Monday March 28th 2011
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND plus RISE TO REMAIN and TIGER PLEASE
Sugarmill, Stoke
A nice local gig to end the month on. The doors didn't open until 7.30 so we had a bit of a treat and went to MacDonalds on the way ... brought back memories that did.
We still got there early but I couldn't see a queue so thought they might have opened the doors already. I persuaded the kids to get out of the car and we went around to the venue. There was a bit of a queue but it was a nice evening so we waited.
It was almost empty when we got inside so the kids went straight to the front with 2 of Aimee's friends who were also there. I went over to them, much to their disappointment, but then I decided it might be a good move to go up onto the balcony, which was empty at this point. I went up and stood right above their heads so I could keep my eye on them.
I had a drink and then settled myself in, leaning against a pillar and overlooking the stage - brilliant! The only unpleasant thing was that my feet were completely stuck to the floor ... eww.
Luke and Aimee were shouting up to me which distracted me from putting my earplugs in, so when Tiger Please came on they almost deafened me. I noticed that the crowd barrier had been moved back and then realised why.
The stage at the Sugarmill isn't very big and there was a lot of equipment on it, so Tiger Please's singer was actually performing from the floor in front of the stage. It was OK for me, I could see everything from my vantage point, but most of the growing crowd wouldn't have had a clue where he was.
The band are from Cardiff and class themselves as Indie rock. They weren't bad but the audience didn't really seem that bothered. The singer took his microphone into the crowd at one point and got very close up and personal with a bunch of people who looked slightly terrified ... especially when his mate chucked a huge drum over to him. Needless to say no-one was moshing.
When Rise To Remain came on the whole place seemed to come alive. The lead singer is the son of Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson, which I should have realised, but was informed by Aimee afterwards.
I'm sure she's told me before but there's only so much information my poor brain can retain!
Anyway, he looks just like his dad and even sounded a little similar so I really should have worked it out for myself. I thought the drummer looked a bit like a young Colin Farrell, but I'm on my own with that one.
Their biggest fan appeared to be in the audience - he was a one man mosh pit, and managed to clear himself a large area as no-one would go near him. He managed to drag a couple of other blokes into his wild antics but mostly he was on his own.
We all liked them, especially Luke. He commandeered Aimee's camera to do some recording of his own here>>>Luke's Videography
Aimee sent me a text after their set to inform me that Luke wanted to marry Austin, but would settle for a photo. I hadn't realised he liked them that much.
We did hang around a bit at the end so he managed to shake his hand and buy a tee shirt off him (with my cash, of course).
Finally, Funeral For A Friend came on stage and the crowd went mad. A mosh pit sprang up as soon as the music started and it took up the entire floor. I was glad the kids were safe where they were standing, and so was I ... mosh pits are always good to watch from above.
Yet another fab Welsh rock band ... sorry, post hardcore/emo/screamo band according to Wikipedia. Great music, just my kind of thing, and a very chatty singer too.
Part way through he instructed the audience to split in half, into what Aimee tells me is called a wall of death ... nice. It was at this point Luke headed off into the mosh, and he stayed there until the end, leaving Aimee to carry on filming >>>Aimee's Videography
I still find it incredible that grown men run into each other at high speed, throw each other around and barge into everyone they see and nobody gets annoyed. The one man mosh pit was at it again, but this time he wasn't on his own.
Two blokes lost their shoes, and one of them went crowd surfing in an attempt to find his ... not quite sure what his thinking was there.
A few people tried to push in next to me right near the end but I wasn't going anywhere - I was wedged between the pillar and the handrail so I don't know where they thought I was going ... I considered asking but just ignored it and carried on tapping my foot.
It took me a while to get back down the stairs to the kids, but they were quite happy, and it gave Luke chance to meet his idol. We didn't get back to the car until after 11pm so it ended up being quite a late night, but it was well worth it.
Our next gig is on Friday April 8th when the 3 of us see The Blackout, who are always good value. This will be the first time we've seen them headlining so we're looking forward to it.
TTFN x
Wednesday March 23rd 2011
THE MAINE plus NEVERSHOUTNEVER
Manchester Academy
This was my first gig with double headliners, and I didn't even realise that's what they were until after the event. We arrived without too much trouble and headed for the queue, which was massive! We may as well have walked from home, it was so far to the end ... well perhaps not as long as the queue for All Time Low but still ... mind you when we got inside it was practically empty so I have no idea where everyone went.
We made use of the facilities and then went into the main hall where Aimee assumed her usual position and I went to the bar. I then assumed my usual position over on the left out of the way.
Whilst waiting for the gig to begin I noticed a girl back-combing her hair without the aid of a mirror! What is the world coming to?! I've seen some goings on at these events but nothing quite that dangerous.
First on were Nevershoutnever and it appeared that most of the audience had come to see them, even though it was basically just Chris the singer and a naked drummer.
(I later realised he wasn't naked but was wearing a grey vest!)
Nevershoutnever is basically Christofer Drew Ingle from Missouri and when he tours he has musicians with him. He's only 20 ... bless. Aimee says he doesn't believe in shoes ("well he probably believes they exist!") and so was barefoot, which I must admit I didn't notice despite the crowd in front of me being remarkably short for a change!
They were on for an hour and the crowd absolutely loved them.
Aimee recorded them for your viewing pleasure here >>>Aimee's Videography She did tell me that its ages since he last came over to England which I suspect explains the hysteria but I very much enjoyed their music. It makes a change for me to hear some acoustic pop music rather than deafening rock music (she says whilst listening to Bullet For My Valentine on the laptop!)
Unfortunately my visit to the bar meant I needed to pay a different kind of visit just as they were coming to the end of their set. I decided to go as they started their last song and what a good move that was ... the ladies were empty, but when I went back inside the rest of the audience seemed to be coming the other way!
During the interval I had a good chance to have a look around, as well as sending Aimee text message pictures of smiling turds.
The first thing I noticed ... well I couldn't miss them actually ... was a beautiful pair of patent yellow Doc Martens which were being modelled by a young girl to my left. She'll never get lost in the snow when she's wearing those!
Then, sitting on the floor to my right, was the ginger girl who looked just like the singer out of We The Kings. I was so excited by this revelation that I texted Aimee to tell her ... who was texting me the exact same news at the exact same time. I'm sure I saw her first though!
I also saw a bloke who looked like Bob off Twin Peaks, but if you're under 40 you'll have no idea who I mean! He was very scary though.
Some poor girl was pulled from the crowd and ended up in the recovery position on the security lady's table. Either that or she was having a kip ... but she didn't look at all well.
The Maine appeared at 9.30 to lots of cheers and the usual squealing.
They are from Phoenix, Arizona and are classed as a pop punk band.
Again, I liked them a lot and they were very nice young men. The singer even refused to remove his shirt! He was wearing an amazing pair of cowboy boots though, so no footwear phobia here.
They apparently needed a bit of help during their set and so got a young lad called Danny up on stage with them. He was as giddy as a kipper and grinned inanely all through the song, but didn't do much singing. He certainly enjoyed himself though.
The crowd thinned out a bit about half way through and the hall looked half empty from where I was. I spotted a conga line a bit further back but thankfully it didn't go all the way around the room.
During the last couple of songs I was aware of a girl standing at the side of me, and then she was stooping, then she stood up again. She took out of her bag what looked like a school book and was trying to write in it by the light of her Blackberry. Very strange.
It was all over at 10.30 and we had a great journey home - there weren't even any roads closed ... bit boring really!
Back next time with a review of Funeral For A Friend at the Sugarmill.
TTFN x
Friday March 11th 2011
ALL TIME LOW plus YELLOWCARD and YOUNG GUNS
Manchester Apollo
This was our first visit to the Apollo this year and it is one of our favourite venues. It is a very easy journey which takes about an hour and there is a car park right next door, which is always a bonus.
We got there at 7pm and waited in the car for about 15 minutes in the hopes that the queue may have shrunk a little ... how wrong we were! We got out of the car and walked around the corner to the doors to discover that people had been camping out overnight, if not longer. There were discarded blankets and sleeping bags all around the entrance, and the pavement was pretty disgusting to say the least!
How we chuckled when we passed a girl dressed as a cow and a boy with a penis drawn on his forehead in black marker pen ... hopefully not permanent ink, and made our way to the end of the queue.
I have NEVER seen a queue so long - it went all up the side of the Apollo (which is normal) but then it looped around another car park, came back on itself and went all the way out to the main road. I was shattered when I got to the end of it.
Aimee said there was a sign at the entrance for O2 priority customers ... she reckons she said it when we actually walked past it but I didn't hear her ... I think I was transfixed by Cow Girl. As I had booked my tickets via O2's Blueroom site we decided to see if we could get in there, even though my tickets didn't actually say they were priority. We also decided that if they wouldn't let us in we'd go back to the car and sit for a while.
We finally got to the entrance ... again ... and went in the O2 customers' door. Inside there was a little window and some people collecting tickets so I had a word with the nice security chap who said we should go in through the next door ... which we did ... thereby effectively jumping the queue.
Now as you know, I'm not a fan of such practices but in this case I don't consider it rude because its a perk of being an O2 customer at an O2 sponsored venue. And it made me feel very important indeed!
Once inside the Apollo we were immediately next to the merch desk. I had some money on me and told Aimee I could lend her £20 if she wanted anything, but she should get it straight away before the whole place was too packed to move. She picked up a lovely tee shirt and we made our way upstairs to the quieter toilets. I had intended to get myself a drink as well but after Aimee's purchase I only had 45p left to my name.
After powdering our noses we headed to our seats ... we knew where we were sitting as we had exactly the same seats precisely a year before when we first saw You Me At Six ... such a coincidence! Fantastic seats they were too - on the right hand side practically overlooking the stage. Couldn't have been much better.
We hadn't been sitting too long before Young Guns came on. We saw them in Stoke last November and they were great. In fact Aimee was wearing her Young Guns Tee shirt to the gig (which she then covered up with her new one).
The first thing I noticed was that they all had extremely tight trousers. I don't know how they manage to move about so much with jeans so tight.
The hall itself was at least half full, but knowing how many people were queueing outside I wasn't sure they'd fit everyone in!
Young Guns (from High Wycombe) got everyone jumping up and down and I even saw a mini mosh pit, which looked a bit sorry for itself from where I was sitting. One poor girl had to be pulled out of the audience during their second song and I couldn't help hoping she hadn't been camping out all night to get to the front, only to be removed after a song and a half. What a shame!
The now obligatory floating condom came out quite early on. Its a comforting thought that the person who had blown it up and set it free would probably never actually need it for its true purpose!
Young Guns definitely rocked it, but if you'd like to see them and the other bands for yourself please check out Aimee's recordings of the event>>Aimee's Videography
Next up were Yellowcard. I hadn't heard of them before but they were really good. They're from Jacksonville, Florida and have been going since 1997. The unusual thing about them is that, despite being part of the pop punk genre they have a violinist, which I loved.
Obviously I didn't know any of their songs but Aimee was singing away, as she was all night, and if you listen very carefully you might just hear her voice on the video she recorded ... voice of an angel that girl!
During the interval, not only did the boys next to us disturb us again, but we spotted a dancing cow sitting on a big box and rocking away to the music. I'm not sure if this was in any way related to the girl in the queue, and I don't think I want to know, but it amused me throughout the break.
Finally the lights went out and the audience screamed ... thank goodness for ear plugs ... and on came All Time Low. Aimee and I have waited so long to see them and they were brilliant from start to finish.
Jack's microphone stand transformed into a bra holder almost immediately, and girls continued to throw bras on to the stage throughout their set. I asked Aimee if she thought I should throw mine and she nodded and laughed ... I think I might have knocked somebody out if I'd launched my boulder holder from the balcony!
For fact fans the band are from Baltimore, Maryland and formed in 2003. Their name is taken from lyrics in the song 'Head on Collision' by New Found Glory ... according to Wikipedia.
I'm not sure if farmyard animals is a general theme of their shows but shortly after coming onto the stage an inflatable sheep came flying in from the crowd. Again, its perhaps best I don't ask.
The girls all got a bit giddy when Alex announced that there was a spare bunk on their tour bus that night, and that it was the one in between Jack and himself. I could barely hear the quote of the night over all the squealing when he asked
"Do you want to be the turkey in my sandwich?"
I could only think one thing ... more farm animals!
When the rest of the boys went for a bit of a break, Alex stayed on stage with his guitar and did a beautiful rendition of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. They finished with Dear Maria, which I am reliably informed by Aimee went Gold a couple of days before, and that's despite having no radio airplay.
They are a great bunch of lads, really good fun, and all very gorgeous ... especially Rian the drummer, who is my favourite. The show as a whole was great value for money and it was definitely one of my favourite gigs. All 3 bands also said that we were the best crowd of the whole tour and it was their favourite gig. I thought they said that every night but I was most impressed when Aimee showed me All Time Low's Twitter post saying the same thing.
As soon as it finished we left by the exit we were sitting right next to, straight to the car and got out of the car park before most people had even left the building. Most successful.
That's it for now - our next gig is on March 23rd when we see The Maine at Manchester Academy. Another band I don't know a whole lot about but I'm looking forward to it all the same.
TTFN x
Wednesday March 9th 2011
D.R.U.G.S plus BLITZ KIDS and DECADE
Nottingham Rock City Basement
This was a first for me going to Rock City in Nottingham and I knew it was a bit of a trek. I had to finish work early to see the doctor again but we didn't end up leaving the house any earlier, which was a pity because it took us over an hour and a half to get there.
Still, the journey was fine, no major hold ups although my satnav did seem to think I would enjoy a scenic trip with lots of single lane winding roads ... cheers but give me a dual carriageway anyday!
It was just Aimee and I again and we had a bit of excitement on the way. We were in a 40mph zone, travelling at the speed limit when a man on a motorbike went speeding past us. About a minute further down the road there was a car pulled up at the side of the road, a motorbike lying on its side in the bushes and a man in a crash helmet giving the car driver lots of grief. Oh well ... we didn't have time to stop.
We found the venue and the multi storey car park quite easily, got our chip coin and parked up, then it was about a minute's walk to Rock City. It looked like a very nice venue but we only got as far as the basement. The Stranglers were on in the main room.
Because of our journey time we sadly missed the first support band Decade (pronounced by Aimee as decayed, which I prefer) and so I have nothing to offer on their performance. I've put a picture in for when they hit the big time and I can say 'I almost saw them once'. It wasn't easy finding a picture by the way - I Googled images of 'Decade band' and practically every band ever came up.
Anway we got inside the basement which was tiny - we reckoned about as big as the Underground in Hanley, and I went to get a bottle of water. Making my way back through the small crowd to find Aimee I noticed that I was by far the oldest person there (I don't count the security chaps ... maybe I should.)
She got right to the front as usual and I joined her just after Blitz Kids came on. We like them. We only saw them a couple of weeks ago and they were playing to a much bigger crowd then but they were still lovely and appreciative.
Because the place was so tiny and only half full there wasn't quite so much audience participation but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. I asked Aimee where they're from as their accent sounded similar to mine, and she told me they're from Crewe. I got quite depressed thinking there's a slight possibility I might know their mothers! Lovely lads, would see them again given the chance.
Aimee and I got in the way a bit as they had to come past us with their equipment as they left the stage. One girl offered to help carry a couple of guitars (probably basses) only to be answered with the quote of the night ... 'You can't hold my children!' Bless.
Finally D.R.U.G.S or Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows came on stage to much applause and screeching. I didn't know their stuff all that well although I do have their only album on my iPhone. Anyway, they're from Michigan and only formed last year. Aimee almost got thrust onto the stage at one point so she was close enough to do her bit for historical accuracy >>Aimee's Videography
I didn't notice til quite late on that the singer's microphone was wrapped in what looked like a paper napkin and tied up with ribbon. Aimee tells me a lot of singers do that but its the first time I've noticed it. I suppose their hands must get extremely sweaty.
I very much enjoyed their set, even if it was a bit short ... only 45 minutes ... but they do only have one album. It was all over at 9.30pm so we didn't end up getting back all that late, which was a bonus. I've never seen Aimee quite so animated - she was jumping about, arms in the air, whipping her hair - she loved it, and I love seeing her enjoying herself.
Well that's about it for now - quite a short entry for quite a short gig, but worth the effort.
We're back in Manchester on Friday night but at the Apollo this time - we like it there. We're sitting but have fantastic seats practically right over the stage and we're seeing All Time Low who we've both wanted to see for ages and I reckon it will be a corker!
TTFN x
Friday March 4th 2011
PLAN B plus FAITH SFX and LIAM BAILEY
Empress Ballroom, Blackpool
This trip was a special treat for me and my fabulous friend Karen (whose own review is shown below) We both had the day off work and once I had been to the dentist, had the car washed, filled up with petrol and packed the kids off to school, I tootled off to Bury to pick her up ... whilst listening to The Defamation of Strickland Banks on repeat of course. We had a cuppa and some lunch at Karen's house and then headed off to Blackpool.
Once we got there my trusty Satnav took us right to the hotel but as the car park only had room for 2 cars, and was full, I had to park in the next street. Mild panic ensued as there was no answer at our hotel, but we finally got inside and taken to our very compact and bijou room.
My favourite part was the wardrobe that actually turned out to be the bathroom. Even with my short legs the only way I could sit on the loo was side on with my feet sticking out of the door. It a good job we're such good friends! Anyway the lady there was lovely and she did a fantastic full English breakfast, so it was all fine.
We had a couple of beers and then went to the prom ... or tried to. Everything was fenced off and there were tram lanes dug up all over the place. We did the only thing we could do and went into Harry Ramsden's for some tea ... fish, chips, peas and buttered bread ... and another beer. Yum. Then we went back to our room to get ready for our big night out.
We went into the Winter Gardens which has lots of rooms and is a very nice place, then we found a bar and had another beer. Next door was the Empress Ballroom which is very beautiful, even in the dark, and was almost half full when we got in there. We moved down the side and found a decent spot to stand.
First to come on was a young chap called Liam Bailey. I hadn't heard of him before and neither had Karen, but we both loved his voice ... very soulful.
In the interests of accuracy I have now Wikipedia'd him and he's from Nottingham and was discovered and signed by Amy Winehouse. He also appeared on 'Blind Faith' by Chase and Status earlier this year. We both liked him a lot.
Then came Faith SFX - our favourite beatboxer. We saw him supporting Plan B last October and he was amazing. He didn't do a full set this time but its probably just as well ... I think if he'd done his Transformers montage Karen might have fainted!
There is no doubt what he can do with his mouth can take your breath away - its incredible. In fact I can't even describe it - just watch this >>Faith SFX He then introduced Plan B.
When Plan B appeared half of the audience almost collapsed including Karen and myself. We had both seen him in October but he was definitely much more confident and more at ease with a big audience ... not surprising now he's a superstar.
We love him, completely. We like the sound of his music, which makes us fans of his music, that's why Love Goes Down makes us lose it cos we can't separate the man from the music. We're not obsessed though!
There's not really a lot to say about the gig itself - we spent the night staring at him on stage and singing along to all the tracks, which is possibly why I have no voice left now. It's definitely one of my all time favourite evenings.
Didn't get any video myself as my own videographer wasn't with me, and didn't get any usable photos, but the memory will stay with me forever! It didn't matter that Blackpool was in the middle of a major facelift ... it certainly needs one ... it was worth the mileage for a show like that. The soul covers in the encore were brilliant - Kiss From A Rose, My Girl, I Got Sunshine, Tracks of My Tears - classics with a modern Plan B/Faith SFX twist.
Pure genius.
I asked Karen for a 3 word review and, as promised, here it is :
"Fan bloody tastic". Sums it up quite well I think.
So there you have it ... it may not be rock as such, but it rocked us!
My next gig is with the divine Aimee and we're at Nottingham's Rock City tomorrow evening seeing D.R.U.G.S - not an expert on them but if Aimee likes them I'm sure I will.
TTFN x
