Calvin Harris and Rihanna 29/11/11

Calvin Harris and Rihanna are two of the biggest names in the music industry at the moment. After their collaboration song ‘We Found Love’ reached number one, it was the perfect line up for an amazing night of dance and pop music.

Calvin Harris arrived on stage with an amazing lightshow in the background. He entered the DJ box and despite only being able to see his silhouette it was apparent it was him from his amazing music abilities and voice. As well as playing his own songs, he mixed in popular chart songs such as ‘Party Rock Anthem’ by LMFAO to engage the crowd and to give them fresh new music to listen to. Through the use of his musical skills he was able to make the whole sold-out NIA Arena move around and become extremely excited for Rihanna. When he asked the crowd to scream so loud that Rihanna could hear them back stage the sound was almost deafening! Calvin Harris is an incredible versatile DJ and amazing to watch live.

As soon as the lights dimmed and a video of Rihanna started playing the tension was unbearable. When she appeared on stage it was amazing, she opened with her single ‘Only Girl (In the World)’, which sold over a million copies. Her voice was astounding, and proved that despite her sex-symbol status, she was still an incredible singer. She used many different props and pyrotechnics, including a car and dancing crash-test dummies for ‘Shut Up and Drive’, pole dancers for her incredibly unique cover of Prince’s ‘Darling Nikki’ and chains and whips for the provocative ‘S&M’. She even had a tank that shot out smoke for ‘Hard’. One incredibly lucky female was brought onto stage with Rihanna for ‘Skin’. Despite using so many props on stage she was still able to dance and sing incredibly, much more than most ‘pop stars’ around at the moment. She had many different costume changes including a leather corset, a beautiful yellow dress and sparkly underwear. ‘Unfaithful’ proved her voice was extremely versatile and has shown how much she has progressed in the past few years.

Rihanna is an incredible music icon and puts on a fantastic stage show. Anyone who has the chance to see her live should definitely take it up as no matter what genre of music you are into, you will be amazed by her stage presence and beautiful voice. 

An Evening With Dimmu Borgir 26/11/11

Dimmu Borgir are one of the most highly regarded Norwegian black metal bands, and have been since their formation in 1993. There was no support band; this night was all about Dimmu Borgir, and in particular their 1997 album ‘Enthrone Darkness Triumphant’. The first set was Dimmu Borgir playing the album in its entirety, and for many in the audience it brought the feeling of nostalgia from the first time they heard the amazing album. Shagrath has an incredible stage presence; it was almost impossible not to watch his every move. Even fourteen years after then album was released, he still sounded as incredible live as he does on the recording. Opening with ‘Mourning Palace’, the crowd was mesmerised by the band and they proved they are still going strong. Shagrath dedicated ‘A Succubus in Rapture’ to the females in the audience and it was definitely a crowd favourite. After the last track on the album, ‘Raabjørn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde’, the band left the stage.

After a short break the band, in which Daray played an incredible drum solo, the band appeared back on stage and still looking raring to go. Their stage outfits were amazing; their world-renowned face paint, black leather clothes, boots and spikes everywhere. They played such classics as the metal anthem ‘Dimmu Borgir’, ‘Gateways’ and ‘Puritania’. Their performance of ‘The Serpentine Offering’ was perfect and a great example of Norwegian black metal at its finest.

 All in all, Dimmu Borgir put on an intense live show and proved that they will still be going strong in years to come.

Me, The Pretty Reckless and Evanescence 13/11/11

Despite not being particularly well known, Me were a surprisingly refreshing neo-rock band from Australia. Luke Ferris has an amazing vocal range, and every song sounded completely unique, ensuring that the audience stayed focussed on the music whilst having a good time. The catchy chorus of ‘Naked’ made it easy for the crowd to sing along as if they’d been fans since the beginning. The guitar solos were impressive, and as they incorporated styles from all different genres, it was nearly impossible not to like them. They’re definitely a band to watch out for!

Opening with one of the ultimate rock-chick anthems, ‘Since You’re Gone’, Taylor Momsen’s raspy voice filled the academy greeted by thousands of adoring fans. ‘Zombie’ was an instant crowd-pleaser and was perfect for showing her vocal abilities. The punk riffs and catchy lyrics contributed to an incredible performance; The Pretty Reckless wowed the crowd and proved that they were about the music, not just the fame.  Their cover of ‘Seven Nation Army’ was incredibly unique and matched Taylor’s voice perfectly. However, the best song of the night was definitely ‘Make Me Wanna Die’, which launched their journey to fame.

Opening with their latest single ‘What You Want’ seemed extremely fitting; “Hello, hello, remember me?” due to Evanescence’s disappearance from the music scene, however, their new album and amazing live performance proved they’re back for good! They played a mixture of old songs to appeal to all of the fans, including ‘Going Under’, ‘Lithium’ and ‘Call Me When You’re Sober’. Amy Lee’s voice was phenomenal and her skills on the piano were astounding. Playing ‘Bring Me To Life’ brought nostalgia to the crowd. ‘My Immortal’ was a perfect song to end the evening with, proving that although Evanescence are progressing musically, they will never forget their roots.

Black Spiders and Volbeat 27/10/11

“No make up, no bullshit, just good hippy rock music!” Micheal Poulson’s wise words set the tone for the evening, and the high expectations of the evening were far surpassed from this incredible evening of rock.

Despite only forming in 2008, Black Spiders were a surprisingly energetic hard rock band with a huge fan base; probably stemming from winning 'Best Underground Band' at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards last year. They managed to turn a hostile crowd into fans with just a short set, and their performance considering they were a support band was astounding.  Opening with ‘Stay Down’, the fast-paced and vigorous hard rock sound was apparent and catchy and with Pete ‘Spider’ Spiby’s rough yet melodic vocals it was impossible not to like them. It seemed like their most popular song of the evening was ‘Just like a Woman’, which incorporated aspects from old-fashioned British rock ‘n’ roll with a modern twist and an incredibly catchy chorus. With song titles such as  ‘KISS Tried to Kill me’ it shows they are a light-hearted band out to reinvent the genre and perform great rock shows. Black Spiders prove that rock industry is still going strong and they give a fresh input to the genre.

When Volbeat appeared on stage the crowd reaction was fantastic. The o2 Academy was filled with a diverse range of people from all over the world, but they all shared one thing; a love for Volbeat. Opening with ‘The Human Instrument’, the rock ‘n’ roll influenced power chords and Michael Poulsen’s voice created an incredibly different sound from anything ever heard before. The passion that the band played with was apparent throughout their whole performance and they seemed truly grateful for the fans’ support. Michael encouraged crowd participation and Jon Larsen even looked worried when fans were crowd surfing. When the crowd were asked where some of them has seen Volbeat before as this was their first UK tour, a resounding cry of ‘Sonisphere!’ shows that the festival scene is fantastic for making different bands accessible to everyone. Their wide range of influences was evident due to their amazing cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Sad Man’s Tongue’ and  Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Only Want to be With You’, putting their own ‘hippy rock’ influences into them to make them unique. ‘Radio Girl’ was an instant crowd-pleaser and ‘Still Counting’ proved how distinctive their style is; there could never be another band like Volbeat. They put Denmark on the scene for unique rock music and illustrates how rock music has progressed throughout the years to create their amazingly distinctive sound. If you’re looking for a mixture of rock, country, metal and a lot of passion, go and see Volbeat live!

Motionless in White, Pierce the Veil and Blessthefall 17/10/11

Motionless in White, Pierce the Veil and Blessthefall; a metalcore fan’s heaven. When Motionless in White came on stage they didn’t look like the traditional metalcore band, covered in make up and dressed to ‘impress’. First impressions concluded that they were a clone of Black Veil Brides, however, their music was a lot less whiney and a lot catchier. Their best-received song was ‘Creatures’ and although they were mediocre live, it felt like they were trying too hard to engage with the audience (for example, insulting ‘Twilight’, which is stereotypically disliked by most metal/rock fans). Having a birthday cake for Christopher Cerulli subverted expectations for the show and he gave a heart-felt speech, however, with less emphasis on trying to shock and more emphasis into their playing they can grow to be a successful band. Pierce the Veil were full of contagious energy; the crowd’s reception was fantastic and it’s impossible to stand still at a Pierce the Veil show. They played a good mixture of old songs, such as ‘Yeah Boy and Doll Face’ and later songs, such as their most famous song ‘Caraphernelia’. Their infamous cover of ‘Like a G6’ was pleasantly surprising and warmed the audience up for Blessthefall, who were on next. Vic Fuentes’ voice is raw and passion-filled, making Pierce the Veil an incredible live band who deserve more credit than they get. After a long wait, Blessthefall exploded onto the stage with their iconic fast riffs and powerful vocals. Beau Bokan was a natural on stage and fascinating to watch. He managed to interact with the audience perfectly and those who didn’t know any better would think he had always been the vocalist of Blessthefall. They played such classics as ‘Black Rose Dying’, ‘Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted’ and even ‘God Wears Gucci’. Their latest song, ‘Awakening’, was received well and sounded as good as their previous albums, maybe even better. Despite the frequent lineup changes, Blessthefall are an incredible live band and their new album is definitely one all metalcore fans need to add to their collection.

Never Say Die Tour (As Blood Runs Black, The Word Alive, Deez Nuts, Emmure and Suicide Silence) 9/10/11

Due to the commercial success of the Never Say Die tour in the past, this year it was back with even more of a bang! Despite the resemblance to a Justin Bieber song, there was no pop here! Sponsored by Impericon, the headliners this year were Suicide Silence, and it definitely was a concert to remember.

Due to transport issues I missed the first two bands (Vanna and The Human Abstract), so the first band I saw were As Blood Runs Black. Despite not knowing many of their songs, they instantly engaged with the audience and offered a fresh new deathcore sound. The lead singer, Sonik Garcia, seemed extremely grateful to be presented with such an energetic crowd, and they played songs such as ‘In Dying Days’ and ‘Divided’. They had strong guitarists and definitely are a band to watch out for in the future.

The next band on were The Word Alive, an American metalcore band from Arizona. I was slightly sceptical when I saw their name on the line up as on record they didn’t seem as ‘heavy’ as the other bands listed, however, they sounded a lot heavier with more screaming live and performed amazingly well. Their performance of ‘2012’ was astounding and the crowd seemed to love them.

Deez Nuts, a hardcore punk band from Australia, are renowned for their explicit lyrics and energetic stage shows. Despite their slightly negative reputation, they were really fun to watch and engaged the audience well. Their crowd chants made them more accessible to the audience (for example “I hustle every day, every day, every day!” and the unpleasant “Your mother should have swallowed you!”). The lead singer had a strong voice that filled the venue and the mosh pits were intense.

The next band on were Emmure. Love them or hate them, you have to admit they were amazing live. The lead singer Frankie Palmeri has an indescribable voice and he was fascinating to watch. They played songs such as ‘I Thought You Met Telly and Turned Me Into Casper’, ‘Demons with Ryu’ and ‘R2 Deepthroat’. It really was amusing hearing the whole crowd shout “The next time you see her, ask your girl what my dick tastes like!” Things like this would only happen at a metal gig! I was pleasantly surprised with Emmure’s setlist as it had a wide mixture of songs to engage old and new fans. The passion Frankie displayed on stage was intense and I highly recommend that if you haven’t already to check them out.

The final band on were called Suicide Silence. They opened with ‘Wake Up’, which definitely did wake up any of the crowd that were exhausted from such a long night of metal! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crowd go so mental as they did during ‘You Only Live Once’, the latest single off ‘Black Crown’. Mitch Lucker proved anyone in the crowd who seemed doubtful of Suicide Silence’s musical ability wrong and his energy was infectious. I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Fuck Everything’ became many people’s new anthem last night as it was an amazing demonstration of how metal music can be used to portray your emotions and rid yourself of anger.

All in all, it was a fantastic night with an incredible line up that helped introduce metal fans into new bands and genres. All I can say is bring on next year!

Dot Rotten, Delilah and Chase and Status 6/10/11

Over the past few years Chase & Status have gone from strength to strength and seem to have an ever-growing fan base. They've worked with highly regarded singers such as Plan B, Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal and seem to unite all different genres of music.They’ve become renowned for their fantastic live performances and I finally got the chance to see why they’re so highly regarded by drum and bass fans, pop fans and rock fans alike.

The first support was London grime rapper, Dot Rotten. Despite a very hesitant crowd, he seemed to be in his element on stage and soon got the venue moving. Although it was obvious he wasn’t well known to the crowd, he was a strong live performer and managed to engage with the audience. His set was short, but it was long enough for him to gain a few more fans and get the crowd worked up for the next couple of bands.

The next artist on stage was Delilah, who has worked on songs such as ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Time’ with Chase & Status. Her unique look and sound captivated the crowd and her voice easily filled the whole arena. Despite how nervous she was when she started, she sounded great and presented a more relaxed vibe than the grime artist on before her. Her new single, ‘Go’, was a mixture of existing songs but presented in a new and exciting way. Although she was good, it was apparent that the crowd were getting disinterested due to the slower pace, so she played her single again but a lot faster and with more electronic beats. All in all, she was a good performer, but maybe should have picked a more exciting set for such a energetic crowd.

After an extremely long wait, Chase & Status appeared on stage. The opened with ‘No Problem’, which was an instant crowd pleaser. The lighting and videos in the background were amazing and fitted the music perfectly. The next song they played was ‘Eastern Jam’, which demonstrated that they were going to play songs off both albums, appealing to both types of Chase & Status fans. Tempa T (A.KA. ‘Tempz’) joined the stage for a rendition of his song ‘Next Hype’, which led into the collaboration song ‘Hypest Hype’, which was fantastic and full of energy. Delilah joined Chase & Status on stage for performances of ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Time’. Although they didn’t have all of their guest performances with them on the tour, all of the songs played sounded amazing and the atmosphere could not have been any more intense. ‘Blind Faith’ with Liam Bailey was performed with such passion and sounded even better than the recorded version.

All in all, it was a fantastic concert with an amazing set list from Chase & Status. If anyone is looking to watch an amazing night of drum and bass, I would highly recommend that you go and see Chase & Status!

Iron Maiden at the Birmingham NIA, 31st July

Iron Maiden have been going strong for over thirty years, and at this concert I truly realised why they are so highly regarded in the metal community and seen as influential to many generations. They are one of the best live bands I have seen and they do so much more than just play their songs; they put on a proper performance with amazing special effects and of course... Eddie!

The support band were Airbourne; a hard rock band from Australia. It was apparent through their playing style that they were heavily influenced by AC/DC, however, they did not have a unique enough sound to stand out and draw in the audience. Guitarist Joel O'Keefe is well-known for climbing objects on stage (including his infamous climbing incident at Sonisphere 2011), but there were no climbing antics at Birmingham, which was slightly disappointing as it would have given their performance the edge that it needed. They came on stage to the Terminator 2 theme and played a mediocre set including the songs 'Raise the Flag', 'Blackjack' and 'Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast'. However, 'No Way But the Hard Way' sounded much better than the rest of the songs in their set as it was played with more enthusiasm and they gained the crowd reaction they desired; moshing, dancing and happy 'metalheads'. Airbourne played well and I do not have anything against them, however, I do not think they were the right band to support Iron Maiden and there should have been another support band for the price of the ticket.

After a long wait (which had been longer anticipated by years by some fans), Iron Maiden's set began. They played songs that appealed to all variations of Iron Maiden's fan base, such as 'El Dorado', 'Blood Brothers' and 'Fear of the Dark'. The back drop changed frequently and with all the props and videos it felt more like a dramatic performance than a concert, but the music was of such a high standard too. Bruce Dickinson's interaction with the crowd was great and it was obvious he is a well-respected man with valued opinions. Although some people think the band are getting older and maybe 'less capable' in performing, this show proved their critics wrong as their performance was as energetic as it has ever been. 'Dance of Death' was performed perfectly and it was apparent that it was a real crowd pleaser. For their encore they played the three most commonly-known Maiden classics: 'The Number of the Beast', 'Hallowed be thy Name' and Running Free', and they were performed brilliantly and must have been a great form of nostalgia for the older generation of Iron Maiden fans.

All in all, it was a great concert and Iron Maiden deserve all the respect they have and more. Whether you loved The Final Frontier or hated it, there was something for every Iron Maiden fan to enjoy at this concert and I'm so happy I finally got to see such an incredible band.

Slash at the Birmingham o2 Academy, 20th July 2011

On the 20th July I was lucky enough to see Slash live at the Birmingham o2 Academy. It was amazing to see such a well respected musician and I am very thankful that due to my flyering at the Birmingham o2 Academy I was able to get in for free to this sold-out show.

Japanese Voyeurs were the support band, and I was pleasantly surprised by their performance. For those who don't know, they are a British alternative metal band. They had the word 'Yolk' in lighting on stage, which is the name of their album (however, it was slightly confusing for people who weren't die-hard Japanese Voyeurs fans... but it sure made it a memorable name!). They opened with the thrash-sounding 'You're So Cool', which instantly demonstrated how unique Romily Alice's voice is. She's a strong-sounding singer who can hold notes well and the sound of the band and her voice match perfectly. They played a few more songs, such as their most well-known song 'Dumb', and even played a cover of 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails. They managed to put their own unique stamp on the classic song and made it sound beautifully distorted and it was a real crowd-pleaser.

After a short wait, Slash appeared on stage with his trademark top hat and shades and it was instantly apparent Birmingham was going to witness one hell of a show. Myles Kennedy (Alter Bride) sang vocals and his voice fit perfectly with every song; if it wasn't common knowledge that he didn't originally sing them then it could have been easily argued. The set list included songs from Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, his solo songs and Velvet Revolver. He opened with 'Ghost' which sounded incredible and proved that still after all this time and many different bands Slash still knows how to put on a good show and impress the crowd with his incredible musical talent on guitar. 'Back From Cali' and 'Starlight' both sounded particularly amazing live and Myles' voice was so suited to those songs, and it proved that him and Slash are a perfect combination. Slash played an intense guitar solo that made the crowd go wild, followed by the Godfather theme, which inevitably led into the incredible 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. The atmosphere was amazing, and even without the rest of Guns N' Roses it was an unmissable event, which I am highly glad to have witnessed first-hand. This was shortly followed by 'Slither' which had an amazing, grunge-y feel to it; the riff really is just perfect. Slash finished with 'Paradise City', which was an incredible way to end such an amazing night.

All in all, Slash hasn't lost his touch at all; in fact, he's going stronger and even better than ever. He is a lovely man who throughout the night encouraged appreciation of music from all ages and proved why he is so highly respected in the music industry; he is one of the best guitarists of all time.

Corey Taylor at the HMV Institute, 13th July 2011

On the 13th July 2011 I was lucky enough to see my favourite musician, Corey Taylor, perform an exclusive concert at the HMV Institute in Birmingham. Before the concert I went to his book signing at Waterstones for his book 'Seven Deadly Sins' and I was able to meet the man himself. He was lovely and truly listened to what I had to say and appreciated my support. He is a truly amazing man and I have the greatest respect for him.

The concert started with a brief introduction from Corey Taylor, and he then read part of a chapter from his book, 'Seven Deadly Sins'. It was amazing to listen to the book being read aloud by the author himself, and further emphasised the unique perspective Corey has on life due to his wide range of experiences. His accent is beautiful and he put on an incredible performance.

After reading a section of his book, Corey had a 'question and answer session', in which the crowd were welcome to ask any questions they had for the Slipknot and Stone Sour front man. One heartfelt moment was when someone asked about his favourite memory of Paul (Gray, bassist of Slipknot who passed away last year) and he descended into a story about them going to 'Disney World' and him scaring Paul on the roller-coasters when he was already terrified (and the thought of Slipknot at such a place seemed rather amusing). After he had finished informing us of his memories of the amazingly talented bassist, a crowd chant of 'Paul Gray' started and Corey started crying and thanked everyone for their support during such a hard time. The future of Slipknot was also questioned, to which he answered that he hadn't healed after the death of his brother and that is was unable to think so far ahead into the future. He was also questioned about his different attitudes towards music whilst in Stone Sour and Slipknot, to which he replied 'When I write a song I can just tell which band it is for...Snuff was always going to be a Slipknot song and 30/30 150 was always going to be  for Stone Sour'. The true meaning of '30/30 150' was revealed; contrast to popular belief it is not about a gun, it was Corey's measurements in high school. 

After a short break Corey came back on stage accompanied with an acoustic guitar. He performed his beautiful version of 'Wicked Game' (originally by Chris Isaak), 'Jolene' (originally by Ray LaMontage) and even 'Nutshell' (originally by Alice in Chains). As he was in Birmingham he decided to cover 'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath, which was very interesting and very different to the original. He played 'Bother' by his band Stone Sour which was incredibly heartfelt and an emotional song that suited Corey's voice perfectly. His cover of 'Freebird' by Lynyrd Skynyrd was astounding and was probably my favourite song of the night; it was just so passionate. Corey brought his son on stage and even sang a cover of the 'Spongebob Squarepants' theme song, which was very amusing and showed he had a good sense of humour. His acoustic version of 'Spit it Out' (by his band Slipknot) was amazing; who knew metal could sound so good acoustic?  His cover of Pearl Jam's 'Black' was incredible and it became obvious throughout the night what bands inspired him and who he admired. He ended the concert with a cover of 'Everlong' by Foo Fighters, which was beautifully calm and emotional. 

All in all, it was a fantastic night and I've gained even more respect for Corey Taylor. 

Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth, 7th - 10th July

On the 7th July, I drove up to Knebworth for Sonisphere Festival 2011. This was my first proper music festival, and I loved pretty much every second of it. Anyone who hasn't been to a festival, I highly recommend you go to at least one in your life as it's a fantastic experience and a lot of fun. On the Thursday (7th) I didn't see any bands as I spent the day putting my tent up, meeting up with people and getting myself acquainted with the camp-site. I think there were some bands on at midnight, or some DJ sets, but I didn't end up going to them (unfortunately). However, I did see a couple of comedians (the names of whom escape me) but they were very funny and definitely worth watching.

On the 8th (Friday) there was such an excited atmosphere, and for a very good reason. Well, four very good reasons, to be precise. THE BIG FOUR OF THRASH METAL. Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica all on in one evening. This was one of Sonisphere 2011's main selling points, and after watching all of these bands it was obvious why. The legendary Diamond Head, who inspired such bands as Megadeth and Metallica, were on first and they were a fantastic band to start Sonisphere 2011, setting the perfect atmosphere for a weekend of rock and metal. Nick Tart was an amazing front man, and they played a short set of around six songs, including 'Give It To Me', 'Helpless' and of course, the amazing anthem 'Am I Evil?', which would also be played for a second time later on in the evening, but obtaining a few more musicians... They appealed to the whole audience and they did not disappoint as they put on a fantastic show. The next band on were Anthrax and their first song describes how their set was spent for the crowd; 'Caught in a Mosh'. They played other classics, such as 'Madhouse' and 'Indians' and even though Scott Ian's prescence was missed, Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) kept the Anthrax spirit alive and kicking. Megadeth were the next band on, and their performance was so powerful; it turned former Megadeth haters into fans instantly. They played songs such as 'In My Darkest Hour' (my personal favourite), 'Sweating Bullets' and 'A Tout Le Monde'. Dave Mustaine seemed genuinely astounded by the warm reception from the audience, and he revealed the name of the new Megadeth album; 'Thirteen'. After hearing bad reviews of Slayer live before I wasn't sure what to expect from them, but I believe they played a brilliant set with a good mix of songs that appealed to everyone. They really got the crowd going and the atmosphere for 'Raining Blood' and 'Angel of Death' was incredible, and pretty brutal! The next band on was of course Metallica. Love them or hate them, one thing is for sure; you can't deny they put on an incredible live show. They played for around two and a half hours, but every song they played was received well and there was a feeling of unity amongst every metal fan in the crowd. Robert Trujullo is an incredible bassist and I cannot think of a single fault with Metallica's performance. The big four jam was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen at a concert. Diamond Head, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica all uniting together to perform 'Am I Evil?' The sight on stage was incredible, and even though Lars Ulrich was worried about how it wasn't going to stay together, it was a perfect collaboration that demonstrated how incredible the metal genre is and why exactly they're referred to as 'The Big Four'. Also, any tension between Metallica and Megadeth seems to have disappeared; which was demonstrated in a long hug between James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine. All in all, Friday was one amazing night for metal and I'm so happy to have been there to have witnessed such an amazing concert.

Sylosis were the first band I saw on Saturday (nothing beats watching a metal show at 11am!). Although I had not heard much of their music before I was very impressed by them and thoroughly enjoyed their set. The band seemed surprised at how many people had gathered to see them so early, but it was definitely worth it. 'Reflections Through the Fire' seemed to be a crowd favourite and Sylosis started Saturday off wonderfully. The next band I witness was Architects. Having seen them before I knew what to expect; good music made even better with Sam Carter's amazing voice. I was at the barriers for them, which was a bad idea due to all of the crowd surfing, which seemed to be widely encouraged. Although there seemed to be a smaller crowd as they aren't as 'metal' as some of the bands who played Sonisphere, whoever didn't see them missed out on an amazing set and as soon as the riff for 'Day In Day Out' started the crowd went insane. 'Heartburn' was played beautifully and proved they could play a wide variety of songs and still sound perfect. Gallows were intense, as always. Frank Carter is such an amazing front man with so much energy, and he knows exactly how to make the crowd go mental. The circle pit was one of the largest I've seen at a festival and 'Orchestra of Wolves' seemed to be the biggest crowd pleaser. However, when Frank Carter announced he was leaving I couldn't believe my ears (although I wish him the best of luck in whatever he does in the future, and I'm sure Wade MacNeil be an equally-capable new singer). The next band I saw was Cavalera Conspiracy and there was no denying that they brought a completely different element to the metal genre and they were fascinating to watch. Max Cavalera has an extremely distinctive voice which sounded so raw and passionate live. The band played together perfectly and when 'Roots, Bloody Roots' started the excitement from everyone in the crowd was evident; Cavalera Conspiracy were back and even better than before. The next few bands I watched seemed to be disregarded by most people at Sonisphere, but I think they are incredible and deserve a lot more recognition for what they do (and that people should give different bands a chance at festivals... after all, isn't that what it's about, finding new bands to listen to?). Kids in Glass Houses were the next band that played, and contradictory to belief they had mosh pits, crowd surfing and Aled Phillips even jumped into the crowd! 'Saturday' was their best song live and they seemed to be a happy-go-lucky band who knew what the crowd wanted and how to give it to them. However, I will admit I'm not a big fan of their new direction in music, but 'Animals' sounds a lot better live than on recording! The one band I was disappointed with at Sonisphere was Sum 41; I was expecting a much more exciting set and they came on really late. Although it brought back childhood memories hearing such songs as 'In Too Deep' and 'Fat Lip' they just didn't seem to live up to their standard and their value was mostly nostalgic, not for the music. The next band I witnessed were You Me at Six. From the second Josh Franceschi stepped on stage the rock/pop-punk began and they proved their critics wrong; they are musically talented and a fantastic live act. They played new songs such as 'Underdog' and 'The Consequence', but they played fan favourites including 'Kiss and Tell' and (of course) 'Save it for the Bedroom'. They demanded circle pits and although they didn't get the size they wanted it was obvious everyone had a great time and they were one of my favourite bands that I saw throughout the weekend. The next band I saw was All Time Low, and by now the rain was pouring down pretty heavily. Although I do like All Time Low they didn't perform as well as I'd seen them before and it was fairly obvious they couldn't handle the main stage at a festival. 'Do You Want Me (Dead?) was performed well, however it was slightly ruined by the newly-found arrogance of Jack and Alex who just talked about having an 'after party in their tent' and after a few songs I decided to go and watch Periphery instead, and what a fantastic idea it was! I was recently introduced to Periphery and the djent genre and instantly fell in love. Periphery are an extremely underrated band who deserve to make it big; Spencer Sotelo has a perfect singing voice and his screams are incredible. 'Icarus Lives' and 'Jetpacks Was Yes' were incredible to hear live and the guitar parts were intense. Seeing Periphery play a tiny tent was one of the best parts of Sonisphere and I can see them becoming extremely popular soon; watch out for them! Weezer were a nice change to watch afterwards and their cover of 'Teenage Dirtbag' (originally by Wheatus) was pretty good and a lot of fun to listen to. Biffy Clyro were the head-liners on Saturday night and although many didn't approve (I lost count of the times I heard 'That is not metal!') they played a beautiful set and proved they were a lot more than 'that band that originally sang that X-Factor song'. They played a wonderfully varied set, including the strange 'Born on a Horse', the dramatic 'Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies' and the beautiful 'Many of Horror'. Simon Neil's wonderful Scottish voice was received well and they performed a lot better than I expected.

Sunday was another early morning start (very bad with a hangover, but metal, Red Bull and a bacon sandwich was the perfect cure!), but this time for Volbeat. Volbeat are a Danish metal band who seemed to have a huge following, and with such a distinctive sound I'm not surprised. 'The Mirror and the Ripper' was their best song and demonstrated what they were about perfectly; well-timed drumming, catchy riffs and an amazingly strong singing voice. They even performed a Dusty Springfield cover, which sounded incredible.  Black Tide were the next band I watched, who I've seen quite a few times over the past few years, and it was amazing to see how far they've progressed. Although they have taken a new musical style which some may not approve, there's no denying they're extremely talented for their age and will no doubt become even stronger as they progress. Arch Enemy performed with such passion, and Angela Gossow has to be one of the most respected females in the metal genre. Her growling style is unique and I admire how well she performed, especially as they apparently had no sleep due to constant travelling across Europe. House of Pain brought hip hop to Sonisphere and their iconic performance of 'Jump Around' will forever be remembered fondly. Parkway Drive; well, where to start? They are an amazing Australian metalcore band and their live performances are always astounding. Winston McCall's voice is so passionate and incredible, and the band work so well together. They even had inflatable waves on stage and their was a crowdsurfing race amongst the crowd in boats. 'Boneyards' was a crowd-pleaser and the breakdown was intense ('there's blood in the WATER!'). 'Carrion' finished their set perfectly and if you ever get the chance to see Parkway Drive live I would highly recommend it; you won't be disappointed. The two minutes silence for Paul Gray is a moment that will stay with me forever. It was so emotional and a perfect tribute, and I will admit I was a bit teary-eyed  when Paul's jumpsuit was on stage. After talks of people planning to ruin it I'm so glad no one did and it proves how respectful the metal community can be. Mastodon were impressive live and although they may not be to everyone's taste, 'Colony of Birchmen' was particularly amazing live. Opeth were one of the bands I expected the least from, but I was pleasantly surprised by their set. Their melodic guitar sound and beautiful singing increased my respect for them and although they didn't play many songs they were one of my favourite bands live and I'd love to see them play for longer; they deserved a much longer set. Limp Bizkit lived up to their lively reputation and Fred Durst even admitted they had no setlist and welcomed the crowd to shout requests. 'Break Stuff' has to be one of the best festival anthems and 'Hot Dog' was a fantastic opening song to set the mood. Their cover of George Micheal's 'Faith' was amusing and 'Rollin' made the crowd go wild. Slipknot were the last band on, and they were definitely worth the wait. Slipknot have built up a reputation for being an incredible live band and anyone who has seen them will certainly agree. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of older songs played, such as 'Liberate', 'Purity' and 'Only One'. The pits were intense and I've never been in such a brutal moshpit. The atmosphere was incredible and the amount of people in the crowd was astounding; it is obvious how well-respected Slipknot are. Corey Taylor is the best front man I have ever seen and his voice is so beautiful. The iconic 'jump the fuck up' during 'Spit it Out' was intense and even though it was pouring down with rain everyone adhered to it and it was an amazing moment. Sid's jump into the crowd was astounding to watch and Slipknot never fail to disappoint with their on-stage antics. The tribute to Paul Gray at the end was amazingly beautiful and when Joey hugged Paul's jumpsuit I couldn't stop the tears; it was such a sad loss of life and talent, and it is obvious how badly affected the band members are by the loss of their brother.

All in all, I had a fantastic weekend; bring on Sonisphere 2012!

Recently..

Sorry for the last of posting, I've had a hectic few months full of exams, sixth form work, helping out at Godiva Festival, going to Sonisphere festival and street-teaming at the Birmingham o2 Academy. I've finally broken up for summer for six weeks, which means I can have some time to relax... sort of anyway!

Godiva Festival was a lot of fun, I wasn't there to watch the bands though; I was helping out at the Zoë's Place stand. For those of you who don't know, Zoë's Place is a baby hospice in Coventry that helps care for babies with life limiting or life threatening illnesses. I helped out on the stand, talking to people about the hospice and walking around trying to help fund-raise. It was a good weekend (but very tiring), but the end total of money raised was £5225.36, and I'm glad I had the chance to help raise money for such a worthy cause. I wish Zoë's Place all the best in the future and that any other fundraising events that they do will be as successful as Godiva Festival.

I've recently started street-teaming for the Birmingham o2 Academy, which involves helping to promote the venue and 'flyering' at concerts. It's a lot of fun helping out at one of my favourite music venues, I've met some lovely people and it also means that I get to go to some gigs for free, which is always a bonus! I'm also part of the 'Online o2 Angels' which involves promoting the venue on social networking websites.

Sonisphere was incredible, I'll post about it in more detail in my next post.

It has been a pretty good few months to be honest, and I promise I'll try and post a lot more often now!

The Midnight Beast at the HMV Institute Birmingham 16th February

On the 16th February I went to go watch The Midnight Beast at the HMV Institute in Birmingham. The Midnight Beast hit their big break in 2009 when they recorded a parody of the song 'Tik Tok' by Kesha, put it on YouTube and became internet sensations. Although they are quite a comedic band, they have a great live atmosphere and I was very excited, but also unsure about what to expect.

After an extremely long wait, a tall man dressed in jeans, a top and a cap came onstage. He revealed his name was 'HypeMan Sage'. Most of the crowd seemed dubious (including me!) as it didn't seem like he was the right genre to support The Midnight Beast. However, he instantly engaged with the audience and started MCing. The venue was pretty small anyway (for those who don't know it used to be the Birmingham Barfly) and it was a sold out gig, but everyone in the crowd was jumping around. My favourite song he performed was a remix of the Austin Powers theme tune; it sounds strange but it really worked. It seemed more like a club night than a gig, but it was really fun and no one looked bored. Regardless of whether the music was the right genre for this gig, the atmosphere was definitely right and made everyone even more excited about The Midnight Beast coming on stage. Honestly, I really enjoyed it and I've continued listening to him after the concert. Some artists don't get the recognition they deserve as many people are narrow-minded about the genres of music they listen to, but HypeMan Sage is very talented and performed extremely well.

After a short wait, The Midnight Beast came on stage in superhero outfits with pom poms and backing dancers to the song 'Booty Call'. The atmosphere was intense; so many screaming girls! They had amazing stage presence; they even had scooters and space hoppers! for part of their set! They played 'House Party' (my personal favourite!) which is about what the band would do if they formed a political party. Stefan, Dru and Ashley all had specific dance routines which were hilarious; especially in 'Just Another Boyband'. Their parodies of 'Tik Tok' and 'Down' were extremely funny and light-hearted comedy. The song 'Lez Be Friends' was one of the most anticipated of the night and the crowd singing were probably even louder than the band. During the song 'Ninjas' the band all had swords...but shortly through the song the crowd has already ripped up one of them and stolen another! During the set the interaction with the crowd from the band was good and like the HypeMan Sage set, it didn't feel like a concert; more like a party. Although there were lots of props, the main focus was on the songs and the overall performance was incredible and it has to be one of the best concerts I've been to. Although I usually go to rock or metal gigs, it was a nice change and a very enlightening experience.

After the concert, me and my friend Natalie were lucky enough to meet the band. They were all so lovely, down-to-earth and genuine. I have a lot of respect for The Midnight Beast and if you have the chance to go and see them go for it...you won't regret it!









My friend Natalie, Ashley from The Midnight Beast and me.






Me and Dru from The Midnight Beast.





Me and Stefan from The Midnight Beast.

LostAlone, The Blackout and My Chemical Romance 13.2.11

On Sunday night, I went to the Birmingham LG arena to go and see My Chemical Romance. It was an amazing night, I hadn't seen My Chemical Romance since I was twelve so I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was a fantastic night.

The first support band were called 'LostAlone'. I'll admit, I usually hear a lot of relatively unknown bands but I had never heard of them before. Honestly, they sounded good; they kept in time and interacted with the audience. They played songs such as 'Unleash the Sands of Time' (which seemed to be a crowd favourite), 'Blood is Sharp' (which the intro sounded a lot heavier than the rest of the songs on their set, but didn't live up to expectations) and 'Paradox is a Knife'. They were enjoyable to listen to, but much as the case is for most support bands, there was not much movement in the crowd. However, they were not the most exciting live band and I think that maybe a more lively band would have been more appropriate to support My Chemical Romance, considering how action-packed 'Danger Days' sounds and has been portrayed.

The next support band on were The Blackout. As I've already seen them (and met them!) before, I had extremely high expectations, and I was not disappointed! Although the atmosphere from the crowd was very boring and stationary, The Blackout certainly were not. They started their set with such energy and the opened with 'ShutTheFuckUppercut' which was a great choice. They played two of their new songs from their new album 'Hope': 'Ambition is Crutial' and 'Higher and Higher'. These songs were great and it made me excited for the release of the album in April. They even did a cover of 'I Whip My Hair Back and Forth' which was amusing and showed that they had a good sense of humour. They interacted with the crowd a lot and there were constant jokes about Wales and Birmingham being thrown around, but in a light-hearted manor. All in all, they played a good set and were entertaining to watch.

After a long wait in a crowd full of sweaty, excitable teenagers, My Chemical Romance came on stage. As expected, they opened with 'Na Na Na', but when they came out the crowd reception was intense. Although I like the latest album (Danger Days), I was doubtful of what to expect as My Chemical Romance seem to change their musical style with every album, but after the first song it was evident that they were back... and back for good. Gerard Way was as welcoming as ever and the sense of unity amongst the band and fans was easily apparent. Surprisingly, there was a good mix of old and new songs. They even played songs such as 'Give 'Em Hell Kid' and 'Our Lady of Sorrows', which pleased the older fans (however, I distinctly heard a girl behind me say "I don't know this song!" after every song that wasn't from 'Danger Days'; even after 'I'm Not Okay'!). My personal favourite song of the night was 'Mama' as Gerard is such an incredible front man and his performance in that song is always so fascinating to watch. Unfortunately, I had to leave partway through the last song of the encore, 'Vampires Will Never Hurt You', to get the train, but it was such an amazing night. I know many people who dislike My Chemical Romance, but they put on an undeniably good show.

Reviews for My Chemical Romance and The Midnight Beast are coming up tomorrow :) Haven't had much time, such a busy week and so many gigs!

Bayside, Pierce The Veil and A Day to Remember 2/2/11

Last night, I attended the A Day To Remember tour at the Birmingham o2 academy. As I made my way towards the academy, the queue was visible from many roads away. The turn out for this gig was amazing; it was probably one of the fullest gigs I’ve ever seen at the o2, mind you it was to be expected considering the sold-out tour and how popular A Day To Remember have become recently since their latest album ‘What Separates Me From You’ was released in November.

After a long time outside in the queue, I got into the academy at around half seven-ish; when Pierce The Veil came on stage. They were met by many cheers and opened with ‘Yeah Boy and Doll Face’, which is one of my favourite songs by PTV. Vic Fuentes’ voice was incredible and filled out the whole academy. The band had lots of energy and they were fascinating to watch. After they finished that song, they went into a cover of the popular song ‘Like a G6’, which was a real crowd-pleaser and created many mosh pits and circle pits. The next song that they played was even wilder, not because of the band but because of the crowd’s reaction when Jeremy McKinnon (lead singer of A Day To Remember) came on stage to perform backing vocals. All in all, they were an amazing live band and I think they’ve gained a lot of new fans from their pretty much flawless performance; they really got the crowd ready for the brutality of A Day To Remember.

The next band on were Bayside; a rock band from New York. However, the crowd didn’t sound excited for when they came on stage; they were not greeted with an inviting reaction. Nevertheless, they started their set and after the first couple of songs there was the smell of regret (and sweat… lots of sweat) amongst the crowd and they seemed more inviting and started to enjoy their set. The sound of Bayside’s set seemed a lot calmer than Pierce The Veil’s and it almost created a restless atmosphere amongst the crowd; they wanted A Day To Remember and they wanted them now. I honestly have nothing against Bayside, I personally think they were pretty good live but I do not think that they were the right genre of music for such a pit-loving crowd and that they needed a heavier band to set the right atmosphere.

As soon as A Day To Remember came on stage all hell broke loose; it was absolutely insane. I had seen them before (when they supported Bring Me The Horizon a few years ago) so I knew that the atmosphere was going to be mental, but it was incredible to see so many people inspired by what used to just be small band from Florida. They opened with ‘2^nd Sucks’ which set the style for most of their set; heavy guitar riffs, powerful lyrics and a mixture of screaming and singing. They played a mixture of older songs, such as ‘I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of’, ‘Mr Highway’s Thinking About The End’ and ‘Homesick’, whilst still playing newer songs such as their recent popular single’ All I Want’, ‘The House That Doubt Built’ and ‘Sticks & Bricks’. I honestly have a lot of respect for Jeremy McKinnon as he can scream so powerfully, but he can also sing so beautifully; it’s so much better than most of the generic ‘screamo’ bands that are around today that couldn’t hold a note to save their lives. Jeremy proved what an amazing voice he had when he came onstage for the encore with an acoustic guitar and played ‘If It Means A Lot To You’; it was beautiful. When they played the popular song, ‘The Downfall Of Us All’, it was received by many crowd surfers and even more insane pits; it was obvious it was a real favourite amongst the fans. The last song was ‘The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle’ and it was an amazing song to end on.

 All in all, it was a great gig and was worth badly injuring my foot and the bruises. It wasn’t just a day to remember; it was definitely a night to remember too!

Hellyeah, Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour 28/10/10

Last night I went to go and watch Hellyeah, Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour at the Birmingham N.I.A. It was an incredible gig, although it was a rather strange line-up. As much as I love Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour, I would have never imagined them playing a gig together a musically they are not that similar. However, I am glad that they did as the atmosphere was incredible. As it was a co-headline tour, Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour took it in turns to play last at each gig; tonight was Stone Sour's turn.

The doors opened at 5.30pm, which is extremely early as doors usually open around 7.00pm. As they opened so early, anticipation seemed to build up very quickly amongst the crowd of thousands (I think I remember M. Shadows saying there were 13,000 people attending). After what seemed like years of waiting, Hellyeah arrived on stage at around 7.30pm, greeted by many screaming fans. They opened with ‘Hellyeah’, which was so catchy that even people in the crowd that didn't know who they were found themselves singing along. They then interacted with the crowd, then played 'Matter of Time' and 'Cowboy Way'. They informed the audience that they loved to drink before playing 'Hell of a Time', 'You Wouldn't Know' and 'Stampede'. They then paid tribute to the late Dimebag Darrell and played 'Alcohaulin' Ass', inviting the crowd to sing along with them if they knew the words. As a couple of the members of Hellyeah were in bands with Dimebag Darrell, you could hear the pure emotion in Chad Gray's voice as he paid tribute to the legend. As Chad is also the lead singer Mudvayne, it was amazing to hear how versatile his voice is and to see a different side to him than what is portrayed of him in Mudvayne (don't get me wrong, I love Mudvayne, but I love singers who are versatile and can have completely different personas). All in all, they were an exciting live band and who sound a thousand times better live than on CD. Since seeing them live, I have become a big fan.

After Hellyeah finished their set, the vibe in the crowd was extremely tense. You could tell what everyone was thinking; what would Avenged Sevenfold be like without The Rev? As the first few notes of 'Nightmare' started to play, the tension was building higher and higher. As soon as the guitars kicked in the pyrotechnics started and the crowd went wild. M. Shadows has such an amazing stage presence that you cannot help but to have your eyes glued to him. They then played 'Critical Acclaim', which the lighting and pyrotechnics were even more impressive than for the opening. The set was also amazing; the album cover for 'Nightmare' (with the bigger 'rev' in 'forever' on the gravestone for the late James Sullivan) and cemetery gates around the stage where fire came out. Before 'Welcome to the Family' M. Shadows asked who hadn't seen Avenged Sevenfold before, heard many screams then replied with "Where the fuck have you guys been our whole lives? Welcome to the fucking family!" As this is many people's favourite song from the album, the mosh-pits were insane. Well, thousands of people who had been waiting for so long to see Avenged Sevenfold, what do you expect other than complete craziness? They then played the classic 'Beast and the Harlot' then 'Buried Alive'. The set then changed to a beautiful picture of M.Shadows and The Rev and M. Shadows went into a heart-felt speech about The Rev and thanked the crowd for keeping Avenged Sevenfold strong and welcoming The Rev's favourite drummer (Mike Portnoy - ex-Dream Theater) and went on to play 'So Far Away' as a tribute to The Rev. It was a beautiful moment and the raw emotion in the lyrics and M.Shadow's voice was enough to bring the strongest of people to tears. Near the end of the song M.Shadows asked everyone to raise their lighters and mobiles to the sky to show The Rev; it was incredible. They then played 'Afterlife', and the set went back to the album cover, then M.Shadows asked who in the crowd was religious. He then said that the next song was the most religious song he'd ever written; it was 'God Hates Us'. M.Shadow's screaming was actually very good, however it was not as heavy as it sounded on the album version. 'Unholy Confessions' was then played and as the circle pit was crazy, M.Shadow's said that the audience could pick between 'Almost Easy' and 'Bat Country'; it was a resounding vote for 'Bat Country' and it was an amazing song to finish their set with.

After another half an hour wait, the lights dimmed and an unexpected song played before Stone Sour came on; I think it was a song from Star Wars, however I'm not completely sure about that. Stone Sour then came on an opened with 'Mission Statement'. Corey then interacted with the crowd before playing 'Reborn'. He then asked the crowd to go crazy for the next song; 'Made of Scars', which sounded very heavy and started many mosh-pits. Then, much to the joy of many screaming girls, Stone Sour played their beautiful recent single; 'Say You'll Haunt Me'. They then continued the mix of old and new songs with 'Get Inside', 'Unfinished' and 'Your God'. The rest of the band then left the stage whilst Corey stayed on to play the incredibly emotional song 'Bother' (which was written for his father as he only met him for the first time a few years ago). He also stayed alone on stage to play the most popular Stone Sour track; 'Through the Glass'. Although this song is overplayed on many music channels it was extremely passionate and beautiful live. The rest of the band then rejoined Corey back on stage to play 'The Bitter End'. Corey then announced that he was going to play the next future single; 'Digital (Did You Tell)', which you could tell from the crowd's reaction that it was going to be a very popular single and it should hopefully make Stone Sour make a high entry in the charts. They then played 'Hell and Consequences' and they finally finished with '30/30-150'. At the end of their set, lots of confetti came out of huge cannons on either side of the stage and Corey promised that Stone Sour would be back to Birmingham soon.

All in all, it was an incredible concert and although the acts seemed unlikely to tour together, it actually worked really well and I did not see or speak to one disappointed person with any of the acts.

First Post

My name is Julia and I'm a student at sixth form in Rugby, England. I'm an aspiring music journalist and I have created this blog to share my concert and music reviews. I hope that you enjoy them and if you have any comments or suggestions then please contact me. Thank you for viewing my blog.