Airbourne – Rock city, Nottingham – 22nd November 2017

The Wild

So it’s early doors tonight and I get there just in time for The Wild!. The Wild! aren’t a band I had heard of before, but am glad I made the effort to get there early for them. The Canadian rockers (NOT American as lead singer Dylan Villain was keen to emphasise!), put on an entertaining set to a decent sized crowd for such an early start. Tonight’s gig was part of the bands first overseas tour, but judging by the reaction during their short 30 minute set, they already had some fans in the crowd and finished the night with a fair few more. A great start to the night and a band to definitely keep an eye on.

http://www.thewildrocknroll.com
https://www.facebook.com/thewildrocknroll/

Phil Campbell

Next up with have Phil Campbell & the Bastard Sons. Having seen them play a few times previously, I haven’t been particularly impressed, but tonight I really enjoyed their set. They combine a mix of original songs with Motorhead covers which is to be expected. The new material from the upcoming album gets a good reception from the near full room, but it’s the final songs Silver Machine (Hawkwind Cover) and the legendary Motorhead track Ace of Spades that get the biggest reaction from the crowd.

https://www.facebook.com/PhilCampbellATBS/

Tonight is the last night in a somewhat lengthy 18 month tour in support of their latest album “Breakin’ Outta Hell”. After an 18 month tour, you may have been forgiven for thinking that the band would be running on empty by this stage. How wrong you would have been! Airbourne certainly don’t do low energy or subdued, and tonight was no exception.

The band open with “Ready To Rock” and what follows is a loud, high energy, no nonsense rock n roll show which has the crowd hooked for the entire night. As well as tracks from their latest album, the set also features tracks from their 3 previous studio albums.

One thing you can be sure of in an Airbourne show is that Joel will leave the stage – either climbing to precarious heights (typically at festivals) or as tonight, climbing onto a roadies shoulders to go walkabout in the crowd. He also does one of his party pieces – grabbing a can of beer and smashing himself over the head with it (they’re a thick-skulled lot these Aussie musicians), then covering the crowd with beer as it sprays from the split can.

They finish the main 10 song set with “Stand Up for Rock ‘n’ Roll”, before rejoining us for the encore of “Live It Up”, Raise The Flag” and “Running’ Wild”.

A thoroughly enjoyable night and going on tonight’s performance and the size of the crowds they have been getting on this tour, it makes me wonder how much longer we will be seeing them in venues of this size.

Set list

Ready to Rock
I’m Going to Hell for This
Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
Down on You
Rivalry
Girls in Black
Bottom of the Well
Breakin’ Outta Hell
It’s All for Rock ‘n’ Roll
Stand Up for Rock ‘n’ Roll

Encore:
Live It Up
Raise the Flag
Runnin’ Wild

[flickrapi user=”planet mosh” get=”photoset” id=”72157689599663914″ size=”z” count=”100″]

About Sean Larkin

I like taking photos