NWOBHM Never Dies Part Three: In The Heat Of The Night.

Diamond Head

The Hairy Dog

Derby

10.10.14.

October and November sees New Wave of British Heavy Metal veterans Diamond Head back on the road for a eighteen date tour which covers most of England, Scotland and Whales this includes the Hard Rock Hell festival at Pwllheli and a couple of dates on the continent.

Widely recognised as one of the leading lights in the plethora of NWOBHM bands back in the late seventies and early eighties Diamond Head have been chronicled as a major influence on the bands Metallica and Megadeth.

I first saw the boys from the West Midlands play live thirty two years ago at Rock City Nottingham in 1982 to be exact. Sadly after the release of their third studio album ‘Canterbury’ Diamond Head disappeared in the mid eighties, they reformed in the nineties and released their fourth studio album entitled ‘death and progress’ (1993) this second incarnation of the band was sadly short lived. In the noughties D/H came back for a third time and after two more studio albums ‘all will be revealed’ (2005) and ‘what’s in your head?’ (2007) it looks like they’re back to stay. 

The current line-up of founding band member Brian Tatler  (lead guitar) along with Karl Wilcox (drums) Eddie Moohan (bass) Andy Abberley (rhythm guitar) and Nick Tart (lead vocals) are by now well established and the most settled in the bands long history. That said I was surprised to learn that lead singer Nick Tart was not fronting the band on this tour; his replacement is Rasmus Bom Andersen from Denmark.

Tonight’s gig at the Hairy Dog in Derby is the first night of the tour and a respectable turn out has gathered to see the show. I’m looking forward to a full set of songs as last year D/H played a shorter show due to their tour being a ‘double headliner’ with Uli Jon Roth.

It’s half past nine, Showtime! There’s an air of anticipation building in the audience as the NWOBHM legends hit the stage opening up with ‘play it loud’ and ‘lightning to the nations’ both very early D/H songs. With ‘classics’ such as ‘call me’, ‘to heaven from hell’ and a mash-up of ‘devil his due’ and ‘heat of the night’ all coming in the first half of the set the Derby crowd were captivated right from the get go.

I for one had some trepidation about the stand in singer before the show started and although early on Rasmus did seem a little uneasy on stage it didn’t take him too long to get into his stride. He told me after the show that tonight was only his second performance with D/H making tonight’s rendition even more remarkable, by the end of the tour I’m sure it will seem like he’s always been there.  

This evening’s performance is packed with classics from the pantheon of D/H’s back catalogue such as ‘borrowed time’, ‘it’s electric’ ‘the prince’ and the song made famous by Metallica ‘am I evil’. A kind of middle-aged mosh pit (instigated by yours truly) started around the time D/H played ‘it’s electric’ and it continued to the end of the gig.

The newer songs ‘what’s in your head’, ‘come alive’ and ‘give it to me’ were included in tonight’s exploits to prove D/H are not resting on their laurels and the older hands in the band were definitely up for it, their enjoyment of playing live was apparent for everyone to see in fact their vivacity infected the crowd with a bonhomie felt long after to night’s entertainment was over.

Diamond Head can be seen all over the country till the end of November so if you’re an old fan from the early days or if you’ve never seen them before get yourself along to a show and all will be revealed… GD Manofmetal.

For more info on Diamond Head go to http://www.diamond-head.net/

Stop Press News…

Diamond Head singer Nick Tart quits the band

Statement from Nick

After 11 years of being the singer for Diamond Head I now feel it’s time for me to move on. As most are aware they have already started the October tour with a replacement singer and I wish them nothing but the very best. I haven’t heard the new guy yet but I’m sure he will be great; Brian has good quality control over Diamond Head and I don’t believe he would continue touring unless he had found a singer who could pull it off. They are a very powerful band to front, so the best of luck to him, no doubt I will be snooping into you tube to see what they sound like.
I was hoping to pen a third album, but making new music with the band became limited; Brian mentioned he had no interest in making a new album, he didn't feel the urge, which I can totally understand. He’s been doing it for a long time, but if there is no urge to make a new album, then an album doesn't belong. I made things even more difficult by moving to the other side of the world.
After living in Brisbane for nearly 6 years now, I've been very fortunate to still be able to fly to the UK and US for tours, thanks to hard work and determination of Karl Wilcox our drummer, without him there’s quite a lot that wouldn't have been possible for DH. When Diamond Head get offered work, festivals for example, they should be in a position to say yes, without worrying about all the hassle it will take to get me involved.
I’m very proud of the 2 albums I have written and recorded with DH and the touring we have done was way beyond my expectations, especially performing at Knebworth with Metallica. I have had some fantastic times, the guys in DH are so grounded which made the tours such a joyful ride, and we have had some laughs.
I now have my own band here in Brisbane; it’s taken me a long time to find someone to connect with musically, but I’m now writing new material and things are shaping up nicely. I’m getting quite excited, so I now need to move forward.
Love and thanks to those DH fans that accepted and encouraged me when I first joined the band and have followed us ever since, you know who you are.

All Photos and videos of Diamond Head by GD Manofmetal from the Hairy Dog Derby 2014 (Photo of Nick Tart by GD from Sheffield 2013)

Rock & Blues Festival [Videos]

All 14 of my videos from the Rock & Blues festival Pentrich Derbyshire 25/26 July 2014.

NWOBHM Never Dies Part Two: The Lion’s Share.

Vardis [Review]

Rock & Blues Festival

Pentrich

Derbyshire

25.07.14.

For the second weekend running I find myself at a festival in Derbyshire watching a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, last week it was Girlschool, this week it’s the turn of Vardis who have returned to the fray after an absence of twenty eight years. I last saw Vardis in November 1986 at the mardi gras Nottingham which must have been one of their very last gigs, until now that is.

Formed in the 1970’s Vardis rose to their peak of fame in the early 80’s with their debut album 100 MPH which uniquely for a first LP is a live recording. I saw them back then support Hawkwind on the Levitation tour and Slade on the Till Deaf Do Us Part tour as well as opening up the Heavy Metal Holocaust festival at Port Vale in 1981.

Rumours of a reunion began last year and in 2014 it came to fruition with a successful appearance at Brofest(UK)#2 and the re-release of their 1986 album Vigilante which has been digitally re-mastered. Today at the Rock & Blues festival we see Vardis playing their third show since the comeback and lead guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Zodiac bares little resemblance to his appearance of yester year, gone is the mane of long blond hair and the bare foot and bare chest demeanour but not gone is the inimitable guitar sound that so impressed the NWOBHM audiences back in the day.

Joining Steve Zodiac on stage is Terry Horbury (bass) and Gary Pearson (drums) it was Gary by all accounts who was instrumental in finding Steve and getting the old team into a rehearsal studio.

Vardis are in good company at the Rock & Blues festival being joined on the bill by Toseland, Eddie & the Hot Rods, Acoustic TV, New Generation Superstars and many more great live bands. Headlining the main stage on Friday they follow State of Quo which was good for them as 100% of the audience have heard of Status Quo, considerably less of them have ever heard of Vardis.

It’s a testimony to the quality of their songs that not only the ‘hard core’ fans down the front were rockin’ to the hour and a half set but many of the Vardis initiates were engrossed in the show as well. Songs like ‘Let’s Go’ ‘Out of the Way’ ‘Destiny’ ‘If I Were King’ ‘100MPH’ and ‘The Lion’s Share’ standing the test of time and sounding as fresh and relevant as they did over thirty years ago. On the strength of tonight’s performance I’m sure there are now many more Vardis fans in the world, if I were king I’d have a lion’s share because NWOBHM Never Dies… GD Manofmetal.

Visit The Vardis Wbsite:

http://www.vardisrocks.com/

                          Gee It's Steve Zodiac!

 All Five of My Videos From Rock & Blues Festival...

NWOBHM Never Dies Part One: The Girls Are Back In Town.

Girlschool [Review/Interview]

Rock & Bike Festival

Carnfield Hall

Derbyshire

18.07.14.

July sees the first gig of the year for NWOBHM stalwarts Girlschool as they materialize at the Rock & Bike festival in Derbyshire. Also on the bill of the weekend festival are Snakecharmer, Psychedelic Warlords, Bad Manners, Evil Scarecrow and a guest appearance by former WASP axe man Chris Holmes to name just a few. There’s a great atmosphere at this festival with plenty to do, two stages with around thirty live acts as well as a custom bike show a Wild West display, merchandise stalls as well as real ale at the bar and many exotic food outlets.

Girlschool are headlining the main stage on Friday night, last year they toured the UK with fellow NWOBHM luminaries Raven but these days the girls tend to play more gigs abroad than in their home country so this weekend was high

on my ‘to go to’ agenda.

Playing a set of familiar songs Girlschool wow the large audience with anthems such as ‘take it all away’ dedicated to the late Kelly Johnson their original guitarist who sadly past away seven years ago this very week. Other ‘classic’ GS numbers included in the set are ‘hit and run’ ‘demolition boys’ ‘yeah right’ screaming blue murder’ and ‘emergency’ as well as the newer numbers ‘I spy’ and ‘never

say never’.

To say this band have been around for thirty six years they’ve lost none of the vim and vigour that they possessed back in the early eighties, in fact like many of the bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era they’re still going strong and still have an audience who want to watch and listen to them which is reassuring.

The current band line-up comprises of three of the original members of GS, Kim McAuliffe (guitar/vocals) Enid Williams (bass/vocals) Denise Dufort (drums) and Jackie Chambers (lead guitar/vocals) who took over from Kelly back in 1999 and it’s  Jackie ‘Jax’ Chambers who I managed to interview at Rock & Bike, here’s how it went…

GD: Having taken the first six months of 2014 off prior to playing the Rock & Bike festival at Carnfield Hall, what are Girlschool’s plans for the rest of the year?

Jax: Well we have a couple of gigs to do in Finland next month and then we're hoping to record a new album at the end of the year.

GD: Unbelievably its six years since Girlschool’s last studio album, the brilliant ‘Legacy’ and three years since ‘Hit and Run – Revisited’ are there any plans for a new album?

Jax: lol… and just for you I answered 2 questions in 1... there are plans but nothing concrete as yet, here's hoping!

GD: After thirty six years together what keeps the grand dames of British heavy metal going? 

Jax: I think it's because we love music and playing on stage is just the best feeling in the world. As long as the crowds want to hear us then we'll keep on playing.

GD: Do you find Girlschool get more recognition in Europe than they do in the UK these days?

Jax: Yes I think we do but lately we've done a few more gigs here in the UK and they've been well attended, let's hope there's a few more UK dates soon.

GD: Fellow all female metal band Rock Goddess have recently reformed do you think any future collaborations between the former rivals are a possibility, i.e. touring together or maybe sharing the bill at a festival?

Jax: I wouldn't say that Rock Goddess were ever rivals, in fact we're all the best of friends. Me and Den (Denise Dufort) were in a band with Tracey Lamb and Jody Turner (of RG) a few years back called No Class when things weren't busy with GS, great fun! But to answer that question I do hope we will play together somewhere along the line.

GD: Jax, I hear you have plans to form your own band can you tell me how that is going and what style of music you’ll be playing?

Jax: Yes, whilst GS aren't so busy I'd love to be playing more (love it) I've been doing some writing with a singer and now I'm looking for a drummer and bassist... It will still be good old Rock n Roll in the same vein as GS... early days yet though but hope to be gigging by the end of the year?

A huge thanx to Jax Chambers for the interview and a massive thank you to the rest of Girlschool who came off stage at the Rock & Bike festival elated by the protracted ovation they received by the enthusiastiv crowd… proof that NWOBHM never dies… ‘Cheers you lot’ GD Manofmetal. 

          Above: Enid Williams & GD Manofmetal @ Rock & Bike Fest 2014.

Visit Girlschool’s official website: http://www.girlschool.co.uk/mainindex.htm

Four Videos From Rock & Bike 2014 by GD...

Rock & Bike Festival [Videos]

All 16 of my videos from The Rock & Bike Festival Carnfield Hall.

Metal Racer [Doro Videos]

All my Doro Videos From O2 Academy Islington 19th May 2014 plus six of my archive Doro videos from the garage Islington (2012) & Wulfrun hall Wolverhampton (2009) Enjoy:

O2 Academy Islington (2014)

. . . .

The Garage Islington (2012)

. . . .

Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton (2009)

. .

GD Manofmetal.

30 Years Strong And Proud

Doro

O2 Academy

Islington

London

19.05.14

When you get the Manofmetal on an express train to London It’s got to be for something special, well it doesn’t get much more special than a one off gig by The Queen of Heavy Metal Doro Pesch. As part of the ongoing celebrations of Doro’s thirty year anniversary, it’s 1983 since she burst onto the music scene with her band Warlock; Doro is playing just one show in England at the O2 academy in Islington.

Having travelled down to the capital I find myself in the middle of theatre land where I’m staying for the night and after the disappointment of finding rock pub The Intrepid Fox boarded up plan B comes into operation, a pub crawl round Soho before it’s time to journey over to Islington via one of the nine circles of Hell that is the tube.

So the scene is set and as the Doro ‘clan’ gather we’re entertained by support act Nulldb (pronounced Null Dee Bee) a German metal band who sing all their songs in their native language, not too much of a problem except they manage to sound like a Teutonic Metallica. The guys in the band were super confident however and must have thought in their heads they were playing to an audience of thousands at Wembley stadium instead of a few hundred in the Islington O2 academy. The half hour set they played couldn’t come to an end soon enough for me, sorry guys, nice try though.

So after the Metallica flavoured starter let’s move on to the main course and boy what a main course, like an all you can eat carvery with four meats and real Yorkshire puds.

Known as heavy metal’s Queen, Doro Pesch fronts the eponymously named band Doro whose current line-up is Johnny Dee (Drums) Luca Princiotta (Guitar, Keyboards) Nick Douglas (Bass) Bas Maas (Guitars) and Harrison Young (Keyboards). They arrive on stage to a raucous reception from the crowd who’ve crammed into the confines of the venue to enjoy this special anniversary show.

Doro herself looks so happy just to be there on stage as she always does, applauding and thanking her fans at every opportunity throughout the set. A set which begins with no fewer than four Warlock songs, I Rule the Ruins, Earthshaker Rock, Burning the Witches and Fight For Rock all classics from the early period of her career. The next pair of songs are from Doro’s last two studio albums, Night of the Warlock and the titular Raise Your Fist in the Air, by now both crowd and band are hot and sweaty as the emotive show gets better and better.

More than half the material in tonight’s set comes from Doro’s Warlock albums, every one a gem, songs like Metal Racer, Für Immer, Out of Control, Metal Tango and the Anthemic chant along song  All We Are. The lyrics are so familiar to the devotees in the house, there’s singing along aplenty coupled with much chanting and raised ‘horns’ these antics are instigated and encouraged by Doro herself. Also there’s always room in her shows to pay homage to her hero’s and influences so Judas Priest’s Breaking the Law and Dio’s Egypt (The Chains Are On) were enthusiastically received by the knowledgeable audience, Warlock toured with both Priest and Dio in the past and Doro wrote the song Hero as a dedication to the late great Ronnie James Dio.

After what seemed like an infinite drum solo from the spirited Johnny Dee we are acquainted with the band members by The Queen of Heavy Metal herself while bassist Nick Douglas does the honours for Doro, with his American drawl and delivery sounding like he was introducing the heavyweight champion of the world.

Then Doro mentions her meeting with fellow metal Queen Jody Turner (I honestly thought she was gonna walk on stage) Jody is the front woman of Rock Goddess who have recently re-formed after many years and are currently working on a brand new album (plug over) Doro seemed hopeful of a collaboration of sorts ‘maybe we can do something together, I always like to do collaborations’ was I think the quote.

The show went on and on, twenty two songs in total, nearing and passing the curfew time Doro just didn’t want to leave the stage asking the crowd to suggest songs for them to play. Love Me in Black and Unholy Love seemed to bring the curtain down on a fantastical show however one more request was forthcoming, Evil a rare Warlock song eventually brought to an end a superb performance by a brilliant heavy metal band. All six members take a protracted ovation from some of the most loyal fans in the world, in fact Doro herself seems to feed off the adulation of her fans like a benign succubus, she is only a year younger than me and at fifty she still looks like she’s in her early thirties I think that portrait in her attic was painted by Dorian Gray.

As we near the halfway mark of 2014 tonight’s show has been a major highlight of the year so far for me and with the promises of a return to these shores in December as Saxon’s special guests (for the London show at least) it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

For more info on Doro visit the official website:

http://www.doromusic.de/

Doro on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DoroOfficial?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/DoroPeschOfficialGerman?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/QueenOfMetal666/?fref=ts

Doro on youTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-u4zg20RDriInftAnQUcQ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoxg3Kml41wE3IPq-PC-LQw

GD Manofmetal.

Rock Paper Scissors

Sack Sabbath + Thin Lizzy Experience + 

Hi-On Maiden

March – October

England

The rock paper scissors tour features three of the best tribute bands around at the moment. If you’re a fan of Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden then this is for you. The tour runs from March to October covering many towns and cities in England. I recently saw the show in Sheffield the city of steel, here are my videos from that gig… Enjoy:

To learn more about these bands check them out on-line:

Sack Sabbath: http://www.sacksabbath.co.uk/

Thin Lizzy Exp: http://www.thinlizzyexperience.com/

Hi-On Maiden: http://www.hi-onmaiden.com/

Noize Leval Critical [Videos]

• Little Mammoth
• Spill 16
• Teenage Casket Co.
• Dirt Box Disco 
• Gypsy Pistoleros 
• Exit State 
• Dead Audio Saints 
• The Goddamn Electric 
• Hellbound Hearts  
• Suicide Tuesday
• The Maze
• Nottingham
• 03.05.14

Noize Leval Critical [Festival Review] Part 2:

Exit State + Dead Audio Saints + The Goddamn Electric +

Hellbound Hearts  + Suicide Tuesday

The Maze

Nottingham

03.05.14

This review is the ‘edited highlights’ of the first day of the annual two day festival hosted by Noize Level Critical Radio Show (NLC) in aid of RACP UK (Rock Against Child Pornography). With around two dozen bands playing over the weekend of the 3^rd and 4^th of May at the Maze on Mansfield road in Nottingham it’s a positive feast of the best underground bands around at the moment. This year The Manofmetal only attended day one so here’s my highlights of the second half of that first day of the festival.

Exit State are a Lancashire based band I’ve seen many times before, I caught them headlining this very venue back in January of this year, they always deliver an entertaining set and today is no exception. Fronted by the likable Roy Bright (lead vocals/guitar) along with Matt Harris (lead guitar) Phil Ireland (bass) and Peat Hicks (drums) Exit State fit into the hard rock genre of music but they make many forays into the realms of heavy metal, punk and indi. They’re signed to the Rocksector Records label and have achieved much over the last few years but it’s the quality of their songs that is the main reason why they are so popular and with three full albums already under their belts there’s plenty to choose from. Playing for a meagre half hour here at the maze today must have posed somewhat of a dilemma when compiling their set list, ‘I Know Where You Are’ off their first album ‘Death of a Rock Star’ and the sing along ‘Is There Anybody Out There’ being particular favourites of mine, while bringing us bang up to date ‘Pull the Thread’ from their current album ‘Let’s See it All’ are the highlights of a quality set.

If you’ve read part one of this review you might remember a reference I made to ‘rock family trees’ well the next band to take the stage are progeny of that particular genealogy. Dead Audio Saints were born only last year, brought forth into the world kicking and screaming out of the ruins of Velvet Star, upon first viewing both bands don’t seem dissimilar however there are several contrasts. Lead singer Danny Jones has reinvented himself for Dead Audio Saints, gone is the shirtless Iggy Pop like posturing in favour of a darker more erratic performance. The shirt remained on throughout (despite the pleas of some ladies in the crowd) and using two mics for the duration of every song (one normal, one with echo) Danny manages to look and sound considerably different from the Velvet Star days. Inevitably Dead Audio Saints do play some old Velvet Star songs an occurrence given time I’m sure will cease to happen. Their facebook blurb says DAS are “Bolstering gritty garage punk vibes with contemporary loops Dead Audio Saints blur standard genre lines!” This is a pretty accurate description of what they sound like but don’t take their word for it or mine, go see them for your self and report back to me, I’d be interested in your opinions.

The next two bands on the bill here at NLC festival are new to me, The Goddamn Electric hail from the Manchester area, they claim to spend more time in the rehearsal room than they do on hairstyles, this is a fact. With an eclectic appearance The Goddamn Electric comprising of Tommy (lead vocals) Al (lead guitar) Justin (bass) and Gavin (drums) took their name from the Pantera song of the same name however they’re definitely not Pantera clones, they’ve got more in common with bands like Black Stone Cherry with southern rock and blues overtones to their music. I definitely want to see this band again as they seemed to be on and off the stage before I had chance to blink, a hors d'oeuvres when I wanted a three course meal… with chips.

The penultimate band of the night are Hellbound Hearts a three piece from York they describe their brand of rock music thusly: “Saw toothed guitars and a rhythm section capable of levelling a city block.... rock and roll as it should be.” A bold claim and one they delivered in a short space of time. Front man Danny Lambert (lead vocals/lead guitar) is both charismatic and amusing as he chats to the crowd between songs while constantly retuning his guitar, his brothers in arms are Jase Brooks (bass) and Andy Black (drums). Again, like the previous band I need to see Hellbound Hearts again, the too short a set proving tantalising, not satisfying, they were good solid stripped down hard rock a trait of most three piece bands that always proves refreshing.

And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain… Suicide Tuesday ceased to be a functioning band toward the end of last year but being staunch supporters of the NLC and RACP they’ve reunited to put in one last performance, to headline day one of the 2014 festival.

So for one last hurrah! Rikki Valentine (lead vocals) Oz Paul (lead guitar) Luke James (drums) and Jonny Suicide (bass) have taken to the stage here at the maze to play an emotional set of memorable songs we all know and love. Songs like ‘Church of Sin’, Dirty Little Thing’ and the poignantly titled ‘Last Time Around’ It’s like they’ve never been away, in fact that’s not true, whether it’s the fact that we will never see Suicide Tuesday again or whether the band members themselves are functioning under a different mind set to normal I’m not sure but tonight’s show is one of their best ever performances.

Last year Suicide Tuesday and Gaz Harris from Gypsy Pistoleros teamed up to record Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ which has become Rock Against Child Pornography and Abuse’s anthem, the song is available to download, all proceeds going to RACP. Tonight’s show was finished on that song with Gazz joining Suicide Tuesday on stage along side guest guitarist Kezza T and the girls of Hell on High Heelz to bring the curtain down an a fantastic first day of such a worthy festival in aid of such a worthy cause.

Just one thing though, although Jonny suicide has moved on to join New Generation Superstars I don’t think we’ve heard the last of Suicide Tuesday, it aint over till it’s over and in one form or other I think we will see this popular Nottingham based rock band return at some point in the future… Watch this space.

For part one of this review check out my previous posting: http://gd2014reviews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/noize-leval-critical-festival-review.html

For more information on the bands in this review follow the links:

Suicide Tuesday: http://www.suicidetuesday.co.uk/

Hellbound Hearts: https://www.facebook.com/wearehellboundhearts

The Goddamn Electric: http://www.thegde.co.uk/

Dead Audio Saints: https://www.facebook.com/DeadAudioSaints

Exit State: http://www.exitstate.com/

Hell on High Heelz: http://hellonhighheelz.wix.com/hellonhighheelz

GD Manofmetal.

Noize Leval Critical [Festival Review] Part 1:

Little Mammoth + Spill 16 + 

Teenage Casket Co. + Dirt Box Disco + 

Gypsy Pistoleros

The Maze

Nottingham

03.05.14

This review is the ‘edited highlights’ of the first day of the annual two day festival hosted by Noize Level Critical Radio Show (NLC) in aid of RACP UK (Rock Against Child Pornography). With around two dozen bands playing over the weekend of the 3^rd and 4^th of May at the Maze on Mansfield road in Nottingham it’s a positive feast of the best underground bands around at the moment. This year The Manofmetal only attended day one so here’s my highlights of the first half of that first day of the festival.

I got there in time to see a band I’ve been hearing lots of good things about recently, Little Mammoth are a brand new female fronted four piece band from the Nottingham area. Lead singer Holly Bolus is an old acquaintance of mine; I say old she’s still only in her early twenties, previously I’ve seen her sing in the very heavy metal band Keltic Jihad and the progressive hard rock band Inner Eden. Well her new group Little Mammoth who formed only last year couldn’t be more different from those early forays into the live music scene, playing a blues rock style of music akin to what bands like Rival Sons are doing so well with these days and having more than one foot onboard the dirigible that is Led Zeppelin, Little Mammoth are the perfect outfit for Holly to showcase here singing and song writing. The three guys behind her are Mark Davies (lead guitar) Alex Leggett (bass guitar) and Sam Renshaw (drums) together they make a tight unit, not surprising as they were all former members of The Vulcans and are the perfect accompaniment for Holly’s ‘Joplinesque’ vocal abilities. With a full album set for release later this year things are moving fast for this elfin elephantine ensemble and judging by the four tracks that are available on their reverbnation page it’s gonna be a debut album to savour.

It’s a quick turnaround here at the maze and next up are Spill Sixteen or Spill 16 if you prefer. Last year the Yorkshire based band had some line-up issues which verged on the farcical in fact casting my gaze around this venue today I spy many other Yorkshire muso’s who’ve been at one time or other members of different bands playing this festival, all very confusing, I don’t envy the person who gets to compile that particular rock family tree. Personnel issues aside it’s good to see Spill 16 back and playing live again, they take inspiration from everyone from Bad Company to Shinedown according to their facbook blurb, they do have an eclectic sound, front man Stevie is in possession of a powerfully soulful voice and along with his fellow cohorts of JJ (guitar) Mewsy (guitar) Indy (bass) and Jon? (drums) I can’t say for sure it’s Jon on drums but that’s the name I’m sticking to. With line-up debacles hopefully a thing of the past I trust these guys will keep going as they have many great songs and are always entertaining; it’s good they’re back. If you want to read my review of Spill 16’s debut album check out my Discworld blog: http://discworlddog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/spill-sixteen-let-it-all-hang-out.html

The heat and humidity inside today’s venue is to say the least uncomfortable so during the changeover periods it’s advisable to exit the building and goldfish like, gulp down copious amounts of fresh air. When everyone is suitably re-oxygenated it’s time to get our selves back into the fray to catch the next act, a band I’ve eulogized over many times before, Teenage Casket Company. Always giving a good show, these days TCC are riding high on the back of their new album, ‘Still Standing’ once again returning to the top of their game, pleasing both old and new fans alike. The constitutional parts of TCC are Rob Wylde (lead vocals/guitar) Dave Kerr (lead guitar) Rob Lane (bass) and Mike ‘Spike’ Hollinshead (drums) all of the above have many strings to their collective bows but today they’re 100% Casket cases playing a short but rousing set of vintage numbers alongside more contemporary songs. As ever with these guys they leave me wanting more especially today as all the bands are playing around half hour sets, basically between six and eight songs. If you want to read more about TCC from yours truly check out a couple of my previous blogs: http://gd2014reviews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/casket-case-gig-review.html

http://metaldirt.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/whatever-happened-to-likely-lads.html

The last band before the forty minute ‘tea break’ or kebab break (I had a meat pie) is the incomparable Dirt Box Disco the neo-punk masters of mirth are an unusual choice to play this festival but welcome none the less. I saw them a mere two weeks ago in Derby where they played in front of over one hundred fanatical Dirt Box fans who danced, jumped, pogoed, and sang along with all their songs, today however it was a bit different. I think the NLC crowd didn’t know what to make of Dirt Box Disco but what is there to make of a bunch of guys in fancy dress who play catchy rock anthems that you’re bound to sing along to. Anthems like ‘Burning’ ‘I Just Want to Be a Girl’ and ‘My Life is Shit’ are infectious and if you don’t like this stuff then you’re a po-faced bore, this is what rock and roll is all about. DBD tend to only play punk gigs but in my opinion they should branch out and start doing rock gigs too, even if today’s crowd reaction doesn’t support that theory. The Dirt Box boys were a man down today which didn’t help their cause and rolling up from a late night playing a Welsh festival was also another factor against them but they put in a short and memorable set, a taster of what they’re really capable of.

To round off the first part of my NLC festival review is a band that could to all intense and purpose headline the whole event.

The Gypsy Pistoleros rode into town like a bunch of desperados on the run from the law, packing six shooters they burst through the saloon doors… Hold on thar cowboy!!! Sorry guys that’s the opening draught of my next western novel, getting back to reality this is how Gypsy Pistoleros describe themselves…

“The mongrel offspring of fiery gritty gutter glam, the Gypsy Pistoleros’ were born roamin’ somewhere between Barcelona and Birmingham, brought into the world to a soundtrack stack-heeled anthems of sleazy 70s America”.

These days the Pistoleros posse are Iggy Pistolero (lead guitar/backing vocals) Jeff Pistolero (drums/backing vocals) Kenny K Doll (bass/backing vocals) and newcomer and former Wrathchild front man Gaz Harris (lead vocals). Playing a fast paced eight song set the Pistoleros are glam n’ sleaze n’ attitude all rolled into one with song titles like ‘Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll’, ‘Go to Hell’ and ‘Psycho Bitch’ the boys put on a show packed with every aspect of insurrection, their two fingered saluted stance to society may sound like a cliché but it’s an entertaining one none the less. My favourite song of the set was ‘Hear the Thunder’ a number which seems to have more about it than some of the others. Their new single ‘Dirty Side of Midnight’ saw the guys joined on stage by Hell on High Heelz, a duo of ‘rock n’ pole’ dancers who for today have foregone their metal shafts for more of a down to earth cavort with the Pistoleros. These beguiling sirens returned to the stage for the finale a rocked up version of ‘Livin La Vida Loco’ which not only drove the crowd loco but also brings the curtain down on part one of my review, part two will follow after a short intermission, watch out for my next blog posting…  TBC.

For further info on the bands in this review contact:

Gypsy Pistoleros: http://www.gypsypistoleros.co.uk/

Dirt Box Disco: http://www.dirtboxdisco.co.uk/

Teenage Casket Co.: http://www.teenagecasketcompany.co.uk/

Spill 16: http://www.spillsixteen.com/

Little Mammoth: https://www.facebook.com/LittleMammothUK/info

Hell on High Heelz: http://hellonhighheelz.wix.com/hellonhighheelz

GD Manofmetal.

       Above: Hell on High Heelz with GD Manofmetal @ Wildside Nottingham