Later on this evening, Baz Mills from Massive Wagons makes a very profound statement about a time when he was lucky enough to meet the late great Lemmy. “Lemmy told me there are only two types of music” he said, “music you like and music you don’t like”. As I review my notes from The Virginmarys set tonight, I reflect that this is true and that The Virginmarys are unfortunately very much in the second section for me. There are only two of them, one providing guitars and vocals and the other doing a very energetic and entertaining turn on the drums. Now sometimes this combination can work (see The Picturebooks, The White Stripes) and sometimes it’s a mess (see CKY). The Virginmarys fall somewhere in the middle. They are competent. The set is intense, the sound is crystal clear. They are a very good band! The music is fast, indie-tinged alt-rock which in places reminds me of The Hives, a band I like very much. I wanted to like them, but for some bizarre reason this band are leaving me cold. I swap positions in the room, maybe they will be better from here, or over here? Nope. They are generating a fantastic reception from the capacity crowd, they do grow on me a bit by the end of the set but it’s too little too late. I found no standout songs, their chirpy not-quite-punk irritated me and I found their not-quite-rock irksome. It’s good to see something different on the scene, it’s great to see a young band going down so well with a varied audience but I’m just not getting their vibe at all. I’m a definite monority tonight though as they finish to huge applause, so I’m happy to say maybe I just need to see a bit more of them to really appreciate their craft.  

Massive Wagons on the other hand…. Well I used to love them a lot. Then I kind of went off the boil a bit, I found the “House Of Noise” album somewhat bland and uninspiring and I kind of took a step back from them for a while. This was maybe a good thing, for with their latest album “Triggered” and the accompanying shows that I have managed to get to I have fallen in love with them all over again.

Tonight they start off with an atmospheric intro, the stage swathed in blue and green lights and haze. And then BOOM, pyro explodes at the front of the stage and off they romp. We have not just pyro but also a confetti cannon and we’re not even past the first song yet! I think I already mentioned that the crowd tonight are packed in like sardines, it’s rare to se ethe Tiv this full, and every single one of them is immediately mobbing, dancing, singing. It’s a sight to behold, especially when you are only 5 feet tall and trying to get past. Anyway, the upbeat mood and catchy choruses abound until it’s time for the official singalong, and the chosen tune tonight is ‘A.S.S.H.O.L.E’. Bax parts the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea and we play along to the this side, now that side schtick with huge grins on our faces. Us old-school Wagonners are pacified when ‘Buck’ sneaks back into the set and the bar, already up in the roof area, begins to push at the rafters. We all sing along to ‘Fuck The Haters’ because we have all been there, Baz’s refusal to tolerate bullshit resonates with us all. My favourite of the songs off the new album is ‘Please Stay Calm’ and that gets an airing too. I am convinced that this song was written about (and in the style of) Ginger Wildheart, and there’s nothing you can say that will persuade me otherwise!

We then get the remark about the two types of music and that leads us into a little medley of some of Wagons’ favourite songs – I didn’t catch all of them but spotted The Outfield’s ‘Your Love’ and Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin La Vida Loca’ there – inspired choices and guaranteed to put a smile on every face in the room. ‘Prime Generation’ sees the band flirt with a little reggae, ‘House Of Noise’ is a rabble-rousing battle cry and ‘Northern Boy’ brings a tear to every eye.

Baz has had some issues with his voice this week, to the extent that one show had to be cancelled so he could rest it, but as the clear, mellow notes of this glorious power ballad ring out you would never know. The end of the main set gives barely a pause for breath until they are back for a 3-song encore, closing with old favourite ‘Ratio’ followed by lockdown anthem ‘In It Together’. There’s more pyro, Adam is in the photo pit throwing shapes and I realise I am watching a band who are currently right on top of their game, but at the same time totally ready to hit the next level in terms of success and venue size. They pretty much wrote the playbook of how to keep working until you get what you want, and I for one am totally there for it.  

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Massive Wagons, The Virginmarys