By DJ Astrocreep
Having some interviews run a bit late, I sadly miss out on the beginning of the day’s entertainment, having to make it for the second act on the main stage and our second stage openers instead.
The first band I catch are Burnt Out Wreck, who are just getting into their set, finding a respectable amount of people watching them even at three in the afternoon. We get some technically proficient guitar solos and a more than capable band in total, with vocals that come across quite sunset strip, until the broad Scottish accent emerges between songs. A very capable act with some very catchy and enjoyable tracks.
Time then for a bit of Silent Jack on the second stage and it’s good to see not far short of 100 people checking out the newer talent on show. The band themselves are quite capable and interesting, though a small stage hampers their ability to jump about or be too frenetic in their movement or own enjoyment of their music. The solos spill out from the lead guitar; while the drums and bass keep everything ticking over nicely, whilst a medley of classic rock tracks in amongst their catchy original tracks is decent, if a touch extended to fill up set time. A couple of technical issues seem to throw the band off during last song Too Many Women, which was otherwise enjoyable.
Kiss The Gun are next to the second stage and I notice more people creeping in as their set progresses, with good reason. Strong, talented female vocals combine well with an adept set of musicians to provide an accomplished 70s rock style sound reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and Toto, who belie their second stage with a mature performance worthy of being either higher up the bill or in the main arena.
Still on Stage Two, a quick turnaround sees Haxan take to the stage and the numbers in the room swell a touch further. An all female, ovaries out rock n roll band, playing in a style and with a sound as big as Motorhead, with a fair amount more melody to the vocals than Lemmy was ever able to produce. Infectious, groove riddled tracks with an energy and verve on stage that puts a lot of others to shame, who deservedly get a good response from the crowd through their set. Guitarist/vocalist Sam joins the likes of Kim Jennett and Tank on my list of, ‘Where the hell is that voice coming from?!’, as the power she puts out in it belies her diminutive size, with her guitar playing is of equal skill, while bassist Harriet shows a nonchalance whilst finger picking that takes far more talent than is immediately obvious.
Finally back across to Stage One and Vega are ripping it up to a densely packed room, as is pretty much standard on their frequent visits to HRH events. The crowd are clearly enjoying it, as clapping and cheers between tracks show as much as the nodding heads and tapping feet during them. The complex guitar patterns, rhythmic bass and drums and smooth vocals are as present as ever in their likeable AOR and they fully earn every clap and bit of appreciation they get.
Scarlet Rebels take over Stage Two and there’s an immediate nod towards the likes of Skid Row as much as the likes of the more Van Halen, AOR or melodic bands that the guys are influenced by. The crowd has dwindled considerably since Haxan’s set, in no small part due to Vega in the first arena being such a mainstay in the HRH events, though the numbers do grow as they continue through their set. They’re tight, highly enjoyable and deserve a bigger crowd than they receive. Plenty of enthusiasm, plenty of guitar licks and plenty of talent across the board.
The room has remained fairly busy in Stage Two for the arrival of Fahran, whose mic check during changeover was a touch more metal than expected – which a band mate jokingly chastised him for. Their opening song comes across a similar way, being a bit closer to melodic metal than the AOR previously served up. There is plenty of energy from the band themselves, as they headbang furiously along as they play some pretty technically proficient pieces and whilst that aforementioned heaviness is there in contrast to other acts, there is still plenty of melody, more in the shape of Queensryche and heavier, working for a few of the audience, though this doesn’t seem to as much to the crowd’s tastes as other acts. The band are all able and certainly have some melodies, just perhaps taking longer to draw the crowd in due to the heavier initial level of their music, though a fair few seem to know them as they get further into it.
The room is around half full as Tomorrow Is Lost take their place on the second stage, with that growing further still as the main room is a lockout at this point. Frontwoman Cass is finally off crutches after breaking her leg coming off stage last year and looks a bit better for it, though understandably not quite as active when firing on all cylinders, with a powerful rock voice going down well with the crowd. The band behind her are talented too, if somewhat stiff looking on stage – loosening up a bit would probably help the rest translate as well as Cass does. The crowd seem to like them enough, regardless of this, as their reaction spells out. A good overall performance.
I draw a line for the evening at this point for food and to rest up for the final day, with another couple of bands to speak to early in the morning…
- PHOTO CREDIT: All photos courtesy of SD Photography/Sean Larkin/HRH AOR. Copyright held by the photographers as credited.
- All content © Über Rock. Not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of Über Rock.