The Midlands Rocks

Search this site

Midlands Rocks Recommends...
 
Midlands Rocks Radio Show 
 
 
 
 

Emma Scott Presents...
Reviews‎ > ‎

Gig Reviews

Welcome to the Midlands Rocks LIVE reviews section... We try to cover as many gigs as possible across the Midlands but could always do with covering more! If you would like to join our growing team of REVIEWERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS,
please do get in touch. We are especially looking for reviewers from the EAST of the Midlands - Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Lincoln, etc. We would love to hear from all that have a passion for ROCK & METAL music.
 
Click on a heading below to view the full review.
 
Bookmark and Share
 

Showing posts 1 - 300 of 332. View more »

Cheap Trick @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Monday 8th November 2010 - A wet and windy night in Wolverhampton couldn’t dampen the spirits as Cheap Trick, too long absent from these shores, blew into the Wulfrun and delivered a master class of Power Pop perfection...


 





 
 

Less Than Jake + Zebrahead @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Saturday 6th November 2010 - There's fireworks going off all over the city, but Midlands Rocks are looking forward to a different sort of display from Florida Ska Punks Less Than Jake. 18 years and 8 albums proof that this band has got staying power and a huge following...






 
 

Cancer Bats + Trash Talk @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham - Saturday 30th October 2010 - The Saturday before Halloween sees Nottingham full of revellers in fancy dress. Devils, Zombies and Chavs seem, to be the most popular costumes this side of the Trent. A logistical balls up prevented me from being in Nottingham to see the delightfully named Bastard Child Death Cult and Vera Cruz but I did make it to the Rescue Rooms in plenty of time to see Trash Talk and Cancer Bats.


 
 

The Dillinger Escape Plan + Rolo Tomassi + The Ocean @ Academy 2, Birmingham - Thursday 28th October 2010 - "Arguably one of the best bands on the planet, The Dillinger Escape Plan are devastatingly unique and unparalleled in terms of musicianship and one of my favourite bands since Faith No More and the aforementioned Mr Bungle. On record, they are extraordinary and set a level that is demanding and could easily take its toll on any band having to live up to it in the live arena."


 
 

Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour @ Birmingham NIA - Thursday 28th October 2010 -It’s a tour that promised to rip a new hole in the proverbial buttocks of the UK. And from the showing I saw in Birmingham, Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour kept their word...


 

 
 

Alter Bridge @ 02 Academy, Birmingham – Monday 25th October 2010  - It’s been two years since Alter Bridge last graced the UK with their presence.  Their long anticipated return sees them re-emerging even bigger and better than before.  After taking time out to work on their latest release, AB III on the Roadrunner label, these are exciting times for a band that are unsurprisingly looking set for world domination.

 


 
 

Feeder + Black Gold @ Wulfrun, Wolverhampton – Monday 25th October 2010  - Time for a trip down memory lane – not just revisiting Feeder's finest moments, but a gig with a lone support act and the headliners playing a lengthy set...


 

 
 

Kellermensch + Go Primitive @ Asylum 2, Birmingham - Monday 25th October 2010 -Kellermensch travelled all the way from Denmark to play to the support act and me. Very kind of them, don’t you think? But Birmingham missed something special tonight. Shirts, ties, smart shoes, one or two jackets, a waistcoat, and hair that’s either bedraggled or smartly parted, how the hell does one describe the band?...


 

 
 

The Gaslight Anthem + Chuck Ragan + Sharks @ Civic Hall, Wolverhampton - Sunday 24th October 2010 - I had been looking forward to seeing The Gaslight Anthem since the release of their highly acclaimed ‘American Slang’ album earlier this year. So had many others judging by the turnout at the Civic on Sunday evening...



 



 

 
 

Attack! Attack! + The Straight Lines + Forever Living Dead + That Sunday Feeling @ 02 Academy, Leicester - Saturday 23rd October 2010 - First on stage in a four band line-up, these Grantham lads have been together for only five months but seem to have firmly gelled. From the onset, punching out tunes with up-beat vibes suggestive of McFly, Blink 182 and Sum 41. They flew into action with meaty morsels like “Heaven” and “You‘re so Vain“, instantly creating interest with the scattered few down on the floor...





 

 
 

Supersonic Festival @ The Custard Factory, Birmingham - Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th October 2010 - Our man of all things extreme checks out a festival that promises to have diverse extremities. Can Chop handle the electro driven ambient stuff along side his beloved grindcore? Brummie stalwarts Napalm Death will be enough to whet his appetite surely?...

  


 

 
 

The Anderson/Wakeman Project @ Civic Hall, Wolverhampton - Thursday 21st October 2010 - With both Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman being out of Yes at the moment, and with nobody seeming to know how permanent that situation is likely to be, with the band having recruited Benoit David to sing and Rick’s son Oliver to play keyboards, Anderson and Wakeman have recorded their own album, ‘The Living Tree’ and are playing several dates around the country in support of the album...

 

 
 

Stiff Little Fingers @ Roadmender, Northampton - Thursday 21st October 2010  - Classic, Irish punk stars, the Stiff Little Fingers, were cruising around the British Isles this year on the Still Burning Tour. It’s not in aid of anything particular like an album release or reunion. It appears they just love the music and have that “two fingers” attitude to the establishment that has kept the spirit of punk alive for over 30 years.

 
  


 

 
 

Jim Jones Revue + The Rimes @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham, Wednesday, 20th October 2010 - The smallest room in the house is packed tonight for one of the hottest bands around at the moment. A real "I was there" moment in rock folklore? Maybe, but one things for sure, Jim Jones Revue will burn down the house in the process!

 


 

 
 

Alter Bridge + Slaves To Gravity @ Rock City, Nottingham - Wednesday 20th October 2010 - Nottingham’s Rock City is sold out for Alter Bridge tonight and according to their Twitter posts so were the previous shows in Newcastle & Manchester. It’s a cliché but they were genuinely queuing round the block to get into Rock City tonight. Round the block and into the multi-storey car park to be accurate! It’s far too cold for a queue this size.

 


 

 
 

Train @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Wednesday 20th October 2010 - Tonight, the main room at the O2 Academy in Birmingham is packed with love, for their music but more probably than not for the main man himself – yes there’s a good contingent of swooning females in the audience tonight and Patrick gives them what they are after and then some!

 
  


 

 
 

Oli Brown Band + Snakewater @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Wednesday 20th October 2010 - Another night of quality British blues on the calendar of the Robin 2. As Oli Brown hits the region on tour in support of new album 'Heads I Win Tails You Lose'...

 
  
 

 
 

We Are The Ocean + The Ghost of a Thousand @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Tuesday 19th October - Two of Britains brightest young bands provide an incendiary performance and MR are there to witness it...

 
  
 

 
 

Jeff Beck @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham - Sunday 17th October 2010 - Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page are household names. Their time in the Yardbirds and their ensuing achievements has tattooed their names on the eardrums of every rock music fan and the fingertips of every guitarist the world over. But Jeff Beck, who also did his time in the Yardbirds, hasn’t seen the same kind of success as his two predecessors. Why?...
 
 
 
 
 

Guns N Roses + Sebastian Bach @ LG Arena Birmingham Sunday 17th October 2010 - On the whole though, Axl did achieve the seemingly impossible, he and the rest of the band thoroughly entertained. Not only that he gave us a rare glimpse of humility yes, humility. When the band returned to the stage to take a well deserved bow, he spoke of waking up with his voice totally shot to pieces, and thought “oh fuck”. He proceeded to thank us and seemed genuinely blown away…
 
  

 
 

MIDLANDS ROCKS ON TOUR Devin Townsend + Tesseract @ Cheyenne Saloon, Las Vegas, USA - Saturday 16th October 2010 - Continuing my transatlantic gig marathon in awesome fashion, this time it saw me by luck and a little bit of judgment catch Devin Townsend on his American headline tour with the added bonus of British band Tesseract in support...

 

 


 
 

My Passion + Dead By April + Summerlin @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Saturday 16th October 2010 - Tonight’s show is a perfect example that there are number of young, upcoming bands who have a new twist and a strong live performance who are ready to storm the bigger venues, with a an ever-increasing legion of loyal fans right behind them...

 
  
 
 

 
 

Curved Air + Awake by Design @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Friday 15th October 2010 - There seems to be an awful lot of reunions about at the moment, bands playing their seminal albums in their entirety, old pals getting back together for a jam, that sort of thing, but one such reunion was not one you'd have expexted. 70's prog rockers Curved Air take us back to an era when flairs were all the rage and editor Peter had hair.


 
  
 
 

 
 

Y&T + Fury UK @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham – Friday 15th October 2010 -  It was a LIVE version of my CD collection, all big hair, embarrassing lycra and sunshine, pure sunshine (before it damaged your skin). This is the stuff MTV was built upon....



 
  
 
 

 
 

Sabaton + Alestorm @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Friday, 15th October 2010 - "...Sabaton scream onto the stage with the ball-grabbing Ghost Division. The room explodes with movement, light and sound. Joakim tears across the room, belting out the lyrics in his trademark hard-man voice. We stomp and pound through Ghost Division – always a cracking and powerful opener – before marching through Uprising and roaring into Screaming Eagles, the latter transforming the room into a manic warzone as some of the greater pits of the evening begin to open up, sucking in innocent bystanders."
 
 
 
  
 

Sebastian Bach @ Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa - Friday, 15th October 2010 - The Assembly Rooms was packed out for this show. Since Seb’s supporting the world’s most famous tribute act of the moment – No-Guns-‘n-one-Rose – I didn’t expect a turnout like this. I figured they’d wait and see him in Birmingham. But at least the absence of the bane of the UK live scene at the moment, the always controversial and dummy-spitty-outy-est Axl Rose, means that the show will start on time and we’ll all be tucked up in bed before dawn with our ears ringing until Sunday.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

MIDLANDS ROCKS ON TOUR Lynch Mob + Beggars & Thieves @ Feelgoods, Las Vegas, Friday 15th October 2010 - As a precursor to their appearence at the Firefest event in Nottingham at the end of this month, intrepid MR reporter Tosh Davies caught up with these vetran rockers at the legendary bar Feelgoods in the City of Sin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Visions + Held Beneath + Borelia Mass + Lay Siege @ Lancaster Club, Rushden - Friday 15th October 2010  - If you go gigging in Northamptonshire, then at some point you’re bound to hear the name Attic Promotions. It’s a name that has become a foundation for heavy music in the local scene. Attic’s newly promoted Pure Metal Night sounded a winner from the start. With four bands and a new location at the Lancaster Club in Rushden, I was sure I was in for a thoroughly raucous evening....
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

MIDLANDS ROCKS ON TOUR Tarja Turunen @ Shepherds Bush Empire, London, Wednesday 13th October 2010 - Our team are spreading their wings and reaching out far beyond the realms of the Heartlands of Rock. Claire Frays makes a foray into the nations capital to witness a mesmerizing and mind blowing set from the Ice Queen of Symphonic Metal
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Bowling For Soup + A + Forever the Sickest Kids + The Dollyrots @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Wednesday 13th October 2010 - How long have Bowling For Soup been around?  I'm not sure but it must be at least 300 hundred years… So considering I’ve been going to gigs for around the same period of time its amazing I’ve never seen the Texas punk pop heroes before… 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Ian Hunter @ Town Hall, Birmingham - Tuesday 12th October 2010 - Ian Hunter, I am reliably informed, last played Birmingham Town Hall 33 years ago. Tonight serves as the closest thing to a hometown show for the Shropshire born rocker on his current jaunt around the UK. 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Imelda May + Pete Williams @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Sunday 10th October 2010 - I’ve now seen Imelda May play live three times in the last 18 months. Once at Birmingham’s Glee Club, again at Birmingham’s Town Hall and most recently at my favourite midlands venue, the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton. So yes, I am a bit of a fan. Don’t expect a particularly unbiased review…

 

  
 

 
 

Onslaught + The Rotted + Virus + Betrayed By Many + Slab + I Hate You More @ Asylum, Birmingham – Sunday 10th October 2010 - Now in its sixth consecutive year, and third at the Asylum after stints at JB's and the Barfly, this year's event was ambitiously spread over two weekends split (roughly) into a more extreme and a more melodic day.

 
 
  
 

 
 

Skaldic Curse + Towers Of Flesh + Ghast + Primitive Graven Image + Throes @ Asylum 2, Birmingham – Saturday 9th October 2010 - There are times when you wonder if it really could get any better. Five black metal bands in a compact venue, with a sympathetic sound man at their disposal... surely a cue for claws to extend skywards in a krieg moment of the darkest variety?

 
 
  
 

Korn @ Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Saturday October 9th 2010 - The Boys from Bakersfield are back! As dark and moody as ever, Jonathan Davies and crew tear apart the Wolverhampton Civic with a mixed set spanning their long career.
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

The Lines + Bicycle Thieves + Guile + The Limelight @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Friday October 8th 2010 -It was a busy evening at the Wulfrun Hall, with four bands on the agenda. However, the big event was the triumphant return to Wolverhampton of headliners, The Lines, for their hometown gig and the launch of their new debut album.
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

Yoso @ HMV Institute, Birmingham - Saturday October 9th 2010 - Combine the signature voice of Toto and two Yes alumni and the end result is Yoso, a melodic prog outfit based around the trio of Bobby Kimball, Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood...
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Vampires Rock @ Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - Thursday 7th October 2010 - I’m a big fan of the theatre… there I’ve said it! I’m not ashamed to say I get quite a kick out of going along to one of the many fine venues in Brum now and again to catch a play or two. I’m always really impressed (and more than slightly jealous of) the level of talent that the majority of the actors and actresses display. So when the chance came around to catch ‘Vampires Rock’ at the Alex, I jumped at it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Architects + Norma Jean + Devil Sold His Soul + Lower Than Atlantis @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham - Wednesday 6th Oct 2010 - By the time Architects hit the stage the room is hot and it's about to become a sweatbox. They start off with "Day In Day Out" and it's clear to see why tonight's show is sold out. The band are tight and energetic...
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Glenn Hughes @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Tuesday 28th September 2010 - I’d been really looking forward to this gig especially on the tide of recent excitement about Glenn’s new band Black Country Communion. Glenn’s current output and live shows have seen Glenn stretching his musical abilities and going off the rock track and getting a bit funky!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Ned's Atomic Dustbin @ HMV Institute, Birmingham - Saturday 25th September 2010 - Ned’s Atomic Dustbin are one of the few bands that stood out and appealed to me amongst the plethora of indie bands that dominated the music scene in the early 90’s. So on to tonight’s show, what promised to celebrate the not quite 20th Anniversary of ‘God Fodder’ by playing it in its entirety, at the newly re-opened Institute.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Winter In Eden + Visible Clarity + Radicus @ The Shed, Leicester - Saturday 25th September 2010 - The previous time Winter in Eden played Leicester’s Shed, they didn’t have the best of experiences. Relegated from the upstairs stage to the basement, on a stage that punters had to cross to get to the Gents, they even suffered the indignity of having half the PA removed to improve conditions for the bands performing upstairs...
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

TrashStock @ The Central, Nottingham - Saturday 25th September 2010 - Can you smell it in the air? No, not that. Tension and excitement mingled with anticipation as 13 of the finest upcoming Rock, Metal and Punk bands prepare to do battle in a musical arena that covers 2 stages and will consist of 9 hours of almost non-stop action. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

The Union + The Whybirds @ O2 Academy 2, Leicester - Friday 24th September 2010 - There’s no doubting the quality of the latest collaboration of Luke Morley & Pete Shoulder – The Union. They have the classic rock fraternity all of a buzz and it’s easy to see why. Their recent debut album ‘Union’ is jam-packed with Americana based blues rock topped off by the scintillating vocals of Pete Shoulder. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Reckless Love + Jett Black @ Rock City, Nottingham - Friday 22nd September 2010 - "Hailing from Finland, Reckless Love are a great example to all us up-coming bands, having taken 2 line-up changes, 4 demos and 8 years of touring to reach the heights that they currently scale."

 

  

 
 

MIDLANDS ROCKS ON TOUR Heidenfest @ O2 Academy, Islington - Monday 20th September 2010 - 20th September 2010 marks the day I set forth on my maiden voyage to the O2 Academy, Islington; my team, a bunch of Vikings, Pirates and Folklore connoisseurs. It is a rarity for MR to venture outside of Midlands waters, so I see it as a great privilege to be embarking on such a quest! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Panic Room + Rude Tiger @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 19th September 2010 - The gig at The Robin was the last on this short series of dates for Panic Room, having also played a very well-received set at the Cambridge Rock Festival in early August...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Fun Lovin' Criminals + The Chemists @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Saturday 18th September 2010 - Fun Lovin’ Criminals have been around for what seems ages. Both Paul and I, whilst chatting before the show, both commented on how listening to the band's older albums (such as ‘100% Columbian’ and ‘Mimosa’) on the way to the gig had reminded us just how good these guys were...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Reckless Love + Jettblack + Lipshock @ Queens Hall, Nuneaton - Friday 17th Sept 2010 - tonight Queens Hall plays host to a great rock tour in Finland’s Reckless Love with the UK’s Jettblack in support. They are joined by local heroes, LipShock and I’m very pleased to report that the Nuneaton rock fraternity are also keen to witness the Scandinavian melodic/trash rockers resulting in a capacity turn-out...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Framing Hanley @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Thursday 16th September 2010 - the sound had to compete with the escalating screams of the girls every time front man, Nixon flicked his suitably razor-cut fringe. I don’t recall the last time I heard screams drown out the band at a gig. Yes, there were young men in the audience too but I think they were just there to escort their girlfriends and probably daydream that it was them up there on stage – I know I was!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

The Moody Blues @ LG Arena, Birmingham - 11th September 2010 - Sedate and serene, Birmingham’s longest running band rolled back the years at the LG Arena to deliver a two hour show that encompassed numerous highlights from throughout their history.
 
 
 
 
  
 

Chantel McGregor Band @ Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Sunday 10th September 2010 - Chantel McGregor is a young blues guitarist from Bradford, about who there’s been a considerable buzz in the last few months, especially after a very successful appearance at the Cambridge Rock festival in August. So successful in fact, almost immediately afterwards she was the first artist announced for next year’s festival, and all this despite having no CDs or other recordings available...
 


 
 
  
 

Robin Trower @ The Robin 2, Bilston, 9th September 2010 - His influence on a fair-sized cross section of today’s musicians cannot be argued against; Tesla, Opeth, Metallica and Joe Bonamassa have all covered his songs and the sheer size of the crowd he drew to The Robin is testament not only to his career, but his enduring reputation and popularity.
 

 
  
 

Surface Unsigned Festival : Midlands Regional Final @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - 29 August 2010 - It’s tough job but someone had to do it. Thirteen hours of watching and judging the cream of what the Midlands has to offer in terms of unsigned bands. Well, the ones that managed to jump through the hoops of fire set out by the Surface Unsigned Festival...audience votes, ticket sales, text votes and skilled performances.

 
 
 
  
 

MIDLANDS ROCKS ON TOUR Steel Panther @ The Key Club, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles - 23rd August 2010 - Need I wax lyrical (or drivel on endlessly) about the history of Sunset Strip? From The Doors’ incendiary and controversial performances at the Whiskeyagogo in the 60s to the stories of unparalleled debauchery that surrounded (and threatened to overshadow the music of) the 80’s rock scene, sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll have long been stitched into the face of this place, defiantly staring down the puritan haters of their mandatory hedonistic lifestyles. Where better, then, than to see the self-referential piss-take/homage to all-things 80s hair metal that is Steel Panther?

 
 
 
  
 

Signify + Ramblin' Boy + Martyr De Mona @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Friday, 27th August 2010  - Tonight is a party night; friends, family, fans all gathered to help Signify launch their debut album - entitled 'SigNiFy'.
 
 
 
  
 

The Reasoning - a church somewhere in Derbyshire... 22nd August 2010 - ...rather than play shows in established venues, they offered members of the fanbase the chance to nominate venues, and even to organise the gigs, and so they’ve been able to visit some unusual venues in places that rarely, if ever, feature on the regular gigging circuit.

 
 
 
  
 

Bloodstock Open Air Festival @ Catton Hall, Derbyshire - 13th to 15th August 2010 - So dawns Thursday the 12th of August, 2010 as the heavens open over Derby. The hectic flurry of rain twists the emerald plains of Catton Hall into a violent mud bath as bands of ragged metalheads descend upon the countryside by the thousands.
 
 
 

 
 
 

Voivod + Nashville Pussy @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham – 9th August 2010 - It’s a Monday night in Nottingham and two bands have travelled a long way to make a lot of noise. The Rescue Rooms has shape-shifted from a venue which used to be a regular stop off for touring indie bands and is now a shining beacon for East Midlands rock and metal fans.
 
 

 
 
 
  
 

Bad Religion @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Friday 6th August 2010 - Bad Religion’s recent stop in Birmingham to celebrate their 30th Anniversary was originally scheduled to take place in the main room at the city's Academy. However, on arrival at the venue the show had been moved to the smaller Academy 2 (presumably due to fewer tickets being sold than anticipated)...


 
 
 

 
 
 

Steve Conte + Melodramas + Hollywood Tease @ The Robin 2, Bilston - 28th July 2010 - Steve Conte is probably best known for his slot as main axe for the New York Dolls, but he’s also worked with Willy De Ville, Paul Simon, Suzi Q and Chuck Berry, so it’s pretty fair to say that he’s a well rounded musician with a plectrum in many pies, but is he any good as a front man?
 
 
 





 
 
 

Heavens Basement + Audrey Horne + The Fallen @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham – 28th July 2010 - Heaven’s Basement are an English rock enigma. There is no doubting the quality of their song-writing and their passion on stage but they are certainly not blessed with any decent amounts of luck...
 
 
 





 
 
 

Terrorvision + The Virgin Marys @ The Robin 2, Bilston - 25th July - 

It was quite apparent early on that it was going to be a good night at the Robin, within 15 mins of the door opening the venue was half full.  We had small groups of Terrorvision fans forming round the room comparing Terrorvision gigs

!
 
 
 


 
 
 

Through Her Eyes + Godsize + Frozen Theory @ JB's Dudley - 25th July - A young band just starting out, a band that are local legends and a band who are on the cusp of bigger things. Three bands all with their own distinctive style and sound, I love a night of variety!
 
 
 


 
 
 

MIDLANDS ROCKS ON TOUR High Voltage Festival 2010 @ Victoria Park, London - 24th-25th July 2010 - The inaugural High Voltage Festival, put together ‘by fans, for fans’ according to all the publicity, can probably be described as a success. The crowds were good, even though there was a ‘2-for-1’ offer on the tickets in the days leading up to the show, the weather held up and there were some terrific performances when the music finally started. However, I think you can only describe it as a qualified success...




 
 
 
 

Dweezil Zappa @ Civic Hall, Wolverhampton - 23rd July 2010 - Fearing that his father’s music would suffer a decline from which it wouldn’t survive, Dweezil’s campaign is to stop his father’s music disappearing off the radar, bring it to a new audience and give people the opportunity to see it in a live setting.


 
 
 
 

THE DOORS Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall - Sunday 18th July 2010 - As the musicians of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra filled the stage, two spotlights beamed a top the lone keyboard and empty mic that would soon be occupied by two of the most influential rockers to come out of the flower power era of 60s Los Angeles...
 
 

Sepultura + Gama Bomb + Obzidian + Heresy @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Saturday, 17th July 2010 - Tonight, Sepultura showed us their yarbles and they were bolshy! Live, these droogs are menacing. Real horrorshow...
 
 
 
 

Godsized @ Eddies, Birmingham - Friday 16th July 2010 - in front of an ‘intimate’ crowd of 40-or-so punters - many of whom had travelled to Birmingham after seeing the guys knock 7 shades out of the Pepsi stage at Download – Godsized took to the stage in a relaxed mood, still keen to show everyone no matter how few, that there were there on business!...
 
 
 





 
 
 

Bowling For Soup @ The Kasbah, Coventry - Thursday, 8th July 2010 - "Bowling For Soup are undoubtedly the funniest band I have EVER seen live! Formed in 1994 by singer Jarret Redick and co, this band has certainly been around the block a few times, bringing 16 years and 7 studio albums of piss-ya-pants madness to the happy punk masses..."
 
 
 
 

Queensbury @ The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham - Thursday 24th June 2010 - Birmingham let itself down last time these guys were in town. In July 2009, they played the Madhouse bar, upstairs at Madhouse Rehearsals to a near-empty room. Unperturbed by the circumstances of that gig, their performance was one that would suit a more sizeable (and more populated) venue.
 
 
 
 

Anvil + Heresy + Signify @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Thursday 17th June 2010 - Riding on the back of their “rediscovery” thanks to the movie that documents the ups and (mainly) downs of their (almost) success, at 8 o’clock Anvil looked set to play to yet another venue with attendance figures barely in the thirties.
 
 
 
 

Popa Chubby @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Wednesday, June 16th 2010 - Popa Chubby's outlook towards the blues is extremely refreshing, not only do we get classic blues mixed with classic rock, but we also have a massive chunk of humour thrown in the pot along with a splash of blues, Bronx style.
 
 
 
 

Trigger the Bloodshed + Bleed From Within + The Dead Lay Waiting + Forlorn + Confined Within @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Wednesday 16th June 2010 - "The first chance to see how Trigger The Bloodshed's crushing new album “Degenerate” would transfer to the live arena was an appetising prospect. Before the main course as it were, and as is increasingly the norm these days, there were four entrées to consider first...."
 
 
 
 

Download 2010 @ Donington Park, Friday 11th - Sunday 13th June 2010 - It was time for our annual pilgrimage to those hallowed fields in Derbyshire, otherwise known as Donington Park. This year’s event marked 30 years since the first Monsters of Rock held in 1980, and the name of Donington has gone down in history with many rock bands citing it as the place to play...
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Skin + Matt Alfonzetti + Liberty Lies + Voodoo Johnson @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Monday 7th June 2010 - It’s my first visit to the new Wolves Civic-run venue The Slade Rooms (well for a gig…hic…shhhhh) - which has replaced the city's old Little Civic venue - to catch rejuvenated Brit rockers Skin warming up for a second successive year playing the Download festival...





 
 
 
 

Mostly Autumn @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 6th June 2010 - This has been an interesting few months for Mostly Autumn. Lead singer Heather Findlay, announced she was to leave the band after over a decade of fronting the band, and they played an epic and emotional farewell show. Could Olivia Sparnnen make the transition from backing to lead vocals successfully?


 
 
 
 

Carnifex + Veil Of Maya + Suffokate + Ingested @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - 2nd June 2010 - A night of brutal Metal was in store. Chop heads off to Birmingham to see if the O2 Academy is ready for an onslaught of four groups of angry young men intent on ripping the place apart.
 

 
 
 

Brumstock @ The Old Wharf, Birmingham - 28th/29th/30th May 2010 - The spiritual home and birthplace of Heavy Metal finally gets a Metal Fest it can be proud of. Three days of Metal Mayhem blow away the Bank Holiday cobwebs as hoards of local metal fans descend onto Birmingam city centre for this inaugural event.

 

 
 
 

Joe Bonamassa + Sandi Thom @ the NIA, Birmingham - Monday 31st May 2010 - I’d been looking forward to seeing Joe Bonamassa play live since I first heard his ‘Blues Deluxe’ album back in 2003. Now with 10 albums and a recent sold out performance at the Royal Albert Hall under his still youthful belt, I was eagerly anticipating the guitarist, who in my opinion is carrying the ‘Blues’ into a new era...

 

 
 
 

Dementia + Destroyed Beyond Belief + Oxzide @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Saturday 29th May 2010 - Going into a gig blind isn’t usually the best way to go, but all I knew about this gig prior to arriving at the Slade Rooms was that Dementia were fronting with no information about support bands and really didn’t know what to expect...

 

 
 
 

InMe + Fei Comodo + Envy Of The State @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Friday 28th May  2010
Inme are one of those bands that always seem to be on the verge of making it big but not quite getting there. Battling through illness and label problems, these Essex boys are back with a new album and a new resolve. Cath Holland goes along to see if they can match the critical acclaim they recieved for their early material.
 

 
 
 

Michael Schenker Group + 4Bitten + Voodoo Sioux @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Friday 28th May 2010 - We all like our heroes to be slightly flawed, I mean what is the point of them if they are perfect?  We need them to live out our fantasies to be who we are not.  In Michael Schenker we have that hero...

 

 
 
 

Crowded House @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham - Tuesday 25th May 2010 - Even though they a little more than a week into their return to live duty, Crowded House showed no signs of rustiness with a commanding performance at the Symphony Hall in what was the second of two consecutive nights at Birmingham’s premier live venue...

 

 
 
 

H.E.A.T + Neonfly + Invisible Idols @ JB’s Dudley - Monday 24th May, 2010 - The opening band tonight is Invisible Idols, a Yorkshire based trio consisting of Matt Black (Vocals / Guitar), Joe Lally (Bass) & Damien Campbell (Drums). The band has a modern rock sound with classic rock influences and an ear for melodic rock. The band manage to gel a few...

 

 
 
 

Metal 2 The Masses Tour @ Queen's Hall, Nuneaton - Sunday 23th May 2010 - Ok, so the night kicked off with the first band: Amongst the Survivors. With painted faces and heavy riffs, these guys were pretty cool to watch and a force to be reckoned with. As a Birmingham-based black metal band, they drew the crowd in and started off the evening with great excitement...





 

 
 
 

FM + Romeo's Daughter @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Sunday 23th May 2010 - This was my first visit to the O2 Academy 2 and I was a little unsure about the venue… not sure it’s going to become a favourite of mine, although the bar service was first class! The stage was a little smaller than I expected for a venue of this capacity and didn’t really give the bands much room to move about...






 

 
 
 

CryptFest Day 2 @ The Central, Nottingham - Sunday 23rd May 2010 - Despite a glam-drenched repertoire of old school acts and pole dancers, the spirit of rock ’n’ roll seems sadly deflated, with tonight’s line-up whittled down by a total of four bands. As the subsequent delay stretches on, a couple of bored punters resort to a lager-drenched copy of The Sunday Times. The CryptFest all dayer finally kicks off around 6pm, luring sleepy drinkers from their cosy, bar-side seats...
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

CryptFest Day 1 @ The Central, Nottingham - Saturday 22nd May 2010 - The title ‘Cryptfest’ might expect you to think that you were in for a steady procession of goth/symphonic metal bands, but this wasn’t the case. We saw a fair cross section of styles and genres, from full on grindcore to G’n’R style metal, via symphonic and prog metal, and if anyone was bored, it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of variety, and offering so much music for such a small ticket price is really something to be applauded...

 

 
 
 

Gypsy Pistoleros + Wrathchild + Smash Candy @ Night Owl, Cheltenham - Saturday 22nd May 2010 - When people talk about Cheltenham, it's usually something to do with a trip to the races or a reference to James Bond and spying on people's Facebook accounts, but rarely is it anything to do with rock 'n roll. However, when you consider that the town's ‘Night Owl’ venue is considered to be one of the UK’s oldest independent rock venues, the town does indeed have some serious rock pedigree...


 

 
 
 

Eibon la Furies + Defnation + Detonal State + IKNOWAGHOST + LandMarks (Aurora Rock Night) @ Duke Of Wellington, Lincoln - Saturday 22nd May 2010 - On the hottest day of the year so far I'm in an upstairs bar sweating like a Yorkshireman who's just opened his wallet.  Five local unsigned bands coming together in the Cathedral City of Lincoln are primed and amped to the hilt and ready to play some sweat drenched ROCK...



 

 
 
 

Fuzzbox + [dweeb] @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Saturday 22nd May 2010 - It’s a sweltering summer night, the trains to Birmingham are delayed, and it seems somehow unbelievable that I’m finally going to see Fuzzbox live - the pop heroes from my school days, playing on their home turf...

 

 
 
 

Eric Bibb with Grant Dermody @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Friday 21st May 2010 - One of the things I love about blues is that it’s the only genre of music that has the ability to embrace and touch so many other musical genres whilst still remaining true to its roots.  Whether it be complex riff driven rock as seen recently with Sayce and Schofield or the delta blues with the country feel as demonstrated so perfectly recently by Sardinas, it's still “the blues”...


 

 
 
 

Hostile @ The Roadhouse, Birmingham - 19th May 2010 - It was a little confusing travelling up to The Roadhouse for tonight’s gig. I have never covered this venue before so it took me a while to find the place. However, once I got there, parked up and eventually found the correct entrance, I headed into the bar. There were two bands playing tonight; Nottingham based Ocean Bottom Nightmare (OBN) were the support act and that main act was Black Country metallers, Hostile...

 

 
 
 

Jaded Heart + Seven Dayz @ JB’s, Dudley - Sunday May 16th 2010 - I’m a big fan of Midlands based melodic rockers Seven Dayz who are tonight’s opening band, so I was really looking forward to another chance to see them.  It’s been a while since I saw them at The Tackeroo last summer, but the band does gig as regularly as they can in the Midlands. I have seen them once before at JB’s supporting Danny Vaughn but that seems a lifetime ago now...
 

 
 
 

Dinosaur Jr + Built To Spill @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Sunday 16th May 2010 - When I recently told a few of my friends that I would be going to see Dinosaur Jr on their current UK tour, I was quite taken aback by their reactions.  Whilst I like Dinosaur Jr and own a few of their albums I wouldn’t call myself a big fan.  So to hear just how highly regarded the band are was somewhat surprising. However, having now seen the guys play live for the first time, I can see why…
 

 
 
 

Pennywise + Strike Anywhere + A Wilhelm Scream + Templeton Pek @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Saturday 15th May 2010 - This was everyone’s chance to see the US punk legends with their new frontman, Zoli Teglas. Original vocalist Jim Lindberg dramatically quit the band last year after 20 years at the helm and many fans thought that would be the demise of Pennywise, but the band recruited former Ignite vocalist Teglas to shoulder the huge responsibility of filling Lindberg's shoes...
 



 

 
 
 

Fozzy @ The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham - Friday 14th May 2010 - The venue is packed wall-to-wall with bodies jostling to keep their place, reaching for the stage. Already upgraded from the smaller room next door, it’s hard to fathom how Fozzy’s popularity in the UK could have been so grossly underestimated... twice. Despite the relocation, the new room can barely contain the crowd and the heat being generated by the mob of wild fans is almost unbearable.
 



 

 
 
 

Oli Brown + Joanne Shaw Taylor + Virgil And The Accelerators @ The Robin 2 - Thursday 13th May 2010 - In this country, we have a tradition of producing great young ‘blues’ guitarists. The 60s, for example, spawned the ‘groundbreaking’ Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and John Mayall to name but a few. The baton carried into later generations by Gary Moore, Mick Taylor etc. Now there is a seemingly un-ending flux of new young talent, and The New Generation Blues package has tapped into a new ‘hunger’ for ‘passionately soulful’ music. So are the ‘blues’ in safe hands?
 
 
 

 
 
 

Band of Skulls + Thomas Tantrum + Black Fangs @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton – Tuesday 11th May 2010 - The trio are obviously trying to save some money as each has a slightly longer fringe than the last time I saw them in February. Other than that they continue to enlighten us with their brand of rock that draws upon such a variety of sources and influences...
 
 
 

 
 
 

Gogol Bordello @ O2 Academy, Birmingham, Tuesday 11th May 2010 - The Gypsy Punks are back to paint the town purple with their fusion of gypsy folk and well, anything else thay can think of really!!


 

 

 
 

Metal 2 The Masses, Round 8 @ The Queens Hall, Nuneaton - Sunday 9th May 2010 - Things are hotting up in the quest to find the best unsigned Metal bands in the region to play at BOA 2010.  Tonight sees Chemikill, Point Blank Fury and Obalisk battle it out and provide the judges with yet more headaches!!...


 

 
 
 

Vains of Jenna @ The Central, Nottingham - Saturday 8th May 2010 - Keeping the room captivated, the show was a great display of a band that is on world-class form, with an unbeatable chemistry and now seem genuinely comfortable with who they are.

 


 


 

 
 

Kill Hannah + My Passion + Octane OK @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Saturday 8th May 2010 - The Academy kept the night running smoothly and without any ridiculously long breaks in between bands. I will happily see any of these bands again and encourage other people to go as well, as they are all good bands to see for a great night out - especially if you enjoy energetic shows....


 


 

 
 
 

Bolt Thrower + Benediction + Rotting Christ + Necrotize @ Asylum, Birmingham – Thursday 6th May 2010 - Checklist for things to do on election day:  Vote – yes.  Race home to view the latest graphical take on the swingometer – of course.  Start hypothesising about hung parliament implications – well if I must... Oh yeah nearly forgot something – how about sticking your head in a speaker stack and getting blasted to oblivion by four extreme metal bands?  My evil chuckle should tell you all you need to know...



 

 
 
 

Philip Sayce + Stefan Schill + Nicole Fermie @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Wednesday 5th May 2010 - "This has been one of the best live acts I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing and definitely one of the best guitarists I’ve had the pleasure to shoot, just a shame that there weren’t a few more at the Robin to witness and experience the magic."



 


 

 
 
 

HammerFall + Dream Evil + Tribe @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Wednesday 5th May 2010 - Having seen HammerFall a handful of times before, I’m yet to be disappointed by their musicianship, showmanship and general musical aptitude. What makes them work so well in a live environment is that, like other iconic bands such as Iron Maiden, well renowned for their live performances, every song that they play is an anthemic sing-along...


 


 

 
 
 

KISS + Taking Dawn @ LG Arena, Birmingham - Wednesday 5th May 2010 - KISS are undergoing a bit of a renaissance of late and it’s not undeserved as they have bravely issued a new, critically-acclaimed, album Sonic Boom, when they could have easily seen out their days milking a nostalgia circuit every few years. Having said that, much of tonight’s 20-song, 2 hour plus show is built upon their awesome back catalogue....

 


 

 
 
 

The Bluetones + Apples + Black Market Empire @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Monday 3rd May 2010 - There's something of a bank holiday party atmosphere at the Academy 2 tonight, even if it's the kind of subdued party where everybody has suddenly realised that they have to go back to work tomorrow - everybody is still intent on wringing the last ounces of enjoyment from this May day...


 

 
 
 

Cathedral + Church Of Misery + The Gates Of Slumber @ O2 Academy, Birmingham -  Saturday 1st May 2010 - And God said, "Let there be light" and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Cathedral. Jason heads into Birmingham to hear a sermon on the virtues of Doom Metal from Coventry's premier exponents of the genre. Was he converted? Read on to find out.......


 

 

 
 

Levellers + The Last Republic @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Friday 30th April 2010 - A packed out Wulfrun Hall was now buzzing with anticipation, could Brighton Folk Punks, The Levellers still have something valid to say in this current political climate?


 

 


 
 

Thrash And Burn Tour – Dying Fetus + Beneath The Massacre + Origin + Revocation @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham – Friday 30th April 2010 - Five scheduled bands, 10pm curfew, so what time's the door open?  5pm. As it turned out Man Must Die didn't play, but when the first band took the stage (at 6pm) there were still plenty travelling back from work.  Hopefully when they did arrive they weren't too shocked by the sight of the Scouting For Girls queue for the main Academy...

 


 
 

Matt Scholfield + The Grey Goose Blues Band @ The Robin 2, Bilston, Wednesday 28th April 2010 - During the night Matt demonstrated that he’s an excellent expressive guitarist and proved that has a definite feel and understanding of the blues and what it’s all about, to which he adds his own personal jazz-funk twist.


 

 
 
 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club + Dark Horses @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Wednesday 28th April 2010 - The second of my gigs this week required me to travel to my favourite midlands venue to catch a band that I’ve long thought have by far the coolest name in rock: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Could a band with such a superb moniker really live up to my lofty expectations?...


 

 
 
 

UFO @ Assembly Hall, Leamington Spa - Wednesday 28th April 2010 - As the forthcoming schedule attests, the Assembly Hall is well on its way to becoming the venue of choice for the Midlands with bands that would, more often than not, find themselves at the Civic or Wulfrun. UFO were at the Wulfrun less than twelve months ago in support of The Visitor and this latest batch of dates sees them return with the same line-up and a very similar set list...


 
 
 

Black Spiders + Slaves to Gravity + Voodoo Johnson + Liberty Lies @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Monday 26th April 2010 - Following three bands that have delivered three stunning sets and turned a Monday into a Friday can’t be the most attractive of prospects. So what do the Black Spiders who were here two weeks ago supporting Oz-rockers Airbourne do? Read on to find out...

 



 

 

 
 

Sorry and the Sinatras + Vincent and the One Potts + Obsessive Compulsive + Chris Catalyst @ Asylum 2, Birmingham - Sunday 25th April 2010 - The evening’s entertainment was to be provided by the great people behind Scandal Promotions. A crackin’ bill of Chris Catalyst, Obsessive Compulsive, Vincent and the OnePotts and Sorry and The Sinatras promised a lot, and boy did they live up to it... 


 

 
 
 

The Primitives + The Loves + NowAssassin @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Sunday 25th April 2010 - My first visit to The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton's newest venue, and after all of the good things I'd been hearing from my colleagues here I was expecting good things - and I wasn't disappointed...

 

 

 
 
 

The Reasoning @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 25th April 2010 - A while back, a friend of mine suggested that there are some gigs where everything falls into place. The band are on top form and look to be really enjoying themselves, the venue is right, the crowd are up for it, the set list is well-chosen, even the beer is good, and you come away afterwards knowing you’ve seen something a bit special. This was undoubtedly one of those gigs...


 
 
 

Karma To Burn + Year Long Disaster + Sworn To Oath @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham – Saturday 24th April 2010 - A night for lovers of classic rock and stoner to drool over! ...Karma To Burn were playing their first ever gig in Birmingham and generated immense power for a three piece...



 

 

 
 
 

Toyah Willcox + Gundogs + Last 3 Victims + Deadfilmstar @ Asylum, Birmingham – Friday 23rd April 2010  - Curiosity time – Toyah's been around a long time and yet I hadn't seen her until tonight. Three local support acts had the honour of warming the crowd up, starting with....

 

 

 
 
 

Idlewild @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Thursday 22nd April 2010 - My last minute decision to attend the Idlewild gig Thursday night which led to me only getting tickets two days before the show proved to be a good one! I was little apprehensive of how the band would sound in such a small venue as the last time I'd seen them was supporting Pearl Jam at Wembley Arena, but I needn't have worried...

 

 
 
 

The Aurora Project + Area 39, @ The Robin, Bilston – Sunday 18th April 20102010  - This was originally planned to be a three band bill on what’s become the traditional night for ‘prog’ at The Robin, but Andronova pulled out leaving us with two...

 

 

 
 
 

The Union + Voodoo Six @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - Friday 16th April 2010 - Having been a fanatical Thunder fan for years I jumped at the chance of seeing Luke Morley (ex-Thunder lead guitarist / songwriter and producer) in his new venture, The Union...

 

 

 
 
 

Metal 2 The Masses: Battle for Bloodstock @ The Queens Hall, Nuneaton - Sunday 11th April 2010 - I’m always going on at how privileged we are to have so many great young bands emerging from our region, and how I’m constantly coming across new bands all the time. Well tonight it’s not a band I’m going to sing the praises of but a venue...

 

 

 
 
 

Airbourne + Black Spiders + Taking Dawn @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Saturday 10th April 2010 - It’s difficult to talk about Airbourne without someone mentioning that “other” Aussie rock band.  True there is obviously a great influence on Joel O’Keefe and the boys having grown up listening to said “other” band, but Airbourne haven’t got where they are by being a pale imitation of someone else...

 


 
 
 

PanicCell + G.U. Medicine @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Friday 9th April 2010 - To my mind, Panic Cell have got to be one of the most underrated metals bands around, but with their latest album “Fire It Up” getting reviewers all hot under the collar, then hopefully 2010 is going to see them get the recognition they deserve...


 

 
 
 

Die So Fluid + The Defiled + Romeo Must Die + Nemhain + Zombina and the Skeletones @ Gorefest, Roadmender, Northampton - Friday 9th April 2010 - The Vogue of horror, GoreZone Magazine, put on a smashingly eerie music fest in Northampton that hosted five bands, DJ, bombshell actresses and more Jägermeister and vinyl than you could shake a stick at...



 

 
 
 

Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam + Raina @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Tuesday 6th April 2010 - Bathed in simple coloured spotlights Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam hit the modest stage with a confidence that belied their collective youth....

 



 

 
 
 

Breathing Space @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 4th April 2010 - On the previous Friday, Findlay had played an emotional final show with Mostly Autumn, with her place to be taken by backing vocalist Olivia Sparnnen. As a result, the latter gave up her role as Breathing Space’s singer and the Robin show was her final gig with the band....

 



 

 
 
 

My Great Affliction @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham - Sunday 4th April 2010 - Straight from the first killer riffs of opening song "Tear It Up", My Great Affliction lay down the house rules for tonights show: 1. You WILL rock hard tonight!  2. There are no more rules!...

 



 

 
 
 

Suffocation + Annotations Of An Autopsy + Nervecell + Fleshgod Apocalypse + Burning The Masses @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham – Friday 2nd April 2010 - What better way to spend Good Friday than by attending a five band death metal splatterfest?....





 

 
 
 

Mostly Autumn @ The Assembly, Leamington Spa - Friday 2nd April 2010 - The tastefully fitted out Assembly in Leamington was near enough sold-out for the show, with fans coming from all over the UK and even as far afield as Finland...


 

 
 
 

Bad Company + Joe Perry Project @ LG Arena, Birmingham - Thursday 1st April 2010 - You would think drawing up Bad Company’s set list would be one of the easiest jobs in rock, and to be frank, if you listened to Planet Rock for a week, you would hear most of it....

 



 

 
 
 

Flyleaf + The Crave @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Wednesday 31st March 2010 - It was just a two band line-up this evening here at Birmingham’s O2 Academy 3, due to the decision by Fair to Midland and 10 Years not to travel to the UK with fellow Texans, Flyleaf.  Still the show was advertised as sold out and I was looking forward to seeing how Flyleaf reproduced the huge sound from their albums on the live stage... 

 

 
 
 

Panic Room + Chris Johnson @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 28th March 2010 - Panic Room are one of the bands formed from the remains of the original line-up of Karnataka, when they disbanded five years ago. The band includes four of the six members of the final line up of Karnataka, but Panic Room have turned into a quite adventurous and challenging proposition for anyone attending and expecting to hear anything like the former band.... 

 

 
 
 

Madina Lake + We Are The Ocean @ Rock City, Nottingham - Saturday 27th March 2010 - Another night, another city, another gig!  This time finds me and Midlands Rocks 'tog Tony Gaskin at Rock City in Nottingham, one of my favourite venues.  It has a real old school club feel to it and when it’s full, as it is tonight, there’s a great vibe to the place...

 

 

 
 
 

Winger + Airrace+ Furyon @ JBs, Dudley - Friday 26th March 2010 - To say I’ve been looking forward to tonight’s gig would be a massive understatement; I’ve been like a kid counting down to Christmas for the mighty Winger to enter the Black Country and rock the hell out of JBs...

 

 

 
 
 

Patti Smith (with Tony Shanahan & Lenny Kaye) @ The Assembly, Leamington Spa - Friday 26th March 2010 - In the gloaming, huddled outside The Assembly in Leamington Spa, an assortment of men and women, mostly in their 40s and 50s, are waiting, and the queue is slowly growing. It’s 7pm and we’ve been here half an hour already, just to ensure we get those all-important seats close to the front of the stage...

 

 

 

 
 
 

The Automatic + White Belt Yellow Tag + Page 44 @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - 25th March 2010 - It's been a couple of years since Welsh indie rockers, The Automatic, graced the airwaves with "Steve McQueen" and the album "This is a Fix" and in music biz terms that can be a lifetime, especially in todays throwaway celebrity culture, so it was going to be interesting to see if they could pick up from where they'd left off...

 



 
 
 

Delain + Winter Storm + Achilla @ JBs Dudley - Wednesday 24th March 2010 - Charlotte definitely has the voice and she definitely has a great stage presence, albeit in a very demure way which just makes you warm to her even more. She also manages to put on an entertaining performance, with lots of hair swirling and dancing and always has a constantly cute smile on her face. She must be up for best hair in rock award as well... 

 

 

 

 
 

Jethro Tull @ Birmingham Symphony Hall - Wednesday 24th March 2010 - Some forty-two years since they first played a gig in Birmingham (17th March 1968 at the Metro Club, trivia fans), Jethro Tull made a welcome return to the Symphony Hall for the first time since 2006...
 

 
 

Trivium + Chimaira + Whitechapel @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton - Tuesday 23rd March 2010 - Trivium have really gotta pull the stops out tonight. They’ve sold the place out and have given the crowd two support bands that could easily justify the ticket price. Dangerous. But, despite the admirable effort to rid the world of booze and cool themselves down, the crowd are hotter than Beelzebub’s balls for the band...



 

 
 

Enochian Theory + Kataleptic + Dakesis + Island Three @ The Old Wharf, Digbeth - Sunday 21st March 2010 - Tonight was my fourth night in a row out at various gigs in the region so I was feeling a little jaded, but intrigued none the less about tonight’s gig.  I was back at The Old Wharf for what seemed like an eclectic line-up put together by Ovation Music...

 
 

 
 

Gun + The Virgin Marys + The Toxic Federation @ The Asylum, Birmingham - Saturday 20th March - The band have recently released an all new EP; GUN don’t want to be a nostalgia act so obviously want to get some new music out there for people to enjoy and concrete Toby’s position in the band. They also want to become more relevant to the current musical climate and that is reflected in the style of the songs on the EP... 

 

 
 

HIM + Dommin @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Friday 19th March 2010 - Those of us who have followed headliners HIM for a few years and stuck with them after their nadir (Give it a Name 2007) were rewarded  with the sort of hard rocking performance that made the Academy floor shake...

 

 

 

 

 

 
 


Drunk Lovers, Sinners & Saints + Captain Horizon + Latina Heat + Dancing With Purpose @ O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Thursday 18th March 2010 - We’d been invited down to the O2 Academy tonight by headliners Drunk Lovers, Sinners and Saints (henceforth they shall be known as DLSS!), to celebrate the launch of their new EP, “Revolver”...

 

 
 

Skindred + Forever Never + Cars on Fire @ O2 Academy, Birmingham - Thursday 18th March 2010 - ...As I walked up to the O2 Academy, I have to admit I was quite disturbed. There were no queues and I could only see about a handful of people. The gig was supposed to be sold out, what was going on? It was at this point I tried to get into the gig, and was informed I’d actually turned up a day early and the gig was tomorrow. Call me stupid, but you can’t accuse us here at Midlands Rocks of a lack of commitment!

 

 

 

 
 

(Hed) pe + Attila @ The Asylum, Birmingham - Monday 15th March 2010 - ...As an ex-pat Yankee living in England, I rarely give up the opportunity to hang out with Americans and so it was on Monday night I got the chance to do just that.  American metal/rap/reggae/punk group, (Hed) pe is on a European tour promoting its impressive 8th album, New World Orphans...

 

 



 

 
 

Karnivool @ Rock City, Nottingham - Saturday 13th March 2010 - ...this band delivers what their albums ‘Themata’ and ‘Sound Awake’ promise: superbly crafted songs performed with a precision and intensity that brings a plethora of sounds together into a perfect balance...



 

 
 

Winter in Eden @ The Black Horse, Birmingham - Friday 12th March 2010 - ...Because of their look and the style of a lot of their material, they will inevitably be included in the ‘Symphonic metal’ category, but they have a real desire to put their own stamp on the genre...

 

 



 

 
 

Edguy + Beholder + With One Last Breath @ JBs, Dudley - Saturday 13th March 2010 - “Who wants to hear some Commercial Pop Metal from Germany?” Sammet cries, generating a curiously large scream of approval from the crowd...



 
 

Eric Sardinas & Big Motor + Virgil and the Accelerators @ The Robin 2, Bilston - Wednesday 10th March 2010 - Recently I’ve had a good couple of weeks courtest of the Robin 2.  First I got to see rock legend John Waite who put on an absolutely mind-blowing set, proving yet again that many a good tune can be played on an old fiddle.  This was followed by the superb Coco Montoya whose own take on the blues was a joy to experience and witness.   And last, but not least, Eric Sardinas who.... but more about this in a min…