Exit State + Captain Horizon + Babylon Fire + JD & The FDCs +
Psychobabylon + The Idol Dead
The
Maze Nottingham
18.01.14
Mr.
Martin Short local rock fan and promoter has reached the incredibly ancient age
of sixty and he’s decided to have an all day gig at the maze in Nottingham. Not only that, proceeds from
the badass bash are in aid of two worthy charities, children’s hospice arts and
the Sophie Lancaster foundation both worthy causes I’m sure you’ll agree.
Pictured Right: Mr. Martin Short & GD Manofmetal
It
all got underway just after mid day but due to other commitments yours truly
only managed to get there in time to see the last six bands so apologies go out
to those I didn’t get to see.
Upon
arrival at the Maze on Mansfield road Nottingham I discovered there was an
interlude or food break, amidst the raffle stalls and various other merchandise
and fund raising paraphernalia I spied a furtive looking Dave & Kieran Tonge
(Noize Level Critical) loitering in a corner, the aroma of chicken curry and
chips kind of gave the game away guys.
All
that aside the live music once again got underway around six thirty with a band
I didn’t wanna miss, The Idol Dead from Leeds are fronted by the
enigmatic Poll Phluid who’s energy on stage is always turned up to the max. Describing themselves as “five men hell bent on making an entertaining racket”
The Idol Dead sure do engage the audience with their hard rock sound and
enthusiasm. All the bands today are playing around thirty to forty minute sets
so it’s a quick turn around and sadly all to soon we arrive at The Idol Dead’s
finale. Yes it’s time for the audience sing along song I.D.O.L. Moving through
the crowd Polly Phluid gets the fans to sing eye, dee, oh, el, dee, ee, aye, dee!
It just rolls off the tongue; I know I was struggling with it.
Next
up are Psychbabylon another Yorkshire band and one I’ve not seen
before, they’re practically out of the same stable as The Idol Dead but Psychobabylon
have more of a classic rock sound and appearance. I do know the drummer though,
I last saw Ginna around a year ago when he was skinsman for the now defunct Velvet
Star. Playing an entertaining set of original songs like Factor 10 packed with
catchy riffs Psychobabylon also have an edgy almost punk attitude that makes
for an entertaining set, I’ll be looking out for these guys again.
It
will be no secret to anyone who knows me that JD & The
FDCs are one
of my favourite underground bands of the last few years, I’ve written many
words about the four piece East Midlands based band in the past, I was at their
first ever show and let me tell you it was like the beginning of a super group,
however this isn’t a biography so I’ll get on with it. Hitting the stage with
verve, controlled aggression and a certain kind of confidence that smells of
‘we don’t give a fuck’ JD & The FDCs run through their
repertoire with
practiced ease. Front man Jamie Delerict (JD) makes it certain everyone in the
venue know that it’s his band and his rants and tirades between songs are
amusing to say the least (he does sound very serious at times though) the forty
minute set fly’s by oh so quickly and before you know it Jamie is mingling
through the crowd picking on folk to finish the line which he starts ‘Stupid
Music… Played By Idiots’ woe betide anyone who screws this up I’m sure he would
have them shot at dawn if it was legal, of cause I’m only teasing I meant hung
drawn and quartered.
Another
Babylon next, Babylon Fire are a Manchester band signed to Rocksector
Records they describe themselves rather modestly as “your new favourite British
metal band” and they’re definitely metal with a capital M. They do have some
good stuff such as the songs Darkness Draws Me In, Shattered Crown and Freight
Train to name just three all of which are packed with thunderous drum beats and
ear splitting riffs, sadly though there was too much growling vocals for my
taste, a trend in heavy metal I’m nor over enamoured with and none of Babylon
Fire’s songs needed the growling but then again maybe I’m just an old
traditionalist at heart. Never the less these guys put on a cracking show and
will appeal to fans of bands like Stone Sour, Machine Head and Five Finger
Death Punch.
The
penultimate band of Martin’s big birthday bash is a band I’ve seen many times
over the last couple of years, from Birmingham its Captain Horizon.
Their debut album The Light of Distorted Science released in 2012 is an
accomplished work packed with intelligently written songs, Captain Horizon
describe their style of music thusly “a unique blend of alt, prog, classic
rock, indie and unashamedly glorious pop”. Their live set is pretty much made
up of songs from that album and keeping the trend of enigmatic front men going,
lead singer Steve ‘Whitty’ Whittington not only is in possession of fine vocal
talents but fancies himself a comedian as well. No Captain Horizon gig would be
complete without his trademark ‘table walk’ so as he leaps from one surface to
another out into the crowd like a deranged supermodel on an assault course the
show is completed.
Headlining
tonight are another Lancashire band signed to Rocksector Records, Exit State
whose musical style has been described by Powerplay Magazine as "melodic
metal that deserves to be in the charts, nestling with the likes of Alter
Bridge" well I don’t know about that but Exit State certainly deserve all
the plaudits they get. I first saw them several years ago and they have come a
long way since those days, last year they released their third album entitled Let’s
See It All. Having played supporting slots on the Michael Schenker temple of
rock tour as well as appearing at Hard rock Hell to name just two of their
impressive achievements Exit State have reached out to a wide
audience and won over many adoring fans. Front man Roy Bright is a top bloke
and is even a published author no less. If you like a more melodic heavy metal
give these boys a listen you’re bound to like them and you have my personal
guarantee on that.
Band Photographs Courtesy Of RSR Photography.
Check
out all the bands in this review on their respective websites:
GD
Manofmetal
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