KILBURNFLYER

Heaven the club under the arches at Charing Cross is a much under used and magnificent venue. The sound system is good and the stage is nice and high so you always get a good view - that said shutting ythe bar at before 10.30 was pants. I was therefore delighted that Public Image Limited used it to showcase some of their impending first new album in 20 years. needless to say that Lydon and his not so merry band (they didn't crack a smile all evening) did not disappoint. The new material sounded good and his rendition of old classics like Religion (not a song I am particularly fond of), Death Disco and Friends were breathtaking. Finishing with Rise and one of his songs from Leftfield days were similarly great. I am never less than impressed by Lydons ability to bring out a performance. Sadly no Public Image nor careering but all in all a great gig delviered well and at sometimes earsplitting volume.

To the Forum tonight for UFO.....here's hoping for a a few classics

KILBURNFLYER

So to Prestatyn for the fourth instalment of Hammerfest....it was as good if not better than all of the previous events. It is always a good festival for checking out new bands or old ones that passed you by. Loads of forgettable stuff but some notable highs and lows....

Lawnmower Deth - were absolutely fantastic fun. Ripping the piss left right and centre and looking like they enjoyed every minute of it. Icky Ficky, Satans Trampoline, Sumo Rabbit and the cover version of the weekend in Kids in America. Bought their entire back catalogue when I got home so keep going lads.

Evil Scarecrow - similarly a rip the piss band and highly entertaining. Looking forward to Vampyre Trousers when I get to see these again in Ibiza.

Anthrax - Everytime I see this lot I am reminded of just how great a live band they actually are and how many brilliant songs they have written over the years.

Skindred - Brilliant as ever but need to freshen up the live act as seen the same from them for the last 2 years.

Mortad - Great new band from London with an Iranian girl singing with a proper hardcore voice. Will definitely be seeing these again.

Senser - somehow missed these back in the day. Loved the show - got to download their material

Spirytus - excellent show as ever. Very exciting prospects. Again seeeing them at Ibiza and just ordered their CD. Got something that sets them apart so could well go a long way.

Hell - highly entertaining as a one off but doubt I would go see them headline anywhere

Paradise Lost - sorry just dont get this lot. Dreary as fuck.

Oaf - a bass player and a drummer - great fun and great pisstakers.

Amon Amarth - highly popular with the crowd but to my ears a bit of a dirge.

Dirty DC - a really brilliant AC/DC tribute band

KILBURNFLYER

Just back from a few days in Chicago the purpose of which was to see Van Halen. Overall they were excellent - same setlist as an earlier show (ripped from Ultimate Guitar) which was great

01. You Really Got Me02. Runnin' With The Devil03. She's The Woman (new song)04. Romeo Delight05. Tattoo (new song)06. Everybody Wants Some!!07. Somebody Get Me A Doctor08. China Town (new song)09. Mean Street10. (Oh!) Pretty Woman11. Alex Van Halen Drum Solo12. Unchained13. The Trouble With Never (new song)14. I'll Wait15. Dance The Night Away16. Hot For Teacher17. Women In Love (perfomed live for first time since 1980)18. Outta Love Again (perfomed live for first time since 1979)19. Beautiful Girls20. Ice Cream Man21. Panama22. Eddie Van Halen Solo23. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love24. Jump

Dave's voice is not quite what it was so had to sing within himself a few times but overall that didn't detract from an excellent night. More worrying for the long term is that Dave seemed a bit stressed by technical issues...head mics failing so having to use a handheld rather than trying to maximise his personal performance. Note to band: headmics always look shit on rockbands - once the headmic came off the whole thing looked so much better - if Corey Taylor can bounce around the stage as much as he does and still use a handheld then so can Dave. The band were brilliant - Eddie was as jaw droppingly great as I remember, Alex likewise and Wolfgang seemed at home on Bass. The harmonies were superb - if they are backing tracks as some have alleged then they mimed brilliantly. Still no news on whether they will play any European festivals or pitch up at the O2 or somewhere later in the year - go see for yourself - they were and still are a great live band and although the whole thing was ridiculously extravagant it was worth every penny.

KILBURNFLYER


Stopped smoking 11 days ago and have had difficulty sleeping since then - so writing this in the wee small hours but fuck it, I refuse to be beaten by a weed wrapped in paper...again. Chickenfoot at Brixton Academy willl be my first gig of the year on Saturday - but stupidly excited to have booked to see Van Halen next month in Chicago. Ridiculously extravagent but have not seen them since Donnington 84 I think it was. Am sure they will do some European festivals - probably Sonisphere but just couldn't take the chance and have got loads of leave owing due to Libya excitement last year.

KILBURNFLYER

Have been badly neglecting the Fleyer - it is the only way I can keep track of gig activity.

Since the summer festivals have seen:

Echo and the Bunneymey at the Palladium - absolutely first class gig - the whole of Ocean rain with an orchestra and a greatest hits set. What's not to love.

Pop Will Eat Itself at O2 Academy Islington - great fun as usual but with Clint poppy no longer with them felt a bit odd.

Volbeat at the Forum - absolutely magnificent - really got the bug for them over the summer and bought their entire back catalogue. First time I have seen them when I knew all the songs they played - Evelyn was a particular highlight - not one ofmy favourite songs but what I didn't know was that the 2nd vocalist is Mark "Barney" Greenaway from Napalm Death - he came on for that song - brilliant.

Motorhead, UK Subs and Anti Nowhere League at Hammersmith - Subs were great - indeed much better than back in the day - basically Charlie Harper and a half decent young metal band supporting him. ANL - all good but a bit going through the motions. Motorhead were back on form - they were poor at Sonisphere - and did a great set.

Hard Rock Hell V at Prestatyn - the greatest weekend of the year as usual but that down to the people not the bands - most of whom were a bit average except Girlschool, Reckless Love, Ginger Wildheart and the magnificent SSS.

Def Leppard, Motley Crue at Wembley Arena - sadly got there late and missed Steel Panther but great sets from both as usual.

GingerWildheart at the Garage Islington - exactly the same as Prestatyn - good but not great.

Saxon at Koko - fucking brilliant show. Full of energy, great setlist - well done chaps you really try hard and it shows.

KILBURNFLYER

Has been mental busy at work so not had the chance to update on lots of festivals. Highlights of the last few months:

Hard Rock Road Trip - an metal endurance test in Ibiza - great fun but not too many great bands. Spirytus were awesome as they were last year and some great virtuoso guitarists but nothing that memorable.

Download - shit weather but some fantastic performances- Def Leppard, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper were all great headliners. Saw the Rods for the first time in 30 years (bloody disgrace that they only got 1/2 hour at 11am when Al Murray's shit pub covers band got a good afternoon slot just because he's famous) with notable mentions for the Cult (Astbury did his best to fuck it up but Billy Duffy is godlike and kept the whole thing together) Disturbed, A7X and Down. But the whole show was stolen by Bring Me The Horizon who were fantastic.

Ozzy at Hammersmith - bloody excellent -in great voice and great set list. Sadly I was supposed to see him a few days later at Graspop but he cried off with Laryngitis - a shame.


Graspop- the best organised festival I have ever been to - One main stage and three enormous tents - everyone got at least an hour -loads of bars, toilets and food outlets - sound was good even if the weather was a bit patchy. Scorpions, Judas Priest, Slipknot and Volbeat were all good top of the bill bands - had only seen Volbeat in a short set at download or supporting Metallica the previous year and was great to see them do a fullshow (booked to see them at the Forum later this year). Bring me The Horizon were also brilliant....again. Only sad bit was Whitesnake - a once great band now utter shite.

Sonisphere - the Big 4 were great to see - Slayer won the showdown I think but all my mates would vote for Metallica. The Wildhearts and the Sisters of Mercy in the tent were the only reason to bother with Saturday. Volbeat were again great on Sunday morning and Slipknot splendid headliners but the whole day (nay the whole weekend) was probably nicked by Limp Bizkit who were absolutely fantastic.

KILBURNFLYER

Has been a shitty year for all sorts of personal reasons that have meant only 2 gigs this year so far - Adlers Appettite at the Underworld six weeks or so ago - setlist the Whole of Appettite for Destruction plus Move to the City - Duff McKagen joined in for My Michelle and It's So Easy - great night was had by all.

Last night was a somewhat grander affair. Rush at the O2 in a private box. A magnificent three and a half hour show which included the whole of Moving Pictures and a smattering of songs from various stages of their career. I never ceased to be amazed by jusy howmagnificent a bunch of musicians they are - as tight as a duck's arse.