Live Review : VEGA + Revival Black + JOANovARC @ The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on October 29th 2021

To say the music scene has taken a battering over the past eighteen months or so is somewhat of an understatement at the very least. So much so that this iconic bastion of the North West almost closed its doors for good; but like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes, thankfully it didn’t and appears to be bigger, better and bolder than ever before with a new stage and mixing desk and the ‘small venue with a massive attitude’ continues to throw its doors open to welcome a variety of international and local acts. With its impressive array of memorabilia and posters adorning its walls and ceilings, selection of real ales and good food, it’s exactly the sort of place to enjoy a gig such as this one this evening. Headliners VEGA need no introduction to those familiar with this hard hitting melodic 6 piece, those who have seen Revival Black pop up on numerous support tours for the likes of Mason Hill will no doubt have been suitably impressed.

Openers JOANovARC have also been wooing audiences at festivals of late like Rockin’ the Bowl in Sheffield. With the famous pleasure beach lurking around the corner here in Blackpool, there certainly promises to be somewhat of a rollercoaster ride of its own weaving its way throughout the Waterloo Bar. It was always going to be the case of not only great music but great vocalists, and JOANovARC certainly kick that off in the right direction. Singer Hazel Jade Rogers immediately commands the audience into waking up from its early evening slumber. As the first bars of ‘Live Rock n Roll’ rings through the crowd she’s straight on them with her strong banshee like presence.  This female 4 piece of superb musicians are clearly enjoying their set and are kicking out some belting tunes, they’re giving it their all and playing like its Wembley stadium. There’s some seriously impressive bass playing from Keira Kenworthy and some great guitar riffage from Shelley Walker on numbers such as ‘Down by the River’, and unreleased tracks like ‘Mister Mister’ and ‘Invisible Enemy’. Finishing with the powerful ‘Isolation’, the large cheer from the audience starts the evening off with a bang.

Revival Black are one of those names that’s been making the headlines over the past couple of years with their hard hitting classic rock style. Straight out of the traps they launch into ‘So Alive’ quickly followed by ‘Hold Me Down’, both from their critically acclaimed “Step in Line” album. It doesn’t take long before the bands raw energy, power and catchy riffs noticeably draw more than a passing resemblance to early G’nR, yet there’s something refreshingly different with these guys, their songs are extremely good and they grab you by the throat, shaking you like a rabid dog. The guitars are loud, dirty and damn right good, but it’s the vocal acrobatic antics of Dan Byrne that grab you the first time that you hear this Liverpudlian 5 piece. It’s not difficult to see why Dan has been borrowed by virtuoso guitarist Myke Gray to front his band too. He’s a confident dynamic singer that remains refreshingly humble, paying thanks to everyone for supporting live music during the past eighteen months or so. There’s a new album on its way and tonight we get ‘Believe’ and ‘Hurricane’ as tasters, both an instant hit with the faithful in the audience. They launch into a really clever version of Deep Purple’s ‘Burn’, demonstrating beautifully how they weave their own unique style into an old classic, but then throw in a twist as it leads unexpectedly into ‘The River’. The audience love them, previous single ‘No Secrets, No Lies’, hits you smack between the eyes before they bring the house down with the Classic Rock and Planet Rock fave ‘Wide Awake’. A triumphant end to a blistering set.

It’s not long after that VEGA take to the stage. It’s been a busy old time for the boys during the pandemic;  managing to release not 1, but 2 albums and shuffle the line up as well. From the rousing opener ‘Blind ‘ from 2020’s “Grit Your Teeth” they hit the ground running. By the time third number ‘Stereo Messiah’ begins most arms are raised aloft, voices singing every word and punching the air.  The audience know they are in for a treat; and they certainly aren’t disappointed. Tonight’s set is packed with songs from all 7 of their albums, plus a hefty chunk of the new material. There’s a noticeably heavier bottom edge to their melodic anthemia rock as ‘Beautiful Lie’ from the latest release “Anarchy and Unity" is unleashed. The thunderous drumming of the well travelled and seasoned Pete Newdeck and ex Inglorious man Billy Taylor’s solid guitar compliment the talents of long standing guitarist Marcus Thurston’s perfectly. 

With his almost theatrical presence on stage, Nick Workman is not just a great singer but a superb frontman. Bouncing and dancing about, he’s earning his name in the sheer energy and passion of his delivery, working the crowd so well he could almost be feeding a bunch of donkeys down on the beach. In fact passion is a word that resonates throughout the VEGA camp- it’s brimming with it and comes across tonight in bucket loads. To say they are capable of crafting a catchy song or two is somewhat of an understatement- they are masters of it, churning out chant a long anthems one after another that literally stick in your head. Tracks like the infectious ‘(I don’t need) Perfection’, ‘Kiss of Life’, ‘Ain’t Who I Am’ and the Halloween apt ‘Every Little Monster’  renders you anything other than wanting to raise your fist, chant and jump up and down. By the time we get to ‘White Knuckle Ride’ you really did feel like you had been riding a rollercoaster; climbing and diving amongst the classics and new material alike, but there’s no time to breathe just yet nor waste time with encores as they rip straight into the song that definitely pushed them up a level or two ‘White Flag’ before ending the night with the rip roaring latest single ‘Sooner or Later’. A fitting finale to a great evening, Blackpool and its famous pleasure beach may be home to ‘The Big One’ but the biggest thrill was certainly riding the one that rolled through the Waterloo Bar this evening.