Event Reviews

Last Wednesday saw the annual arrival of Halloween, one of my favourite holidays, so once again I happened upon Camden Town for a spot of gig’age.  Now this being the night when the veil is at its thinnest and the ghouls, monsters and freaks come out to play, one might …

First up tonight was Jordan Reyne.  Until I arrived at the gig I had no idea if there was going to be a support act – while the Leeds gig had two support bands announced well in advance, there was no such announcement for the London show, and the venue …

Tonight’s lineup started with Duff McKagan’s loaded. I hadnt listened to anything by them before so was looking forward to seeing them. I have to admit to being slightly sceptical though – when a band needs to rely on the name of one of the members then that’s usually not …

As morning arrived, we headed for our shuttle bus pick up point, met up with a few familiar faces, checked in, and rolled off for Wieze with some Female Fronted Metal blasting out from the speakers, ensuring that the cobwebs of the night before were well and truly blown away. …

Last week saw me heading just down the road to the Electric Ballroom for the Veil of Maya, The Devil Wears Prada and August Burns Red.  Now I’ll be the first to admit that this is not my favourite live venue as I find the sound can be a bit …

I am I are currently on tour promoting their debut album ‘Event Horizon’ with special guests from Italian metallers Arthemis and Fahran. I am I did perform at this years Bloodstock Open Air. Unfortunately I did miss their performance, so I am looking forward to seeing the guys tonight. Fahran …

For some people Sunday is a day of rest – the Sabbath if you will. A time to go to mass and light a few candles and throw a wink up to God so that nobody ever finds out about that one time…we all have that one time. Well, Sunday …

When I arrived outside the venue it was clear that tonights show was either sold out or pretty close – the queue was enormous.  Once inside it was pretty packed and was already getting quite warm even before the support band came on. Tonight’s support act (and indeed the support …

  This year saw MFVF hit the magic tenth anniversary mark in style. Starting originally in the Belgian capital Brussels, the festival moved to the bigger venue of Oktoberhallen in Wieze which has since become its permanent and spiritual home. The venue is best described as an aircraft hanger in …

The Guitar Universe Tour came to Dublin on 13 October and took over the Village venue. Not just about promoting the new releases of the artist’s, this tour was more about bringing something new and different to the masses. While Marty Friedman had Bad DNA and Tokyo Jukebox 2 to …

Tonight was Richie Sambora’s only UK show on his short European tour.  When I arrived at the venue, there were huge queues outside for this sold out gig – the longest queues I’ve seen for any gig at this venue (and I’ve been to a lot of gigs here).  Everybody seemed …

The TDC Auditorium, part of the Triskel Arts Centre in city-centre Cork, tonight plays host to a ream of great Irish talent, with a definite lean left in audio and aesthetic sensibilities.  Darkened sans the solitary projector up the back and some odd stage lights, it feels different here than …

Tonights pouring rain seemed to have put some fans off attending the gig – the venue was only around a third full which was disappointing for a Friday night gig, but none of the bands let it bother them and the fans who did brave the rain got to see …

Both the evolution and diversity of progressive metal is displayed in full effect at the Manchester Academy tonight. The rise of “djent” cannot be understated since one of tonight’s co-headliners first rose to prominence, themselves the product of more traditional progressive metal combined with an unmistakeable Meshuggah influence, opening the …

Ginger Wildheart and his band of rock n roll outlaws were a great choice as an opening act last night at the Manchester Apollo,. They got a thunderous welcome and hit the stage running with ‘Sonic Shake’, ‘Girls are better then the boys’, before the “everybody on stage jump about’ …

Tonight was the first night of the Reckless love tour, during which they are making weekly appearances at the Barfly in Camden – playing every Thursday night, each time with a different support act.  Tonights gig was sold out with a large queue forming well before the doors opened, and …

Presented by Dublin Metal Events, this was Voivod’s first time in Ireland. The venue has a low stage and gave the opportunity to get up close and personal with this seminal band. Doom hit the stage to the intro tape of  “Reality Asylum” by Crass. Doom have been about on …

It’s not very often the word dynasty is used in metal, however this tour could well herald the start of the Cavalera metal dynasty as Max Cavalera brings Soulfly back to the UK with support provided by two of his sons bands – Zyon & Igor Jr’s Lody Kong and Richie’s …

Sometimes, you just know it is going to be one of those days… Well, we had known for some time that this particular day was going to be one of those… and it was nothing to do with this Essex ‘post-hardcore’ (will somebody please explain what in the name of …

W.A.S.P. return to the UK on a 30th anniversary tour ’30 Years of Thunder’. It was just over three decades ago, on 21st September 1982, that W.A.S.P. played their first show in Los Angeles.  Tonight – with the theatrical Blackie Lawless teaming up with Doug Blair on lead guitar, Mike …