Live Review : The Treatment + Airrace + Tequila Mockingbyrd @ Rebellion, Manchester on September 25th 2018

A midweek gig in Manchester on a Tuesday Champions League soccer night is always a blessing for me. When one half of the city is in a stadium and the other glued to their TV screens to watch guys chasing after a ball, it generally means getting there should be a doddle. But for live bands, Tuesdays are more of a predicament and as I get through the door of Rebellion, tonight is no exception for the Cambridge quintet The Treatment who is halfway through its UK tour.

The trio Tequila Mockingbyrd is already on stage and has barely started their set as I try to get to the front of the stage without knocking anyone with my camera bag, it is clearly evident that the event won’t be a sell out tonight.

I look up to the stage and get ready to take my first shot, I am slightly confused as to who is supposed to be in the band. Over the last few years I had seen them on a couple of occasions, and the now Anglo-Aussie trio (or was it always Aussie) look as if they have gone through personnel changes again. A quick search on the Tinternet reveals singer/guitarist Louisa Baker and bassist Jacinta Jaye having replaced Estelle Artois and Jess Reily last year with only drummer Josie O’Toole remaining.

The new girls have settled in well to their new roles and are now fitted into identical red striped spandex to show a new unity which may not have been there previously. Louisa’s vocals carry the Tequila Mockingbyrd existing catalogue with ease with no discernible major changes, “I Smell Rock n’ Roll” with a hint of ‘Rock Lobster’ vocal line and its riff is an instant hit. Jacinta’s bass may occasionally be overpowering with some clacking sound in the mix, but eventually this is resolved. New singles '“Tell Me” and “Pretty Picture” with a second album soon to be released reaffirm that Tequila Mockingbyrd is here to rock no matter what. People come, people go, but the songs remain the same.

After a brief chat with fellow photographer Sabrina Ramdoyal about what is currently happening on the local Rock and Metal scene, I get back to my reporting duties as Airrace open their set.

One of the UK’s pioneering AOR acts, Airrace were originally formed in 1982 which saw the musical debut of drummer Jason Bonham, Airrace was the brainchild of former More guitarist Laurie Mansworth. Following the acclaimed 1984 release of their debut album, ’Shaft Of Light’, the band supported rock titans such as Queen, AC/DC and Meat Loaf, but Airrace had fallen off all radars by 1985.

Laurie Mansworth keeps himself busy these days promoting this tour, managing The Treatment, setting up his band as support act whilst releasing the new album ‘Untold Stories’ under the Frontiers label.

The cheerful ‘Summer Rain’ with one of those fantastic bossa nova feel reminiscent of an old Santana number softened the hardest rockers in the room. In no time, the whole crowd is toe tapping, shoulder twitching, and I’m left wondering if I am about to injure myself it’s that good.

With ”Promise To Call”, we are back to the 80’s classic cock rock, just borderline of the AOR of the late 70’s. Some may think this kind of music has had its time and should stay shelved in the annals of Rock history but the aging rockers Laurie and his accomplice from Crocodile Dundee, Rocky Newton on bass have other plans.
The guitarist puts every ounce of energy behind his background vocals, guitar solos, really blasting the dust off old numbers with a fresh sound as Rocky consistently slaps that open E.

”Running Out Of Time” and ‘“Brief Encounter” allow singer and new band member Adam Payne to shine. The vocalist may be small in stature but he’s a giant on vocals and remains one of the highlights of the evening.

Airrace anthemic songs like so many of the AOR contemporaries really deserve to be played in stadiums to appreciate the full effect. Sadly this might never be, but at least tonight the songs were played with gusto and everyone, band and punters enjoyed them.

Next is The Treatment. Once they set their gear up, the band gather behind the black curtains of the private area to the left of the stage. Randomly one of the guitarist chugs away to ensure he is plugged in and I already have suspicions that it is going to be very loud. You see, I can safely say that I have never listened to The Treatment and know next to nothing about the Cambridge band. I purely headed to Rebellion following the recommendation of an old friend.

As the quintet jumps on stage and I mean literally jumps, a song like “Drink, Fuck, Fight” will settle any misconceptions about what you are about to receive. The Treatment is putting the finishing touches on its new album for an early 2019 release via Frontiers label. With only the new single, "Let's Get Dirty" recorded with brand new singer, Tom Rampton, this tour is more about showcasing the third vocalist and rehearsing for what may be a busy 2019.

Brothers Tagore and Tao Grey with bass player Rick "Swoggle" Newman have an unbelievable amount of energy, alternating stage positions in an unchoreographed fashion, trolling every inch of the stage. Tom Rampton appears rather timid in comparison when it comes to stage presence. I guess there is only so much mane shaking a crowd can take. The brothers have longer hair these days and don’t hesitate in flicking their flowing locks just like the Greats of the 80’s while exchanging guitar solos.

Tom Rampton’s voice is definitely more raspy than previous singer Mitchel Emms and with groove-laden, fist-pumping, unapologetic rock 'n' roll anthems like “The Doctor” and ”I Bleed Rock n’ Roll” the crowd are responding well to the Bon Scott-esque growl of the newcomer and headbanging is inevitably rife across the room.

The band slow the tempo down ever so slightly with “ Running With The Dogs” from the same titled album but the ghost riff of Malcolm on “Cry Tough” next, is a quick remedy to that minor blip.

The Treatment comes back for the encore with “Get The Party On” and the crowd pleaser “Shake The Mountain”. No mountain may be shaking tonight but Rebellion definitely is, as the crowd sings along with the chorus. When it comes to Rock n’ Roll, I can safely say that we all did get the full treatment.

Websites : The Treatment, Airrace, Tequila Mockingbyrd

Word and Photography by Johann Wierzbicki