A thudding drum beat and great washes of keyboard herald the arrival of White Skies to the hallowed Waterloo stage. A band I’d never seen before, (or to be honest, knew a great deal about), they are purveyors of melodic rock in the grand tradition of soaring vocals, big riffs, and even bigger choruses. ‘What Do You Know About Love’ is a great start to the set with all of those three elements firmly present and correct, with tonight’s crowd very receptive and obviously firm devotees of the genre (as becomes even more apparent later on when Romeo’s Daughter perform).
Read MoreBeth Blade is in fine form tonight, but really is that a surprise? I’m not sure Beth and her merry band of Beautiful Disasters are capable of performing at less than 100%. Always endearing the Beautiful Disasters’ front woman and her band bring a charm and contagious enthusiasm to any show they play, exemplified by opening number the uplifting ‘Tonight I’m With You’.
Read MoreAutonym are a new band to me, and turn out to be genial north-easterners with a slightly off-key indie rock vibe. They're not bad, they play original songs but with a heavy Nirvana influence. It comes across in the dirty groove and the vocals, they definitely have that early 90s grunge feel about them. I do note that the drummer is really good though, and wonder if maybe in 20 years time he'll be a multi-millionaire front man too?
Read MoreWe start the evening with Bastette and the first thing I notice is that there's yet another new guitarist. This time it's Laurie Buchanon, also a member of The Hot Damn and previously working with her brother Aaron Buchanon. This isn't a bad thing though because Laurie is a cracking guitarist and she brings a little bit of extra magic to the band.
Read MoreIt’s always good to get back to the Waterloo for a gig, and tonight is no exception. I’m even more delighted to discover that they do KISS rum behind the bar – and I’m not driving! Result! So with a large one in hand I settle in for a perhaps somewhat more gentle than usual assault on my aural senses.
Read MoreTo 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.
Read MoreTonight I have travelled on the Highway To Hell. No really. The M6 is not my favourite place at the best of times, but tonight it exceeded itself to make my life miserable. Some of it was flooded. Some of it was on fire. This meant the bits of it that weren’t closed were moving incredibly slowly, oh and just for laughs there was also torrential rain to contend with. Deep joy. 2 hours later and I am in Blackpool just in time to catch most of openers Heartbreak Remedy’s set.
Read MoreIt’s always nice when you see bands that are starting to do well for themselves give a hand up to those coming up behind them, and that’s exactly what Gin Annie have done on this tour. Although White Raven Down have been their support on most of the dates, they have also opened up a third slot at some venues, which has gone to a local band.
Read MoreTonight is not the night I’m expecting to have. There’s bad news on the drummer front for all the bands playing, and even the addition of an extra band to the bill can’t quite shake off the bad vibes. Said band are a bunch of reprobates from California called Falling Doves. Yep, even in these days of covid restrictions and quarantines this band plus Porcelain Hill have sneaked in under the radar to tour together. How’s that working out for ya boys?
Read MoreThis gig has been a long time coming! It was first mooted before there was even a hint of covid in the air – Sam Millar had got the band together and recorded a couple of EPs and they were itching to get out on tour and play live. The possibility of a date at the Waterloo was mentioned, we were waiting for confirmation and then the world stopped. When things started to open up again there had been some shifting of band members, and the Waterloo show was originally booked as the band’s second ever gig. It was to be a socially-distanced event in October last year but sadly it got cancelled for the first time when we went into lockdown again in the autumn. Tickets in hand we waited eagerly for a new date.
Read MoreGigging In The Living (Room) - A New Reality? How Live Music Might Survive Covid-19
Featuring Tony Wright, Takeaway Thieves
Mamama my corona….. yep, that damned virus is really taking hold of the world now, and unfortunately a major side effect of social distancing is that gigs are getting cancelled and venues are having to close their doors all over the place.
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