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