October highlights for me was going to see those ever green Californian rockers Y&T twice and for the first time in over a year NWOBHM legends Olive/Dawson Saxon. With a brand spanking new fanzine launch (Bitchslap) dedicated to female fronted punk/metal/rock and alternative bands October has been quite busy for the man of metal... Next month... Skunk Anansie, WASP, Motorhead and making their UK live debut Brazilian metal band Shadowside as well as the annual charity event H-Stock... Is that all right fer yez?
Photo: Y&T's Dave Meniketti & GD.
Y&T… Rock City/02 Academy… Nottingham/Birmingham… 09&15/10/10…
‘You came to me, with your love to share, You showed me always that you'd be right there’ the opening lines to the Y&T classic song I believe in you well in Birmingham, front man the legendary Dave Meniketti had two aborted attempts to begin singing that song, it was only after a prompt from rhythm guitarist John Nymann that proceedings continued smoothly (check it out on YouTube) mental block aside these lyrics sum up what Y&T mean to many of their loyal fans. I’ve always believed in Y&T right from the first time I saw them way back in 1982 even during periods when the band had split up you just knew this wouldn’t last forever and they’d be back on the road and recording new albums. This year has seen Y&T on a rollercoaster of a ride of ups and downs, the ups? The release of a brand new studio album ‘Facemelter’ the first since ‘Endangered Species’ fourteen years ago (we don’t count the years Dave Meniketti assured me), the downs? Missing in action bass player Phil Kennemore being diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Phil, a constant presence in the band since 1974 has had to drop out of the tour while he’s undergoing treatment back home, however like the first song on the new album says, on with the show so under orders from Phil the rest of the guys plus hired hand Brad Lang have carried on with the tour.
Support for the UK shows comes in the form of Fury UK, brothers Chris and Luke Appleton front up this Manchester based trio with the heavily bearded Martin McNee on drums Fuk are a progressive metal band who have just released their third album ‘a way of life’ in the space of three years. These guys are constantly touring up and down the UK so I suggest you go check em’ out, you won’t be disappointed. Back to Y&T and at Rock City Nottingham they play a fantastic set which lasts around two hours twenty minutes and incorporates six songs from the new album into the twenty three song show; Y&T are nothing if not value for money. On with the show (new) is the opener followed by a personal favourite of mine hard times from the album ‘Ten’ all the songs Y&T can’t leave out are here, mean streak, I believe in you, black tiger, hurricane, dirty girl, forever and rescue me but tonight no midnight in Tokyo, just one reason for attending more than one Y&T gig per tour because they played it in Birmingham six days later. In fact the perennial Californian rockers vary their set each night which must have proved a bit of a nightmare for stand in bassist Brad Lang, I caught up with Brad after the Nottingham show and asked him how he learned so many songs in such a short period of time, ‘about five hours sleep in four days’ was his reply. At the 02 academy in Birmingham one guy shouted out for contagious’ to which Meniketti said ‘we just dropped that from the set’ they played it anyway. The Birmingham venue was much smaller than Rock City and there was only about a third of the amount of punters in to see a splendid show, with less new songs included and indeed a shorter set Y&T were visibly more moved by the reaction they got in Nottingham than in the west midlands. After both shows I got to chat with all the members of Y&T now I could say I conducted an interview for my review but that sounds too pompous and arrogant, no the thing about the guys from Y&T is they just come out and hang with whoever wants to see them after the show.
John Nymann (rhythm guitar/backing vocals) having helped out with taking his photograph with a few eager fans we stood in the foyer at Rock City admiring the view ‘wow look at that’ says John ‘I bet she could be your daughter’ to which I replied ‘she could be my wife!’ I last saw him running after a near naked girl with his camcorder. In Birmingham I learnt that he inherited his fine long hair from his mother and the profile picture on his facebook page was taken in a place in Wales he couldn’t pronounce, not on your own there John.
Mike Vanderhule (drums/backing vocals) I complement Mike on his ‘economic’ drumming style, no ‘bigshow’ arm swinging jumping up and down for Mike, ‘I studied with some great drummers’ he assures me, he also has a roving eye for the young ladies, that Dave Meniketti assured me. Mike was pleased to see us turn up to the Birmingham show and told me how he’d sacrificed a lot in life to peruse his career as a drummer.
Brad Lang (bass/backing vocals) the new boy keeps telling folks he doesn’t want to be here and that he hopes we’ll never see him again, a modest and humble approach to saying he hopes Phil gets better soon. I caught up with Brad in Rock City and he told me he learnt all the Y&T songs via his ipod, I told him that I was determined to hate him but couldn’t help thanking him for putting in such a great performance, he loved this and was very gracious in his thanks.
Dave Meniketti (lead guitar/lead vocals) what can you say, the guy is a legend and at the same time when you talk to him he seems like your best drinking buddy, belying his age ‘I’m ageless’ he tells me. Dave also tells me he can’t believe all the young fans that come to the shows I thought their parents must have dragged them along at first, but now I know they’re into it’ he tells me, I assure him it’s because of all the great songs Y&T have. Also this time of year in the UK Dave tends to get a cold, last year it was full blown flu well 2010 sees him virus free and on top form.
With a show in London the night after Birmingham it’s then onto Paris and continental Europe before returning to the States to finish off the year for Y&T and I’m going to finish this review by wishing Phil Kennemore all the best and we all hope he makes a full recovery and comes back to us here in Britain next year because we believe in you Phil, the Y&T show isn’t the same without Phil’s vocal talents on squeeze and even if he doesn’t like singing it we all love to be Kennemored! GD.
Bitchslap Fanzine Launch Night…
Feat: The Smears + Never the Last Breath + The Dead Will Dance + Burytheladybird + Causeway Lane…
The Victoria Inn… Derby… 02/10/10…
The man behind Insomnia and Still Dying has now moved onto a new project, Bitchslap is a brand spanking new fanzine dedicated to female fronted punk, metal, rock and alternative bands and tonight at the Victoria inn Derby it’s time to launch issue one. Headlining tonight’s event are the cover girls of the inaugural Bitchslap mag, none other than The Smears, fresh back from their mini tour of Holland they cruise into the Vic and get the party well and truly started the minute they set foot in the venue. With several young bands on the bill tonight inevitably sees those bands drag along many parents, friends and relatives, Causeway Lane from Matlock being a prime example, opening the show to a nearly full room, lead vocalist Tarnia looks like she’s kitted out to play football as the band kick off proceedings playing a short set of rock originals and covers. The evening is well underway when Burytheladybird hit the stage, I can’t quite put my finger on their style but they deliver a decent performance and front girl Tiggy is very striking resplendent with flowing raven hair and is in possession of a memorable voice. It’s a great atmosphere at the Vic with everyone having a great time. Upon entry tonight (£5 for 5 bands) everyone receives a ‘goodie bag’ and the chance to buy the Bitchslap fanzine for the ludicrously cheep price of £1.50 which includes a free compilation CD. With ten copies due to be released over the next twelve months it looks like Mark (Mr Bitchslap) is going to be a busy boy. The Dead Will Dance are up next a seemingly more polished act than the two opening bands yet I do believe this is their debut performance, they play a collection of original songs more to my personal liking, front woman Stevie gets vocal help (or hindrance) from the guitarist Keith who chips in various screams and growls along the way. Giving away a free two track CD The Dead Will Dance show they have potential with two very different tracks this is not a riot and the acoustic kill them all. Never The Last Breath are the penultimate band of the night, and are much heavier than the previous three acts, front woman Lisa has a good voice but a bit like the previous band Never the Last Breath seem to need ‘growly shouty’ backing vocals from one of their guitarists, I don’t know whether this is a trend but I’m not too keen of it. And so to the magazine cover girls and The Smears being the only punk band tonight they do it in great style, They’re all hammered when they take the stage but despite this deliver an enjoyable set with lots of crowd participation, at this point of the night no one can remember too much of what is going on and I’m no exception to that. Good luck to Mark with his new venture and remember ‘you know when you’ve been Bitchslapped! GD.
Above: Y&T Live @ Rock City Nottingham.
Above: Y&T Live @ O2 Academy Birmingham.
Above: Y&T Live @ O2 Academy Birmingham.
Above O/D Saxon Leve @ MFN.
Above: O/D Saxon Live @ MFN.
Name: Sarah Sixx
Age: 20
Hometown/City: A little blot on the landscape near Wolverhampton
Height: 6’1’’
Hair: shortish dark hair
Tattoos: virgin skin as far as tattoos go
In her own words:
Just a few essential things:
I’m probably not the one for you.
My grass is a little greener than yours.
Kindly leave your expectations behind, because im probably going to disappoint you.
More often than not, I say the wrong thing at the wrong time.
I’m clumsy, awkward and accident prone.
I have no interest in trying to impress you.
I don’t really have any huge aspirations in life, I just live to be happy and for the people that make me happy. I tend to float along in my own special way taking things as they come.
Music and art are what makes me tick and little things make me hugely happy.
I am bright colours, glitter, eyeliner, hair dye, paint, poetry, chocolate, animal print, my bed, cuddles and kisses, vintage, pretty things, live music, clothes, music, my best friends, my baby sister, road trips, films, nights in on the sofa, taking photos, to the point and honest.
Like most women I have a massive thing for a nice handbag, but thanks to an amazing guy I now have the ultimate handbag (and he’s not just amazing because he bought me this handbag <3)> As far as music is concerned, my world wouldn’t be right without it. I will give any music a listen once, but im a rock chick at heart. Anything really: glam, Metal, punk, classic rock etc.
My favourite bands are always changing, but to name a few? Black Stone Cherry, Crash diet, Motley Crue, The Cure, Heavens Basement, The 69 eyes, New York Dolls....I could go on forever.
I’ve been to endless live gigs, its one of my favourite places to be!
To be quite honest I can’t really think of anything else to tell, if you want to get to know me: facebook me – ‘Sarah Allington’ x
Oct… [12]
03rd: Bitchslap Fanzine Launch…
The Smears + Never The Last Breath + The Dead Will Dance + Burytheladybird + Causeway Lane [The Vic Derby]
06th: Exhibit-A [MFN Shipley]
07th: Mispelt + Lost In Plastic + Toxic Bouffant (Little Whores on the Prairie) [The Old Bell Derby]
08th: Krusade [Tap n’ Tumbler Nottingham]
09th: Y&T + Fury UK [Rock City Nottingham]
13th: Tara’s Secret + Planet Friday [MFN Shipley]
15th: Y&T + Fury UK [O2 Academy Birmingham]
16th: Oliver/Dawson Saxon + Guns For Hire [MFN Shipley]
27th: Badaxe [MFN Shipley]
29th: Fury UK + Kyrbgrinder + Inferno + Nefarious [The Old Bell Derby]
29th: Toxic Federation [The Sitwell Derby]
31st: Fest Fatale’…
Exoterik + Trioxin Cherry + Scarlet’s Wake + Grim Dylan + Aonia + Thracia [The Central Nottingham]
Above: 'Squeel like a pig boy' GD & Natalie (The Smears) @ The Vic Derby.
Above: Mark (Bitchslap) With Natalie & Colette (The Smears) @ The Vic Derby.
Above: Emma & Colette (The Smears) @ The Vic Derby.
Above: Mispelt @ The Old Bell Derby.
Above: Jen (Mispelt) & GD @ The Old Bell Derby.
Above: Brad Lang (Y&T) With Maxine, Clare & GD @ Rock City Nottingham.
Above: Metal Minx Hannah & Clare With GD @ Rock City Nottingham.
Above: Alice & Mike Vanderhule (Y&T) @ Rock City Nottingham.
Above: John Nymann (Y&T) & GD @ O2 Academy Birmingham.
Above : Sarah Firebarand (Tigertailz) & GD @ O2 Academy Birmingham.
Above: Oliver/Dawson Saxon @ MFN.
Above: Graham Oliver (O/D Saxon) & Alice @ MFN.
Above: TattTastic! Metal Minx MiniGD & Alice.
Above: Halloween Antics @ The Old Bell Derby.
Above: Kiss This! Halloween Antics @ The Old Bell Derby... More Halloween Pics & Vids From Fest Fatale' Next Month.
