Leeds train station and the room is narrow and thin with an arched roof. There was nowhere for the sound to go! This first "song" was a 30 minute epic, seemingly called Frankie M. A new song ? Seemed strange to open the set with something new, so soon after the latest LP was released but, what a start.
Michael Gira then spoke to the crowd for the first time by asking whether we had been to church today....."we are now" shouted someone...
They then launched into A Little God In My Hands from the new album and we were immersed into another brutal hypnotic drone. The assault on the senses was almost euphoric; the bass was vibrating the bones and the vocals were even actually hurting the eardrums at times, but it felt like we were hypnotised and unable to resist.
The lights focused on the stage then decided to give up and they went through the rest of the gig with dim lighting from the sidelights. This didn't matter. It almost added to the atmosphere of some sort of out of body experience.
I've no idea what the next few tracks were but they did end with 35 minute epic Bring The Sun from the new album, ‘To Be Kind’. The first 5 minutes are a repeating crunching chord over crashing drums. Fantastic.
So a nearly 2 hour and (only!) 6 song assault came to an end, band and crowd absolutely spent. I was soaked in sweat, could barely hear a thing and had adrenaline pulsing through my veins that actually made sleeping difficult. What a night. What a gig. Never seen and felt and heard anything quite like it, and even though my ears are still ringing 24 hours on, I'd see them again tomorrow.
Keith @kjsmith4082
- Live Reviews
You know when you're in the presence of a genuine rock star. There's a tour bus the size of a Travelodge parked outside the venue, the (largely female) audience is dressed as the main attraction at various points in their career and as we get closer to the house lights dimming there's a detectable tension in the room.
The intro music is Ravel's 'Bolero' and as we're in Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean's (Torvill and Dean, kids ask your parents) home city I wonder if it's a cheeky musical reference; but later on Courtney names local attractions as Sherwood Forest (correct) and Richard III (close but no cigar, though plenty of e-cigs) it's probably just a lucky co-incidence. Courtney enters from stage left, dramatically drapes her veil over the mic stand and after a false start of the first few lines from 'Pretty On The Inside', “ Slutkiss girl,Won't you promise her smack?Is she pretty on the inside? Is she pretty from the back?” launches into 'Wedding Day', one half of her recently released double A side.
Two things which immediately strike are how tight the band of hired helps (including, as someone next to me spots, Ginger from The Wildhearts) is, and that roar of a voice grown in gravel and matured by Tequila and Malboro; Courtney frequently uses the between song gaps for a suck on an e-cigarette “ To tell the truth .I don't want to quit. If it kills me, it kills me.”
What follows is a blast through a Hole-heavy set list: 'Miss World', 'Reasons to be Beautiful', 'Malibu' “..Time for a hit”, and a particularly brutal 'Violet' the audience screaming the chorus “Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to” back to the band. 'You Know My Name' the other half of the recent single is a fast, punky number addressed to celebrity reporters “Hey!I am the one. The one you blame. I'll bring the shame”.
When the five piece band aren't tearing through Hole's back catalogue, Courtney chats to the audience. During another nicotine break “I just discovered the more you drink the more I get paid. So go and get a drink. I need a new dress”, later on part of another chat with the fanatical front row, some of whom appear to have brought presents.. “It's not the 90's anymore. I don't stage dive and I don't get my tits out”, it takes little imagination to guess what she does next with a broad grin all over her face.
Final track of the main set is 'Celebrity Skin' with its' Godzilla-size guitar riff stomping all over Rock City, making sure the mini mosh-pits and audience shout-a longs keep going until the end of the show.
If you believe Courtney's recent tweets Hole are rehearsing together with a reunion of sorts now highly likely, and the very public kiss and make-up with Dave Grohl at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction for Nirvana means that Courtney Love 2014 appears to be a reflective and wiser version ; nonetheless one that's happy to drink, smoke, swear on-stage, play great music and generally age disgracefully, which is surely how we all want our rock stars to behave.
A lesson for others; “Be More Courtney”.
Alisdair Whyte
- Live Reviews
How to describe Crippled Black Phoenix for those not familiar with their work....?? Prog Rock? Post Rock ? or just Rock? Well, all three really. In their quieter moments, they are reminiscent of the dreaminess of Pink Floyd and in their full on assault mode, more like Mogwai. Which is just fine by me.
On a stinking wet night in Manchester, and competing with an Indie all-dayer (Neds Atomic Dustbin, Cud, Wedding Present) at the larger Academy 1, Crippled Black Phoenix are in town supporting new 2014 album White Light Generator. Although a UK band (apart from Daniel their Swedish vocalist), the play relatively infrequently over here, and seemingly have a larger fanbase over in Europe where they seem to have a bigger appetite for Prog/Post rock or however they are described.
The band is primarily Justin Greaves. His girlfriend was running the merch stand ahead of them being on stage, and Justin came out to pass on a message. "Justin IS Crippled Black Phoenix she proclaimed...! " Justin on stage is just one of the three guitarists creating the wall of sound, accompanied by drums, bass and Daisy on keyboards. I think we even spotted a banjo being used by someone at the side of the stage.
Whilst a relatively small crowd was watching, they (we) were clearly all fans and were fully engaged with the assault on the senses being created over the 2+ hours they were on stage.
The setlist was obviously biased towards the new album but they kicked off with fan favourite Rise Up And Fight....probably the closest thing they have to an anthem. The next 4 songs were from the new album, and bled into each other for the best part of half an hour. They're not really a verse chorus verse 3 minute songs band.
The rest of the night was tracks picked from their previous 7 albums, and from stage front and centre, the musicianship and intensity was amazing. While some gigs can seem to drag, I could have happily listened for another couple of hours. Banter from the band, whilst not frequent, was pleasant and appreciative, and they all seemed to be having a great time too.
At last, I have broken my live CBP virginity, and what a night. It will take something special to shift this from gig of the year. I urge you to check them out.
Keith @kjsmith4082
