By Monk and The Dark Queen
It has to be admitted that it has been an unseasonably chilly August, not least on the gig front, but while the TV pundits had been predicting that the temperatures would start to climb somewhat as the month progressed, they could not have predicted how high the mercury would actually rise and how wild the heat (sic) would actually get – especially in the sweaty confines of our favourite hometown venue on this otherwise cool and somewhat dreary Bank Holiday weekend.
Our support act has been developing a reputation as one of the most formidable female forces on the local scene, known for her powerful, no-holds-barred performances, which we have unfortunately managed to miss out on witnessing until this evening. However, we wasted no time in taking up her invitation to join her cult as she and her band mates unleash 45 minutes of unbridled punk rock fury laced with unrestrained angst and passionate attitude.
Anja di Rosa draws deep from the well of classic front women, from Joan Jett and Lita Ford through Courtney Love and Donita Sparks to contemporaries such as Beth Blade, with whom I can draw massive comparisons, especially in terms of her dominant onstage presence and no-fucks-given attitude.
Musically, the band deliver classic psych-infused garage punk ‘n’ roll melded with heavy metal weightiness underpinned with gothic noir apocalyptic/occult lyrical themology. Anja undoubtedly has an extremely powerful voice, coupled with a hugely assertive stage presence which accentuates the impact of this precisely delivered set of excellently crafted songs. We’re converted.
After another of the venue’s superbly co-ordinated turnarounds, our headliners waste zero time in laying down their sleaze-infused brand of classic metal riffage, proving once again that this ain’t no #Hustle but the real fuckin’ deal.
An early highlight is the huge power ballad ‘Time And Time Again’, but apart from that there are no ‘Red Lights’ stopping the momentum and sheer energy oozing from the stage, as the band may be admitting to experiencing some ‘Guilty Love’ but they definitely have us ‘Hypnotized’ from start to finish.
As they close their main set with ‘Addicted To You’, there is only one drug that we need, and (despite the amount of NO2 being inhaled by hundred of young ravers just a mile or so up the road) should be addicted to, and that is rawk ‘n’f’n’ roll, especially when it is injected straight into our systems just like it was tonight, even giving us one last chance to ride that ‘Crazy Train’ into the setting sun…
A great night of great rock ‘n’ roll from two bands who were on absolute fire and delivered on every level.
- All photos © The Dark Queen/Über Röck.