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

I regret that I am one of the many Anvil fans who deserted them when they needed us the most. The renewed interest in them following their film exploits (still not seen it) made me regret that I have only seen them a handful of times in the last 20 years or so. Tonight (Thur 11 Jun) they were as good as I always remember them - tight, energetic and they clearly enjoy playing. A mix of regret and joy. Sorry lads! We let you down - we won't do it again.

Sunday at Download was a great day out. Def Leppard were superb - crisp, tight and great song selection. LAst time I saw them here was 23 years ago - a comeback gig following the horrific injury to their drummer - was mentioned to an emotional crowd. Any band that can get me to sing out loud "make love like a man" has got to be good.

Whitsnake on the other hand were not good. In fact they were very poor bordering on downright awfu - the worst show I have ever seen from them. Sound was dreadful and Coverdale's voice was generally bad when he tried to over extend his range. To add to the controversy there was clearly a backing track being used on his vocal for a couple of songs - I know he has denied this previously but I saw it with my own eyes yesterday. Song selection was also rubbish - Whitesnake have got some fantastic songs Lovehunter, walking in the shadow of the blues, Come on, Sweet talker and can draw on Purple classics such as Burn and Mistreated - none of them got a look in - very disappointing.

ZZ Top - absolutely top notch. So many great songs crammed into a very strong set.

Journey - not really my thing but very professional and greatly enjoyable.

Shinedown - fucking great but sadly I had to cut short to go see ZZ Top. Will get to see them many times in the future I hope but ZZ could call it a day at any time so didn't want to miss them.

Volbeat - a new discovery for me. Never heard of them before - they were hugely enjoyable and hope to download some of their stuff in the next day or so.

KILBURNFLYER

I regret that I am one of the many Anvil fans who deserted them when they needed us the most. The renewed interest in them following their film exploits (still not seen it) made me regret that I have only seen them a handful of times in the last 20 years or so. Tonight they were as good as I always remember them - tight, energetic and they clearly enjoy playing. A mix of regret and joy. Sorry lads we let you down - we won't do it again.

Sunday at Download was a great day out. Def Leppard were superb - crisp, tight and great song selection. LAst time I saw them here was 23 years ago - a comeback gig following the horrific injury to their drummer - was mentioned to an emotional crowd.

Whitsnake on the other hand were not good. Sound was dreadful and Coverdale's voice was generally poor when he tried to over extend his range. To add to the controversy there was clearly a backing track being used on his vocal for a couple of songs - I know he has denied this previously but I saw it with my own eyes yesterday.

ZZ Top - absolutely top notch. So many great songs crammed into a very strong set.

Journey - not really my thing but very professional and greatly enjoyable.

Shinedown - fucking great but sadly I had to cut short to go see ZZ Top. Will get to see them many times in the future I hope but ZZ could call it a day at any time so didn't want to miss them.

KILBURNFLYER

Have not written here for an age so a bit of a round up of recent stuff.

DIO - still got a great voice and a magnificent showman. A bit of a greatest hits show but hey that's what we hoped for. Did everything you would hope for and has a tight band who know their place - stand back, play well and let Ronnie J do his thing. I am always astonished that his voice is still so strong given that he has been in various rock bands since the sixties. A few beers at the Intrepid Fox and then over to the Astoria which is a magnificent venue - compact, good bar staff and a decent PA. Top night as ever - Dio never lets you down.

Whitesnake/Def leppard - Coverdales bands in recent years have lacked any real passion and this trot through their 80s back catalogue was a bit dreary - he has a stack of great material but played hardly any of it. I hear with horror that Neil Murray - bass player when Whitesnake were really good in late 70s/early 80s - now plays in the band that does "we will rock you" - how fucking sad is that. Def Leppard on the other hand were great - crisp, good song selection and looked like they were enjoying it rather than just going through the motions a'la Whitesnake. One of my mates thought coverdale was lip synching some of the difficult bits - hmm hope not as indicates he can no longer do it - Ozzy gone the way of all things last time I saw him.

Journey - not really my thing but surprisingly good - very good new Philipino vocalist. Another good recommendation from a journalist mate.

Riders on the Storm - strange to see surviving members of the Doors but great stuff - wish they had done The End and Unknown Soldier but everything else covered. Very credible.

Yngwie Malmsteen - never seen him before but shit hot guitarist with Ripper Owens doing vocals - can do as good an impression of Dio (Gates of Babylon in the set) as he can of Halford. A great singer who deserves a break. Can't recall having been out of a gig and in the pub by 9.40 - except years ago when Rory Gallagher was so pissed he could hardly play and I walked out - bizarre to start so early if you are only on for a short time.

Fields of the Nephilim - a big trip down memory lane - lots of hats, dry ice and people covered in flour but a good solid gig - first for over 17 years but not rusty - have clearly been in solid rehearsals. Good stuff - although the wife was totally bemused.

Budgie at the Underworld - promised stacks but failed to deliver. Terrible sound - guitar buried in the mix - and the guitarist looked most unhappy. Seemed scared to play a bum note - was very mechanical. Expect so much more at Hard Rock Hell guys !!

B52s at the Roundhouse - absolutely fantastic - probably the best pop band of the last 20 years and a really great live act. Very hot and sweaty but great sound, good songs and overall a very memorable night. Superb new album which they played a few from plus a couple from everything else - finishing with Plant Clare was a joy. One of the best gigs so far this year.