THERAPY? Hawk Eyes @Academy 2, Birmingham 23/11/12

When last we saw Hawk Eyes it was the Ginger Christmas show last year. We said the Leeds band were “blessed with a couple of very fine songs indeed.” We stick by that theory, but for whatever reason they choose not play them this evening.

Indeed, to be frank, Hawk Eyes look bored to be on stage. Whether it’s a first night of the tour thing, or that the crowd appears indifferent to them, who knows. The fact is though that most of the excitement seems to have gone from their show.

As you might expect from a band that changed its name, the band appear to not be quite sure what they want to be. “Headstrong” is the pick of the set, but it never approaches the levels they managed 11 months ago.

In contrast to see the seemingly restless support band, Therapy? Have always known exactly what they wanted to be, and it wasn’t famous. Their Wiki page says they have sold 2 million records, but it doesn’t say that most of these were in the 90s, with the “Troublegum” “Nurse” and “Infernal Love” records they were frequently in the singles charts and frequently in the magazines. The trouble with this was simple. Andy Cairns and his mates had artier ambitions; they simply wanted to play the music they liked. And, for most of the 21^st century, that’s exactly what they have done.

Happily, although the limelight has dimmed, the fans remain onside and the Academy 2 is near full when the band almost sheepishly make their way onstage. Dressed in suits, they look for all the world like the cast of “Reservoir Dogs” when a cover of Joy Dvision’s “Isolation” kicks things off.

The early curfew means a slightly shorter set, but no one can feel shortchanged as over 20 songs are fired out in a 90-minute concert. New album “A Brief Crack Of Light” is well represented with its brooding opener “Living In The Shadow Of A Terrible Thing” perhaps the closest thing they have to their 90s sound.

They have lost none of their mischievous nature, either. “Die Laughing” is dedicated to the recently deceased Clive Dunn and “Before You, With You, After You” beginning with a snippet of “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.”

Along with the batch of new songs there is plenty of looking back, too. “Stop It Your Killing Me” “Teethgrinder” and “Stories” sound as fresh as ever despite being almost 20 years old.

Suits are gone for the encore and the classics are out. “Screamager” and “Nowhere” mix alongside a cover of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Potato Junkie” finishes things, surely the only song in history to feature “James Joyce is fucking my sister” as its key line. And guess what? That’s the line Therapy choose to make a sing-a-long out of. What else should you expect from a band that appeared on Top of the Pops with a single that began with the couplet “let me try on your dress/it turns me on when we’re a mess. “?

They don’t play that song – “Loose” - tonight, but what they did play was excellent. Truly reinvigorated Therapy? Are a band that haven’t sounded this good in years. Being a deliberate cult band never sounded so much fun.

EUROPE @Academy Birmingham 21/11/12

If the cancellation of tonight’s support band Stonerider at late notice – so late in fact that earlier in the evening they posted a picture of the venue on Twitter – was an early blow (as RTM had been looking forward to the brand of Black Crowes-y rock) then the crowd at the venue was another one.

There are barely 600 people in the venue when Europe take the stage at just before 9pm. A tremendous shame as the band deserves so much better. These shows at the Academy have been very much a fixture in recent years, and they have been uniformly superb. 2012’s promises to be just the same, as the band have a new album out that they are keen to show off.

Indeed, it is with three songs from the aforementioned “Bag Of Bones” LP that they begin this evening, “Riches To Rags” and “Not Supposed To Sing The Blues” in particular showcasing all that is good about present day Europe with their casual catchiness and easy charm.

They then play “Superstitious,” a song that the teenage RTM played to death before deciding Europe weren’t cool enough as the 90s dawned, at this point we are left to reflect on the fact that things really have turned full-circle.

Even the short acoustic section is redeemed by two things. First Jon Norum plays a superb bluesy guitar solo that leads into a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The World Keep On Turning” and second, there is the fact that with the cymbals attached to his feet drummer Ian Haugland resembles a one-man-band.

Stools happily away it’s rocking all the way to the end. The new album’s title track sounds fantastic, and if you can’t enjoy “The Beast” from the “Last Look At Eden” CD (the album that reminded the world – and me – just how damn good Europe were) then you aren’t trying very hard.

The main set closes with the fist-in-the-air classic that is “Rock The Night” – although not before a faithful cover of “Paranoid” that frontman Joey Tempest describes as “bostin’”- before its back for the encore of “Last Look….” And that song. You know the one. The most bombastic thing in the world, the one that nearly all power metal bands would kill for – and the one that paid for the enormous tour bus that sits outside. And you know what? Try listening to “The Final Countdown” without a smile on your face. It is nigh on impossible, as anthems go, it remains the benchmark.

So another Europe gig ends in triumph and enjoyment. Yes the crowd might not be massive, but do you think that bothered Joey and the boys? Not if their smiles when RTM sees them getting into a taxi outside are anything to go by. We didn’t ask them where they were going.

It is obvious. They were heading for venus…..

SEETHER, Heaven's Basement @Institute Birmingham 18/11/12

RTM has a confession. Up until about a month ago we hadn’t heard of Seether. It seems that, with this lack of knowledge of the South African act, we are in a minority. This show was originally supposed to be at the Academy 2, but was upgraded to the much larger Institute, where it is almost sold-out.

 So, if we didn’t know about Seether, then why are we here? The answer to that lies in the choice of support band. Heaven’s Basement are a band that we have had a lot of time for and have had for a long time. Their history is complicated and long, first they Hurricane Party  - attracting A&R man extraordinaire John Kalodner to their first EP - then they were Roadstar, before becoming HB in 2008 after a split with manager Laurie Mansworth (who now looks after The Treatment).

Throughout all that time they have made fabulous hard rock records. Last years “Unbreakable” EP showing that again, and given the amount of time they spend on the road they have no problems winning another crowd over tonight. Singer Aaron Buchanan has only been in the band for a year but looks born to the role, with his effortless charm and seemingly boundless energy. They (finally) have a debut album out next year and the track they play from this “There Is Else Left To Lose” gives notice that it might be very good, but as always it is “Reign On My Parade” and “Executioners Day” that steal the show. Job – as always – done.

Seether, rather quietly, have become a very big deal it seems. Given the size of the crowd and the sense of expectation you might have expected a show to rival the Down one in this very room last month, that it never reaches any of those heights is entirely due to the band themselves.

The three piece have some good songs, witness the dark and brooding opener “No Jesus Christ” and the fine slab of American arena rock that is “Here and Now” for example. But to be brutally honest, they have absolutely no charisma at all.

Whilst it would be dull if every band behaved like Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie or Kiss, it wouldn’t have killed the group to involve the crowd at some point, instead singer Shaun Cooper is content to mumble “thank you” after each song and leave the gaps drenched in feedback.

Perhaps we should have expected such a low-key show. The opening told us as much. There was no backdrop, for example, and no intro music. Which is fine up to a point, but they were here headlining to 1400 people and it needed a spectacle to go with their undoubted talent.

“Country Song” could have been turned into a sing-a-long and the insanely catchy “Fake It” could have been a showstopper, but it wasn’t. Cooper singing “The Gift”solo was just dull, before the show ended with “Remedy” (which is a dead ringer for Nevermind era Nirvana) and no encore – that would have been too much like showbusiness.

 

Seether are a band who is good at what they do – essentially write grunge songs for the 21^st century - but they have none of Heaven’s Basement’s presence. Tonight only felt like a metal show when the support was onstage.

GERRY McAVOY'S BAND OF FRIENDS, Sugar Mama @Bilston Robin 2 16/11/12

Tonight had better be good. It better be good, because RTM is missing the mighty Gentlemen’s Pistols at the Asylum for it.

 If you will permit a slightly personal digression, that we are doing to this show at all is a long story, but one that revolves around the fact our partner in gig going crime for 20 odd years is the world’s biggest Rory Gallagher fan, so RTM is forsaking one of our favourite bands to see a tribute act……

Actually that is little disingenuous. This is not your average tribute act. This celebration of the work of Rory Gallagher (the man who Jimi Hendrix considered the world’s greatest guitarist) contains two of the men who were by his side in the 70s – bass man Gerry McAvoy and drummer Ted McKenna – together with Dutch bluesman Marcel Scherpenzneel. Viewed in that respect this Band of Friends is no more of a tribute than the current line up of Thin Lizzy, say.

Before the Rory stuff there are Sugar Mama. Impossibly young they might be, but this local band have some very fine blues chops. Single “Bullfight Blues” is a fine song and their set is an entertaining one, even if it is slightly marred by singer/guitarist Sam Anderson having tuning problems with his guitar.

This is a minor problem though – and one they will iron out with more shows such as this. Sugar Mama are a band with potential.

So it is then, that about 9.20 Gerry McAvoy and his mates stroll out onto the Bilston stage. Early portents are not good. He sidles up to the mic, goes to say hello and the thing collapses. What follows are 30 seconds of pure slapstick as he tries and fails to make said stand behave, but if that sets us laughing, what follows makes sure the smiles don’t leave for the next two hours.

The evening kicks off with “Last of The Independents” and from there becomes possibly the finest celebration of blues music that could be imagined. “Lets Go To Work” follows quickly as does “Calling Card” with its funky bass. “Bad Penny” is a revelation and “Follow Me” has lost none of its appeal despite being over 30 years old and really, if you can’t enjoy Shadow Play” you aren’t trying.

Although the band as a whole is flawless, it really is Scherpenzneel who deserves most plaudits. He is quite stunning in the “Rory” role, and his guitar duel with special guest Gwyn Ashton is jaw-dropping.

It is a real shame when “Bullfrog Blues” brings the curtain down, as this had been one of the great life-affirming gigs of 2012. Not a gig, as such, it was exactly as promised, a band of friends enjoying themselves -  and it was unexpectedly brilliant.

Gentlemen’s who?

REVOKER, Sacred Mother Tongue @Birmingham Acdemy 3 13/11/12

The last time Rocking The Midlands saw Revoker, it was the first date (I think) on the first UK tour. They were meant to support Holy Grail but somehow got bumped up to headliner. The crowd – which wasn’t massive to begin with – drifted off after HG (who were fantastic) and Revoker were left to play to about 20 people – doing so extremely well.

Fast forward 18 months and they are back, this time as the bonefide headline act. Worryingly, despite their debut album “Revenge For The Ruthless” being a fine affair, there is, yet again, hardly anyone here to watch.

Sacred Mother Tongue seem to find this quite funny, all things considered. Man mountain singer Darrin South exalts an audience member with a tremendous Afro to come forward, for example.

That they can behave in this way betrays the fact they have great confidence right now. Signed to EMI and with a killer new EP “A Light Shines” in the bag, they really have come on leaps and bounds since we last saw them – three years ago at the Hellfire Fest.

Their trump card is guitarist Andy James, who’s intricate playing underpins most of their songs, early songs like “The City Is Crying” benefit from being road tested and new ones like “Bleeding Out” and current single, the massive sounding “Evolve/Become,” are superb. If you saw this band a few years ago and thought they might not make it, then its time to think again, as the tongue could be the name on everyone’s lips in 2013.

The lack of numbers for Revoker is surprising. If this was a US band the press would be all over such catchy songs built around massive choruses and groove metal type riffs. But these boys are not from New York, but the Welsh valleys and sometimes we would rather look out than in it seems.

The likes of “Stay Down” with its “another Saturday night in my home town” refrain, pack a fine punch, as does “The Great Pretender.” Their finest moment, though, surely is “Psychoville” with its giant hook, designed to worm its way into the brain and not leave.

Revoker are set to release album number two next year and debut a song called “Killing House” from it, although from the same ballpark as “Revenge….” It does hit at a slightly heavier – and dare we say it – a more grown up sound.

A cover of AC/DC’s “TNT” is played, before Motorpsycho” ends things. It has been a fine evening, showcasing amply two bands who prove that metals next generation is alive and kicking in the UK. Both bands could probably benefit from the right support tour next year to propel them to the next level in 2013 as both have potential – and the ambition – to sell out much bigger venues than this.

Go and see them next time – when they are both big you will claim you were there anyway!

GOJIRA, Trepalium @Wolverhampton Slade Rooms 12/11/12

France’s Trepalium are looking uncomfortable on the tiny Slade Rooms stage. Not their performance, you understand, which was a superb display of thrash and death metal, with touch of jazz thrown in. It is just that they have a massive drum kit and the five of them look ready to fall off the edge at a moments notice.

Thankfully, no one does go arse over tit and we are left to enjoy the show. RTM wasn’t familiar with the band previously, but they were extremely impressive. “Sick Murder Boogie” is aptly named, and if their finishing song is called “Usual Crap,” the group themselves are anything but. They offer something original and exciting.

As do their countrymen Gojira. They are really riding on the crest of a wave at the moment. This is their biggest UK tour to date and this year’s “L’Enfant Savauge” album is quite marvelous. In addition their show earlier in the year at the Academy was one of the gigs of 2012. This one doesn’t quite match that, but it was pretty damn close.

It is with “Explosia,” a track from “L’Enfant….” That they begin, and in common with all their songs, it seems it is built around a gigantic riff from Joel Duplantier and the driving rhythm of his brother Mario on drums. The band headbang their way through it and it is a jaw-dropping opener.

Like the set in June this is a career spanning affair, rather than focusing on one album, and soon they are attacking “Flying Whales” like their lives depended on it. 2008’s album “The Way Of All Flesh” is well represented – “Oroborus” sounding particularly impressive - while “Toxic Garbage Island” is perhaps the best song ever written about environmental issues.

The fact that Gojira choose to write songs about the planet rather war like some of their extreme metal contemporaries neatly sums them up. They are a serious rather than good-time group. This is exemplified by their attitude to the crowd surfer who nearly hurts himself near the end. Where bands like Down encourage such behaviour, Duplantier tells the crowd not to do it before he gets his head down to get on with his job.

The set ends with “Vacuity” before an encore of “The Gift Of Guilt” brings things to a brutal close. At that point you are left to reflect on how Gojira have done this in an old school way.

Coming from France – hardly a metal hotbed – must have been a disadvantage, but through a string of great albums and the hard work of touring with everyone they can, they can headline 10 shows in Britain and nearly sell them out – and do that twice in a year. But then quality usually rises to the top and Gojira are one of the best bands in extreme metal right now.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA, Fighting With Wire, Birmingham Academy 11/11/12

Fighting With Wire being the support tonight is a real unexpected bonus. The Derry band were the opening act for the Helmet gig back in August, but RTM couldn’t get there in time. They were then meant to be back in June but that show got cancelled because of the England football match with Sweden.

There is a real sense, then – as far as we are concerned at least - third time lucky tonight. Happily, the band do not disappoint. Comparisons with bands such as Joyrider, Therapy? and Wilt might initially seem lazy and based solely on nationality, but not so, it is because that is what FWW actually do sound like, for proof see title track of album number two “Colonel Blood,” new single ”Didn’t Wanna Come Back Home” sounds like the Foo Fighters at their best and mixes superbly with material from their debut “Man Vs Monster” opus. Fighting With Wire didn’t have to work hard to win friends tonight.

Tonight’s Coheed and Cambria show is being billed as a “Special Acoustic and Electric Show." In practice this means the New York Prog Metallers are playing a short acoustic set before they play their main show. The time they spend on stage doing that is not bad and “Pearl Of The Stars” sounds excellent in this setting, while “Wake Up” is turned into a real singalong, but actually, the fact that this bit came around 20 minutes after Fighting With Wire and that there is another break of 20 minutes afterwards gives the evening a bit of a stop-start feel.

When the electric stuff begins, though, it is mind-blowingly good. Main man Claudio Sanchez has – literally – let his hair down for this (it had been tied back during the acoustic portion) and the crowd goes ballistic for opener “No World For Tomorrow.” “Gravemakers and Gunslingers” follows and, with its solo to start, it gives the impression of a song that is bursting to rock.

Sanchez, in particular, is clearly loving things. Shooting the crowd a-la Steve Harris at the end of “Everything Evil” and whilst he falls over after mistiming a jump into Josh Eppard’s drums (dismantling the kit in the process) that is the only thing he does wrong tonight.

New album “The Afterman: The Ascension” is represented with three songs including the title track and “Goodnight Fair Lady” but if there is a quibble a couple more new tracks would have been nice. That said, the second part of the album is due next year, so perhaps they will flesh this part of the careers out a little more?

Such questions are for another day, though, because for 80 minutes Coheed were incredible. These are heady times for the proggy side of metal, and really if Rush were in front of us tonight, they wouldn’t have been better than this. Coheed and Cambria were that good.