Chris Catalyst, recently outed as one of the ghouls from Ghost’s 2022 tour, opens up tonight. Essentially it’s just Chris, his guitar and some bad dad jokes and although I like Chris and his work I can’t help wondering how he got the gig. Stay tuned, all is revealed later! The songs are from his solo output and his main band Eureka Machines but because it’s so raw they are barely recognisable. It's laid-back and gentle, smooth but at the same time heartfelt. It's emotional but easy listening and melodious. He finishes with a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Ashes To Ashes’, taken from a recently-released Bowie covers album, and it was all very pleasant.  

Massive Wagons bring all the fizz and energy that I have come to expect from them at the start of the set. They have recently released a new album “Triggered”, which has made the UK Offical Top 10 Chart this week, and it features heavily tonight with no less than 6 of the songs from it being played. My inner jury is still out about this; whilst the new album is a new, more mature direction for the Wagons it also takes them a step further away from the Wagons I knew and loved in their earlier days. Don’t get me wrong, the set is a good balance of old and new and they get a huge positive reaction from the crowd. It just seems that it goes better for the old favourites like ‘Back To The Stack’, ‘Ratio’ and ‘Nails’. I’ve retreated to the back of the room by the third song because because the place is absolutely rammed. This is really heartening to see, this band have worked their collective asses off over the last 10 years and to see a rabid audience hanging onto their every note is a thing of great joy. The songs are fast-paced and non-stop, there’s no time for banter here, just another banger of a tune as soon as the one before is finished. Massive Wagons have come a long way, and if tonight was any indicator they are finally reaping the rewards of all their hard work. Cracking set and huge crowd-pleasers. 

Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe? They bounced onto the rock scene in the early 90s as a typical American college frat house party band and scored a huge hit with their song ‘I Hate Everything About You’. A couple of minor chart hits followed, then they faded into obscurity for many many years. They are back now though, with a brand new album to promote, and I am eager to see if they have moved on from their original teenage angst. I’m pleased to say that they have, and the first song in the set could have been by AC/DC. The sound is very clear and from the off frontman Whit Crane is rushing about the place interacting with the crowd and belting out the words with gusto. Still got his baseball cap on backwards though, some things never change! These days an Ugly Kid Joe show is just straight ahead rock, and the old I hate you dad schtick is very much on the back burner tonight. About 3 songs in, I happen to notice that Chris Catalyst is playing bass for them. Aha so now we know how he got the support slot. I tap the side of my nose knowingly, but as he’s in disguise (sunglasses and a really bad shirt) we’ll say no more about it!  

A lot of their songs are catchy pop-edged riffy little pieces, and again the crowd is right there singing along, swaying, punching the air and generally joining the party. Because this band are still a party. OK more of a gin and tonic and can I borrow your lawnmower Hank party than a bring a keg and some condoms one, but it’s still a party. All the songs I expect to hear are there, including their cover of the Harry Chapin standard ‘Cats In The Cradle’ (made famous by Cat Stevens) and it sounds so good as they turn it into a rip-roaring crowd-pleasing power ballad. There’s a song off the new album called ‘Failure’ that I especially enjoy, it has more than a hint of a The Wildhearts influence about it and I head over to the merch stand to pick up a copy of “Rad Wings Of Destiny” on the strength of that song alone. The eternal teenagers have finally grown up, and a cover of The Kinks’ ‘Lola’ done in their own inimitable party-rock style just showcases again that this is actually a band of very talented musicians who have honed their craft to perfection. There’s a special surprise at the end as Barry from Massive Wagons comes on and sings AC/DC’s ‘Dirty Deeds’ - it's riotous and joyful and they smash it out of the park. Finally of course they play That Song and the whole explodes as we all release our inner teenagers and join in. This is what live music is all about, a full room of people having a damn good time, and even my prog-loving friend who I dragged along for a last-minute night out agreed that “actually they were really good, and much more than the one-hit wonders I expected”. Word.  

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos! Ugly Kid Joe, Massive Wagons