Get moving, Exeter!
Mike James is not the FM DJ of the year for no reason. He organized events such as the 'Zombie ball' in October and the 'Real Devon Rocks' in August 2011 when the promoters of the original venue decided not to hold it because they had next to no money. This showcase gave six local and rising bands to shine and prove to that 2012 is their year. So, me being a huge supporter of
the music scene, went along to discover what it was going to be like this year.
One thing worse than a bad band is a bad audience, who stand around like lemons waiting for something to happen, despite it obviously happening right in front of them. Warm up cover band 'Your Mums Beard' are a good band to listen to, and rather comic from claiming to play Metallica's 'Black Album' before ripping into a fine cover of 'the trooper'. However, the audience were less impressed and less desirable to move on this lazy Saturday feeling evening. Then things exploded, with a better cover of the original song of Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff", where singer Martin Beard encouraged the audience to move, telling everyone to "get the fuck down" and mosh during the final lines of that song, which most of the crowd did with pleasure - 3/5
Progressive "Psy metal" rockers "Setting Circles" approached the stage soon after, introducing the set list with an odd oriental didgeridoo sound with George Woodward adding tension with some talented drum skills displaying, before blasting into their opening track - a new song from their upcoming EP 'Capella'. The audience grew in size, but dwindled to the odd one or two bobbing heads who were being thoroughly beaten by an 8 year old girl standing to the side skulthrashing to oblivion. The mellow, deep and somewhat psycadelic vocals provided by Jamie Beard that made the songs effective in their own right. But the bass and guitar was let down by the sound mix, with the bass overpowering the guitar. This was then later rectified during the beautiful soft ballad of "Going Home" and a superb performance of "Breathe Deep" - 4/5
The night then proved to be a tiresome dragging one, doomed to failure because of a lack of liveliness from the Phoenix. But in a superhero moment, Backhand Saloon graced the stage. The dirty has never been dirtier, the energy never so electrifying and the crowd squealed more like pigs than out of the movie 'Deliverance'. From the soundtrack like intro track right until the last song played, the crowd went crazy (hurrah!), pushed by guitarist Dan Hart's wireless that allowed him to join in with the crowd, including the technical riffs and the sporadic drumming and, with compliments, the dirty southern sounding bass with nice harsh vocals tying everything together. I can honestly say I was blown away by this band, and so was the audience - 5/5
It can be argued that ThirtyOne displayed more energy than Backhand Saloon, but it can be concluded that the metal music scene in Exeter remains alive. ThirtyOne displayed power, technical riffs and true showmanship from frontman John Davidson, especially after not having a gig in 4 months and recruiting a new
drummer - this band played as if their life depended on it - 5/5
Now, lay back and close your eyes and imagine this. Imagine yourself on a Harley Davidson, wind blowing through your masculine hair and behind you is sitting the
hottest babe of your dreams (and not Cheryl Cole, I'd just like to point out). Then back to the music, with metallers Lunix providing songs that sound like that type of soundtrack in, erm, tight spandex, with gifted guitar playing and a singer who sounds like someone from the sleaze years of rock 'n' roll - singing about assassins and werewolf’s who are 'Gonna be killing hot babes in our new music video coming out at the end of the month". That's a video I'd quite like to see ... 4/5
Finally, all about headliners. They top bills for two reasons:
1) They have gained a solid fan base and as a band are truly awesome
2) They have learnt how to kick momentous amounts of ass with little effort
Vanadium do just that. Particularly with prying eyes on newbie drummer Olan Parkinson as this was his debut gig. It's safe to say he is one of the best drummers I've heard. The gig they played was being filmed as well - which provided the energy to mosh to the end of the earth. From the starting of 'Azreal', 'The Grim Haul' and 'Mourning Star' - the hits of their EP "The Grim Haul" - they just played, with brilliant unison guitar solos and the place moving, I have never felt so alive. I saw Vanadium last year in august who were then a mediocre metal band. Now they've shown Exeter why 2012 is their year, as well as the other truly amazing bands thy shared the stage with - 5/5
the music scene, went along to discover what it was going to be like this year.
One thing worse than a bad band is a bad audience, who stand around like lemons waiting for something to happen, despite it obviously happening right in front of them. Warm up cover band 'Your Mums Beard' are a good band to listen to, and rather comic from claiming to play Metallica's 'Black Album' before ripping into a fine cover of 'the trooper'. However, the audience were less impressed and less desirable to move on this lazy Saturday feeling evening. Then things exploded, with a better cover of the original song of Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff", where singer Martin Beard encouraged the audience to move, telling everyone to "get the fuck down" and mosh during the final lines of that song, which most of the crowd did with pleasure - 3/5
Progressive "Psy metal" rockers "Setting Circles" approached the stage soon after, introducing the set list with an odd oriental didgeridoo sound with George Woodward adding tension with some talented drum skills displaying, before blasting into their opening track - a new song from their upcoming EP 'Capella'. The audience grew in size, but dwindled to the odd one or two bobbing heads who were being thoroughly beaten by an 8 year old girl standing to the side skulthrashing to oblivion. The mellow, deep and somewhat psycadelic vocals provided by Jamie Beard that made the songs effective in their own right. But the bass and guitar was let down by the sound mix, with the bass overpowering the guitar. This was then later rectified during the beautiful soft ballad of "Going Home" and a superb performance of "Breathe Deep" - 4/5
The night then proved to be a tiresome dragging one, doomed to failure because of a lack of liveliness from the Phoenix. But in a superhero moment, Backhand Saloon graced the stage. The dirty has never been dirtier, the energy never so electrifying and the crowd squealed more like pigs than out of the movie 'Deliverance'. From the soundtrack like intro track right until the last song played, the crowd went crazy (hurrah!), pushed by guitarist Dan Hart's wireless that allowed him to join in with the crowd, including the technical riffs and the sporadic drumming and, with compliments, the dirty southern sounding bass with nice harsh vocals tying everything together. I can honestly say I was blown away by this band, and so was the audience - 5/5
It can be argued that ThirtyOne displayed more energy than Backhand Saloon, but it can be concluded that the metal music scene in Exeter remains alive. ThirtyOne displayed power, technical riffs and true showmanship from frontman John Davidson, especially after not having a gig in 4 months and recruiting a new
drummer - this band played as if their life depended on it - 5/5
Now, lay back and close your eyes and imagine this. Imagine yourself on a Harley Davidson, wind blowing through your masculine hair and behind you is sitting the
hottest babe of your dreams (and not Cheryl Cole, I'd just like to point out). Then back to the music, with metallers Lunix providing songs that sound like that type of soundtrack in, erm, tight spandex, with gifted guitar playing and a singer who sounds like someone from the sleaze years of rock 'n' roll - singing about assassins and werewolf’s who are 'Gonna be killing hot babes in our new music video coming out at the end of the month". That's a video I'd quite like to see ... 4/5
Finally, all about headliners. They top bills for two reasons:
1) They have gained a solid fan base and as a band are truly awesome
2) They have learnt how to kick momentous amounts of ass with little effort
Vanadium do just that. Particularly with prying eyes on newbie drummer Olan Parkinson as this was his debut gig. It's safe to say he is one of the best drummers I've heard. The gig they played was being filmed as well - which provided the energy to mosh to the end of the earth. From the starting of 'Azreal', 'The Grim Haul' and 'Mourning Star' - the hits of their EP "The Grim Haul" - they just played, with brilliant unison guitar solos and the place moving, I have never felt so alive. I saw Vanadium last year in august who were then a mediocre metal band. Now they've shown Exeter why 2012 is their year, as well as the other truly amazing bands thy shared the stage with - 5/5