Saxon Wulfrun Hall Live Review

Back in the freezing cold town of Wolverhampton, Thursday night to go and see the mighty Saxon! Due to the health of Saxon's drummer the show had been rescheduled from December to February. Well all wished him a speedy recovery, unfortunately he was unable to make it to the show. But the faithful fans still made it, as we all bustled into the small venue of the Wulfrun Hall. I love the Wulfrun Hall. It is an intimate venue but not so intimate you want to punch someone in the back for standing on your foot or knocking your beer down your favourite T-Shirt.

Well this is normally the time where I give a brief overview of the Support bands that played and try and get people to give them a listen, to receive a little publicity because I like to help the talent coming through. But that ain't going to happen because all I can say about the support bands is, they were what I call Shit! 

Now I am fairly easy going when it comes to music I like to give a band a chance but, these two have no chance in hell. No pun intended since the main support act was called Hell. The first support band, was that bad I can't even remember their name. The whole set was just confusing! One moment I thought I was at a Mozart concert when the piano solos appeared and then thought I was at a thrash metal concert when the backing singer/guitarist started growling and throwing his head around like he was about to lose it. And don't get me started on the singer, poor girl just looked uncomfortable and out of place. But on a positive note the lead guitarist was really good in his solo's. However he needs to leave that band and find another band to join. 

Next came Hell! And Literally the music was Hell! The whole set was The Bible meets The Adams family. Their really isn't much more I can say than that because if I do say more I will not stop.

As you can tell for the first hour and a half we all stood taking the Mick and cracking jokes. Yes, I know what you're all thinking, but no it isn't harsh because I know for a fact if you were having to endure what I was you would of been taking the piss too. 

Ah finally I can move along to the main act.

SAXON!

Originally I was supposed to see Saxon when they were touring with Motorhead early last year but due to Lemmy's health problems the tour was postponed and Saxon and Motorhead did not join together for Motorhead's tour at the end of 2014, which I attended. But everything still worked out and I got to witness both great heavy metal bands.

Saxon started their set with Motorcycle Man and Sacrifice which was brilliant. The sound was clear and didn't half pack a punch! What I love about the small venue is how much the sound cranks up. In the corner of the room is a decibel metre and it goes from yellow, to green to red. And every now and then throughout the concert I would look over to the back wall and each time the colour would be in the red zone. In simple term it was fucking loud! 

The crowd was also rather pumped up  for the gig, cheering and chanting loudly as each song came to a finish and a new one would start up. It just shows not matter how old a band gets the fans are always loyal. Not like the music of today, fans are fickle. 

Saxon made their way through the set list with ease, packing in the greatest hits which everyone wanted to hear: 

• Power and the Glory
• I've Got to Rock
• Dallas 1 PM
• Never Surrender
• 747(Strangers in the Night)
• Heavy Metal Thunder
• Princess of the Night

Bringing the jam packed set list to a close the mighty Saxon created an encore which all fans could sing along too. Starting off with the ultimate classic Wheels of Steel. Once again the crowd was jumping and singing/ shouting rather loudly which was totally awesome. Next along came Strong Arm of the Law. Which was true Saxon Loud, gritty and powerful. To end the night with a bang Saxon finished us off with Denim and Leather, which I think only the crowed sung. I love it when the crowed sings bands songs, I don't know what it is but you just know a whole crowd singing a song is bound to bring the band back to the venue in the future. Even though I doubt Saxon will be making any more tour announcements any time in the future.

Well this was a rather short and bitter sweet blog post, but each band I say each gets a review as it is only fair all great bands get the same treatment wherever they are in their career. I know this one started off as a bit of a negative post but I hope the ending cheered you up ever so slightly. 

Till next time ...

Lissy.C

Korn and Slipknot Prepare For Hell Tour Birmingham Live Review

First show of the year 2015 was upon us in no time at all. The 27th of January was set to be an incredible night packed with Heavy Metal. Yes many of you reading this will have been to one of the many Prepare For Hell shows across America and Europe. And to you who did not or have not, I am talking about Slipknot joining up with the phenomenal force that is Korn!

Last Tuesday night I made my way to the NIA. (Whoever decided to change the name to The Barclay Card Arena is a total Muppet, trying to confuse us all. It will always be the NIA to me). Anyway back to Tuesday nights events. I was totally stoked to me finally seeing two of my all time favourite bands!  As always when we make our way into a venue the first protocol is always the merchandise desk. I have to tell you all of the fiasco I had. I made my way to the Merchandise and joined the short cue. I was stood behind a couple for around five minutes as they tried to pick out a t shirt. I kid you not I physically had to try and stop myself from laughing. The man's wife kept holding up t shirts in front of him and stretching them to see if they would fit. He looked totally embarrassed by his wife it was hard not to laugh. But after what seemed like forever I finally made my way past them and walked away with a new Korn T-shirt in ten seconds flat.

Next protocol is of course the bar! Need a beer or two to kick start the night. For the first time in a long time we were up in the stands for this gig. Anyone who hears the words Slipknot gig, think absolute mayhem on the floor! And to be quite honest that was the only reason I did not stand. Plus you have the added advantage of watching the whole stage show.

At quarter to eight the anticipation was at a high, and the atmosphere was through the roof. The screams and cheers flooded the venue as Korn hit the stage... Starting the night with Twist, Korn were off to a flyer. Jonathan Davis commanding the stage with his incredible vocal range and presence. Continuing the set with 'Here To Stay' and 'Love & Meth', the whole venue was in a trance. Time was flying by far too quickly, when Korn hit out 'Falling Away From Me' in the centre of their set.

From a stage perspective Korn hit the nail on the head! I loved how the stage lit up from the floor it gave the guys an even edgier look to fit their music. Monkey was as ever a mastermind with the bass guitar, completely brilliant decked out in his black and white stripe prisoner suit. Brian was completely on form with his guitar work! The sound was Korn, I have no other words to describe it...

Here are some videos of my favourite parts next...

Here is the video of Korn playing Falling Away From me, which was pretty awesome, I was head banging with the rest of the fans!

Korn and the boys playing Shoots And Ladders, and impeccably merging the song into Metallica's One ending! Truly magic.

Finishing off their set with Freak On A Leash and Blind, Korn exited the stage leaving the fans cheering and stomping their feet for more! Of Course they didn't come back no support band does, but in this instance we all wanted them back so much...

I must say I think that is the most I have ever spoke about a support band on my blog ever! But Korn deserve it because they are truly unique in their own right...

Moving on!

"PREPARE FOR HELL!" 

Yes you crazy hard rock and metal fans, I finally made it to a slipknot concert! Waiting many a year for their return I was there to witness pure brilliance! As the lights dimmed and the roar of the crowd increased my heart began to beat faster and faster with anticipation for what was about to happen! A huge white theatre curtain hung over the stage. My first thought was "It is going to drop" but I was however wrong! 

 XIX played behind the scenes while the shadows of the nine band members made their way to their places. The song drifted out as Sarcastrophe blended in and the curtain rose, revealing a set resembling the doorway to hell... Truly Metaphoric brilliance! From that point on the music came fast, hard and packed a punch! I have to say I don't think I have ever witnessed such an incredible opening to a gig, the first six songs were phenomenal...

1. Sarcastrophe
2. The Heretic Anthem
3. My Plague
4. The Devil in I 
5. Psychosocial
6. The Negative One

Well the whole set was phenomenal but that section  was of course my favourite! Corey and the guys moved around the stage and made as much noise and chaos as they possibly could. Revving up the crowd on the floor and in the stands. There was so much energy, we could of powered the country for a whole year!

Moving through the centre of the set and into the last couple of songs, the amps were turned up to 11 and the crowd could feel the atmosphere build as everyone waited for that one special moment we all knew was coming... that of course would be 'Spit It Out'. For those of you who do not know what happens in Spit It Out, I'll explain...

Every band has that iconic song that drives the crowd crazy to be heard play and that song for Slipknot fans is Spit It Out. For sixteen years Slipknot have had the tradition in the middle of Spit It Out, to have all of their fans (maggots) crouch down on the floor. And as all us fans have a little bit of a screw loose we comply. So when all the fans are on the floor Corey shouts out...

"When I say Jump The Fuck up, You Jump The Fuck Up!" 

Now you can all kind of recognise what is about to happen, So as the fans on the floor start cheering and gearing up for what is about to be the biggest mosh pit of their lives, Corey tells the guys (band) to bring us home and that is what he does, here is the last thing you hear before mayhem breaks loose! It is Fucking awesome!

'Bout time I set this record straight

Cuz all the needle nose punchin' is making me irate

Sick o' my bitchin' fallin' on deaf ears

Where you gonna be in the next five years?

The crew and all the fools, and all the politics

Get your lips ready, gonna gag, gonna make you sick

You got dick when they passed out the good stuff

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Are you sick of me?

JUMP THE FUCK UP! 

So after Spit It Out finishes Slipknot play Custer which is also a fan favourite. What I love most about Corey Taylor's voice is the way he can shift his tone from soft and gentle to full out grit and bitterness in his growl it is a brilliant talent to have.

When Slipknot left the stage and the crowd started roaring and clapping louder to bring them back asap! And truth be told they were back in just over a minute! They encored out with SIC, People = Shit and Surfacing which all packed a good hard beat that hit me through the chest! I was sad the show was at an end, it felt like I was in the room barely thirty minutes before I was bustling my way out. Well they do say 'time flies when you're having fun'.

So to all of you reading I would just like to say whether you like these two bands or not, you can't take away the fact that they put on a awesome show. And to those of us who are lucky enough to witness their brilliance understand that you get every pennies worth out of them!

Lissy.C