Live music on a Saturday night? On my birthday? In Manchester? Yes please. I might be gigging alone but as I enter the venue I remember what a great little space Academy 3 is. 

I go back through the files in my brain and as usual (obviously my age) I draw a blank as to the last band I saw in here but I’m thinking maybe Clutch but that was a LONG time ago (before they were well-known and after I saw them originally with one of my favourite bands Corrosion of Conformity). Even further back in the annals of time I saw Jerry Cantrell in this room and what an absolutely mind-blowing experience that was…

Anyway I digress… Ashen Reach are already on stage when I arrive so I missed a few songs, which is a shame as I like what I hear. Their YouTube profile describes them as hard rock. I’m not entirely sure what constitutes hard rock these days but they are certainly rocking it. They sound great and despite the venue only being part full they have drawn a sizeable crowd. They offer something a bit different, although I can definitely hear a 90’s melodic guitar influence (something Roadrunner-esque that I can’t quite put my finger on?) and I keen to hear more but alas it’s already over. 

A larger crowd forms in anticipation of the next band, Bastette, and as they arrive on stage I can see why! The lead singer Caroline is stunning in her long red hair and black PVC catsuit… and I question two things 1) Why I’ve never had a PVC catsuit? 2) Why my wardrobe contains very little PVC… then I remember the last 10 years of my life and pledge to right this wrong.

The band treat us to back-to-back catchy tunes including ‘Sick & Twisted’ and ‘Rollercoaster’. Caroline has a stunning voice and total rock star sultry stage presence (the mostly male audience definitely love her). You can see she is clearly influenced by Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless (check their recent cover of ‘Witches Burn’). But alongside their professional performance they come across as really down-to-earth, with the bassist quipping that he never gets laid because he’s ginger and the bassist! If you get chance you can catch them touring throughout November and December with Marisa and the Moths. I can see them going far.

And finally… Phil Campbell and his Bastard Sons take to the stage (for those who didn’t know the drummer, bassist and lead guitarist are Dane, Tyla and Todd Campbell – now it makes sense!) alongside singer Joel Peters. The band uniform appears to be skinny jeans and a beard unless you are Phil who doesn’t need that get-up and instead sports a cheeky guitar strap emblazoned with “Welsh Wanker”. The crowd is much bigger now for the headline act and they get us all nicely warmed up with opener “We’re the Bastards”.

It seems strange seeing Phil Campbell in such a tiny venue. Last time I saw him he was being awarded the Riff Lord Award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods in 2016 (when Biff Byford appeared to forget the words to ‘Ace of Spades’!) but I feel quite honoured to be here tonight and what a show it turns out to be.

I’ve managed to get myself right up the front on the barrier, so although I can’t see much of the drummer from here I’ve got an excellent view of everyone else, including the stage crew diligently cleaning down the guitars as they get swapped out. I might be slightly deaf by the end of the night but it’s totally worth it. 

By chance I had noticed on a Facebook post that they have a new singer, but to be honest without that knowledge I’m not sure I would have realised. I’ve heard a few of their tracks on Primordial Radio and really enjoyed them and the new guy, Joel, is not only a talented singer, he is also a great frontman and has the crowd at his command, especially when he starts singing ‘Rock Out’.

A few songs in and the singer addresses the crowd to dedicate the show to Wolf Jaw frontman Tom Leighton, who sadly passed away last month. Wolf Jaw were lined up to support the tour and the band were headed for great success. He will be sorely missed, a tragic loss to the rock and metal community. 

It’s a sombre moment but the show continues and the guys, not surprisingly, are exceptionally talented and put on an epic performance of pure rock with a bluesy undertone. Awesome guitar solos, amazing vocals and a great energy. Not sure how father and sons get on behind the scenes but the dynamic works on-stage and that is all that matters right here and now. 

We are treated to an array of their own songs, mixed obviously with a few more Motörhead numbers. Personal highlights for me are “Born to Raise Hell”, “Get on Your Knees” which thankfully we don’t have to, but we are pitted one side of the audience against the other in a little sing-along (I’m pretty sure our side is the loudest). 

Then it’s into ‘These Old Boots’ and the obligatory ‘Ace of Spades’. For someone who never got to see Motörhead live (aside from the aforementioned Golden Gods, which we won’t dwell on) this is a treat and they certainly do the song justice. I’m transported back to late Friday nights watching the best terrestrial TV show ever “Raw Power” and suddenly craving a pot noodle… showing my age again! 

Which is timely as they then break into ‘Silver Machine’ and it was around this time in my youth when I was first introduced to Hawkwind. Not anticipating this to be part of the set I’m delighted to indulge. A few songs on and they whisk themselves off stage but reappear a short time later to perform ‘Dark Days’ one I definitely recognise and love from my radio listening. Then it’s ‘Big Mouth’ and the grand finale ‘Killed by Death’. I want to hear more but alas it’s time to go home. Not a bad birthday all in all. 

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons continue their tour around the UK and Europe over the coming months. Catch them if you can. It’s well worth it.