Caught in the Crossfire

London Brixton Academy
14/11/05

Over the past few years, the increasing popularity of the hardcore/metal influenced bands on the Vans Warped Tour prompted ideas for a separate tour, devoted to these kinds of bands. It debuted in the US earlier this year with huge success, and as a result, a UK leg was put together – with a total of nine bands playing under the banner of Taste Of Chaos (insert your own ‘Casey from Amen‘-themed bad joke here). Tonight is the tour’s last date – a second sold-out night at London’s Brixton Academy.

Reggie And The Full Effect are first on; unfortunately, the sheer length of the queue means that I only see the last ten minutes of James Dewees and co’s bizarre but excellent collage of thrash and synth-laden pop punk. The crowd appears happy but a little confused, which can only be a good thing. These guys really should have been higher up the bill.

A little enthusiasm can go a long way, and so it proves with Story Of The Year, as they relentlessly bounce around the stage like kangaroos on Red Bull. It’s just as well; given that the Missouri quintet’s overly slick metallic hardcore sound is nothing to get too excited over. Still, the punters seem to love them, and they clearly appreciate it. Out of the three local bands picked to play tonight, the best of bunch is the one-man Essex-based extravaganza that is Get Cape Wear Cape Fly. Sam and his beloved laptop suffer worst from the infamous Brixton Academy echo, but he still wins a few more fans with his reflective beat-laden acoustic tracks. Good things are surely to come.

However, it is Rise Against who truly kick this event into gear, blasting through a set of fiercely intelligent melodic with total conviction. Their recent ‘Siren Song Of The Counter Culture‘ album has clearly won them several new fans, and the likes of ‘State Of The Union‘ and ‘Like The Angel‘
are nothing short of anthemic. Tonight, Rise Against sound like a band to believe in.

Given that Killswitch Engage leader/guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz was unable to join his band for this tour due to health problems, it’s a pleasant surprise that the Massachusetts metal crew still sound as monolithically impressive as ever, with their trademark thunderous riffs inciting mayhem in the pit.

The Used singer Bert McCracken joins them for a soaring ‘The End Of Heartache‘, whilst additional guitar help from a roadie ensures that the closing brace of ‘My Last Serenade‘ and ‘Rose Of Sharyn‘ take no prisoners. Quite possibly the band of the evening.

Unfortunately, we are now taken on a trip to the more commercial, watered-down end of emo-metal with The Used and headliners Funeral For A Friend. The former band like their huge choruses to the extent that they often resemble some godawful 80’s AOR band, and only truly shine on fan favourite ‘The Taste Of Ink’. FFAF may rock harder, but this doesn’t excuse their lack of memorable songs, maybe with ‘Juneau‘ and ‘History‘ excepted. It’s hard to feel much pride for a British band headlining a tour of this size, when the UK has so many better bands to offer. So what does Chaos Taste like? Well, on tonight’s evidence, it gets a little bitter towards the end, but there’s still enough good stuff to make you want a second helping. Roll on TOC 2006…

Alex Gosman

Brixton Academy
11 November 2005

Before I even walk through the doors of Brixton, my eyes graze a field of tribute Billy haircuts. This is Billy *fucking* Idol. The music we were either brought up with or forced to listen to on loooooonnnngggg drives with our folks. This music marks the revolutionary history that has brought you to this very website, on this very page. Just as Debbie Harry, Black Sabbath and The Doors paved the way, Billy played his peroxide James-Dean punk rock part. There was no supporting band! Just pure 100% uncensored Billy Idol for 2 and a half hours! No wonder he is still sporting a six-pack at 50-odd, which he proudly strips down to between songs, and it still makes the gals holla! He looks the perfect plastic surgery picture of health after surviving drug overdoses, and a bike accident! It was a majestic display of pure speed.., I mean stamina!

In their own right they are all amazing musicians. Steve the lead guitarist plays the most majestic Spanish-almost a little Country-and-Western solos. The drummer not only juggles while playing the most incredible drums, but also plays guitar!…well enough to take on Steve Stevens! The keyboardist plays 2 keyboards at the same time. And Billy not only writes and sings, but has hidden talents as a pretty nifty guitarist. It was a generously well-balanced gig for most of the band members. My only criticism being that the bassist should have stepped up to the plate a little more. Raging waters run deep and all 6 of them are annoyingly talented!

Billy seemed to be stoked to be making his comeback. He kept thanking the crowd, signing autographs and throwing out free gear! The sweeter side of the punk-rocker nobody sees in photos. Maybe he thought nobody would stay for the music? With the mass support shown by die-hard fans and gay community alike, I am sure he was pleasantly surprised.

They played all the classics as you can imagine, just loads and loads all in the span of an exhausting, and everlasting 2.5 hours! I must completely say this has been one of my top gigs for 2005, and saying that I have probably lost credibility for all future reviews…No really, it was the perfect balance of nostalgia, new tracks and good old fashioned Rock ‘n Roll in the truest sense. I left exhausted and grateful that the band gave us their blood, sweat and tears all in one evening.

Hopefully they will be around next year if they don’t burn themselves out, or walk down old paths. Billy did promise a new album on the horizon after all…Good luck to ya fitting that in!

Niki Kova’cs

Image stolen from www.jencray.com
(sorry, Crossfire could not get any photo’s at the show)

Jazz Café
17/11/2005

Kung Fu, London’s best hip hop club night, brought about a change of scenery as it upped sticks from the Underworld to bop across the road to the Jazz Café for the first time and boasted a might line up, headlined by the ever-fresh Jehst. Getting in just before The Colony took to the stage proved difficult as the venue was packed to bursting point, but once there the ears were treated to a tight set which included a somewhat controversial ending when Grimlock’s accapella ended in a line about Jamie Bulger. Nonetheless, the crowd were bopping and after some fine time filling by Sarah and Harry Love, Micall Parknsun and Dubble Edge bumped the stage with some nice heavy beats and again, got the crowd head nodding.

But whilst the support were good, and Mystro’s character never dimmed throughout the entire night as he hosted the show, it was nothing to when Billy Brimstone stepped to the stage with Asaviour and DJ IQ. The night was an album launch for his new EP “Nuke Proof Suit” and immediately the bass heavy beat dropped and the necks snapped and heads bounced as Jehst’s typical uncompromising flow showcased his new space-age lyrical content and ability to ride a beat so heavy it felt like we were being transported into the eye of Hurricane Katrina.

Asaviour proved himself to be more than just a hype man, winding his way left and right across the stage, belting out verses of his own, dropping a couple of his own tracks and feeling the beat like no other, with his eyes closed and a never ending bounce in his step. Sir Smurf Lil and Micall Parknsun both jumped on stage for a track to much delight. But four tracks really stood out which took the night to that next level shit. “Hydro Blowback“, one of the cuts on his new erupted from the speakers with an unnerving flow, the bass riding low under his vocals giving it a haunting quality, pushing you into a dark alley, leaving you paranoid and looking over your shoulder. The title track was also a sure fire winner. A stomping cruncher of a beat brought about high pitched yowling samples as Jehst pumped up the club tune making it impossible not to bus’ a move in your own little spot.

The final two tracks were what the crowd were baying for however, as Jehst dropped “People Under The Weather“, the scatting drums and hard snare snaps dragging heads forward and backward. Asaviour’s opening verse killed it immediately, as he showed no let up from his energetic performance before handing it over to Jehst whose river-like flow and delivery left some open mouthed, but most howling in delight. That howling only increased when “High Plains Anthem” finally wound its way to the ear drums, and it was more like a karaoke singalong than a performance, but that only made the atmosphere even better.

The rhymepage primate slammed himself back at the top of the tree after a couple of years out, and on tonight’s performance its going to be Jehst Proof Suits people will need, because this guy’s live set is pure radioactive material.

Sam Hesketh