Live Review : Primordial General Mayhem @ Lincolnshire Showground on April 22-23rd 2022
A bit scant on detail but better late than never…
Last month over 1000 people descended on the Lincolnshire Showground for Primordial Radio’s General Mayhem. It didn’t feel like five minutes since the last one in September, when camping was far more pleasant… brrrrrrrrrrr.
Anyway, I won’t go on too much about the venue, camping etc. as sadly this is probably the last time Primordial will be hosting an event at the showground but a special shout-out to Sean Ayling aka Sean The Brewer from Tom’s Tap and Brewhouse in Crewe who provided the alcohol. Always a delight and if you haven’t sampled his wares yet, or indeed visited his establishment, I heartily recommend.
Onto the music… 20 bands in two days. Not without a lot of challenges due to the two headliners being unable to play (one back injury and one case of COVID) but the team worked flat-out to ensure the line-up was complete, and they did not disappoint.
Day One was fraught with trials and tribulations getting from Manchester to Lincoln, a journey that should have taken 2.5 hours but took 4.5 instead, so sadly the start of the event looked like this:
Cage Fight – missed them, bit noisy, you might like them… Includes members of Eths and TesseracT. She can certainly growl.
Seething Akira – missed them, meh… How to kill a Beastie Boys song. Not good but there other stuff is marginally better.
Skarlett Riot and Ward XVI – gutted, missed them both but check out my review from last year here and here
Luckily, I was in time to see the main act I wanted to see, the simply wonderful Devin Townsend (acoustic). I’m flustered having just arrived, disappointed to have missed the previous two bands, and feeling very ignorant of people wanting to say “hi” as I head into the venue. I’ve barely told a soul I am going as it was undecided until last minute, by then it seemed an opportunity too good to miss to turn up and surprise people… but they will have to wait.
Devin is extremely casual tonight and just taking in the atmosphere and chatting to the crowd as he plays through an incredibly short set (just seven songs). It’s amazing as always but after his show at Manchester Academy last August I do feel slightly cheated and in need of more…
There is no time to stop as Millie Manders and the Shut Up are already on the second stage. The crowd, many of whom have been following the band’s progress for some time, are loving it and are treated to a packed set of non-stop sing-along goodness. This time I also got chance to say “hi” to Millie afterwards and she is every bit as delightful off-stage as she is on. Current single “Not Ok” is worth a listen.
In no time at all the headlining act, Florence Black are ready to wow us. I’ve heard a lot about them and a few of their songs previously (“Bird on a Chain” is good) so I’m ready to see what they can do. It’s good wholesome rock and having been party to how late the band arrived on site, they still manage to pull off a blinder. I’ll be giving them more of a listen, but my attention is now on to the main act of the night… the ever so wonderful Ted Rock. If you aren’t familiar with Ted from the presenting team at Primordial Radio, or resident DJ at Glasgow’s Cathouse, you may remember him for Rock Radio from back in the day. He is an absolutely bonkers ray of sunshine and tonight he treats us to yet another killer set of rock and metal mash ups. I feel an immense sense of belonging being with the people who make this community so awesome, while listening to the best music and having a little dance around. There is no better feeling.
Day Two – Saturday afternoon is soon upon us, with lots of sore heads and hair of the dog. I decide I’m never mixing wine and vodka again and am glad about the five pairs of shoes I packed, as they all get worn throughout the weekend. I spend much of Saturday outside freezing in Lincolnshire winds trying to catch up with new and old friends. So coincidentally (and I should probably add I hadn’t intended to write this review so didn’t take many mental notes – that’s probably evident, ha!) I miss quite a few bands on Saturday too.
Delilah Bon – can hear them but not see them from outside and they sound great. Apparently well received by the younger members of the audience and who doesn’t love a feisty female role model for the next generation?
Scruffy Bear – missed them. A late addition to the bill and one to watch. Powerful vocals with catchy lyrics. Recommend “Tales of Strange Women”.
Red Method, Defects, Vexed, As December Falls, As Everything Unfolds – missed them. Not entirely sure how I missed them all, but with quite short sets and flitting between the bar, food and chats (and shoe changes) it seems entirely plausible.
I did however catch Hawxx and was glad I did. What an incredible performance. I did not realise just how many of their songs I knew but I got down to the front and thoroughly enjoyed seeing this super-glam four-piece work their magic. Really powerful messages in their music and delivery, including “Death of Silence” a track inspired by the Me Too movement and exposing the shame that permeates our society. Watch this space for an article about gig safety, especially for women, coming soon.
Next, I manage to catch another band I am excited to see, Scarlet Rebels. Much hype about them as they smashed into the UK album chart at number 7 in February. They are clearly happy to be here and proud of their achievements as they regale the crowd with their rise in popularity. But they aren’t arrogant about it, just trying to convey an important message with anthemic rock n’ roll. And they do it very well. Check out “These Days”.
Another late addition to the bill is The Hot Damn, formed from a few different bands, this new collective blast out upbeat tunes including my personal favourite “I didn’t like you anyway”. Much fun!
Then it’s onto our penultimate act and with much anticipation, it’s Bob Vylan, London two-piece punk grime band. This weekend marks the release of their debut album “The Price of Life” and the atmosphere is charged. With a blunt and brutal message to convey about the state of our country, I’m not sure what to expect but this WAS the performance of the weekend, for me and may others. The guys give it their all and despite the serious nature of their message, the mood is upbeat, and the gags are flowing. At the end of the set, they invite as many people as possible on-stage and it’s a beautiful sight to behold. I’ll definitely be trying to catch them next time they come around.
Finally, it’s the last band of the weekend, The Kris Barras Band. The place is empty compared to Bob Vylan’s set, which is a real shame, but I think the weather has put people off and they have decided to leave early (that night in my tent involved two duvets, pjs, a fleece onesie and hot water bottle so I’m not surprised!)
The band give a great performance but at times it all feels a bit Bon Jovi for me (this is not a good thing). I like “My Parade” and “Wake Me When It’s Over” but it’s all a bit the same and I think I’m flagging by this point. I manage to get my party feet on for the closing DJ set, but two days of excitement and drinking have almost finished me off.
My enduring memory however will be my friend’s faces when taking them unawares and surprising them. It’s those little moments that really matter. If you can make someone smile today, do it!!
If you like the sound of this eclectic mix of rock and metal, you can check out Primordial Radio for 3 months free of charge here
Special thanks to Russ Morgan for sharing his pics of the weekend.
Photography by Russ Morgan
With musical tastes that were until quite recently stuck in 1994, music has always been my go-to, my sanctuary, and my saviour on many occasions. Life-long rocker and metalhead, gig goer …