PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Another Saturday night another opportunity to watch some great bands in action, so I headed down to Brixton for what would prove to be a fantastic night of metal. On the bill that night were Diaries Of A Hero, Anthrax and Motörhead so I knew even before I got there that the venue would be packed full of people ready to rock.
I arrived long before the doors opened for a follow up interview with Diaries Of A Hero and already the streets were full of gig goers. This is not an unusual sight of a Brixton evening, but tonight felt even more full of anticipation.
As with many gigs it can often be fairly quiet for the first act on stage, and tonight was a little better with about a third of the audience through the doors, from the bars and ready to rock. Diaries Of A Hero took to the stage, and I mean took to the stage with a good cheer of welcome and got straight into it with a song that was totally pit worthy. With a good clashing element to it, the speed of the song was such that you could be forgiven for thinking they wanted to get off the stage as soon as possible. But that would have been crazy as they provided a great start to what was only going to be a top night of metal.
This is a band that is obviously well rehearsed and tight and the all important drums were fast and aggressive, so much so that during the required drum solo it seemed that the drums had caused offended. Soon into the set DOAH played new tracks and there was a clear difference and progression from their earlier tracks. The new songs gave more aggressive vocals and nice machine gun style, thrashy drums. DOAH struck me as a confident, strong band and if these new songs are a sign of future progression, I see very good things awaiting them. Which from the cheers they earned at the end, I think many there agree with me.
After a quick 20 minute set change Anthrax’s banner goes up to massive cheers from the packed crowd. The air was literally thick with anticipation and if I didn’t know better, I would think it was the headliners about to take to the stage. The lights began to darken and the wait was too much for many as they begin a loud chanting of ‘Anthrax! Anthrax!’ But the band shortly took to the stage and get right on in there with ‘Caught in a Mosh’. I hadn’t seen Anthrax for some time and I had forgotten just how good they were live! I love it when a band starts their set as if they are right in the middle, and Anthrax did that nicely….almost as soon as they started you forgot everything and were just immersed in the songs.
The sound seemed to get louder as the night went on and I can tell you that this was one loud set. \m/ Everything about this was great, from the way they owned the stage as a band, to the vocals, the drums to just everything. I love watching the drummers at gigs, and I could not be disappointed during this set as his arms were simply everywhere at once.
Very soon into their set came one of my favourite songs, ‘Antisocial’. Always a great track to hear and even better live with the crowd being encouraged to shout along with them and several fans receiving guitar picks as they were thrown into the audience during one of the choruses. The crowd absolutely loved this as well as ‘Indians’ which was up next. It was clear to see that this was the right band, the right stage and the right crowd and for me ending it with ‘I Am the Law’ was just the cherry on top! At the end of the set they told the crowd that it had been an absolute privilege to play there that night and that they would certainly be back. Here’s hoping that’s true because I’ll be one of the first in line for those tickets.
Set List
Caught in a Mosh
Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t
Antisocial
Indians
In the End
Madhouse
Got the Time
Be All, End All
I Am the Law
If you thought the anticipation at the start of the night was palpable, this was nothing compared to the feelings now we knew that very soon Motörhead would take to the stage. Before coming on the chants of ‘Motörhead’ were loud and persistent, causing them to inform us that yes, they were Motörhead and we had the right gig. Now as you must surely know this is one band that knows their metal and knows how to entertain. In fact it seems almost a dare to not enjoy watching them as even if you had never heard of them before (shame on you) you would be swept away in the pure rocky metalness of it all.
This is not a band to continuously move about the stage, but their value is in the sheer energy, rock and growliness of their songs and presence – and man do they have presence. This is heightened by the huge lighting rig above the stage which does a great job throughout the set, making it feel like a headlining festival performance. As you may have guessed I love this band and couldn’t at all fault their performance this evening. They interact their the whole crowd really well whether its shouting at us to make some noise or making jokes such as for the encore by saying this was their last song, but if we make some noise they’ll be back; you know the drill.
And back they came with the classic ‘Ace of Spades’ much to everyone’s delight. Though if you had snuck in at any part of their set to hear the cheers you would have thought that every song on their set list was the crowd’s favourite, until that is you heard the start of this song. All through the set people were still pushing forward to get closer to the stage and vying for that better view. Despite the number of songs on their set list, the show was over so quickly it felt like merely minutes. They left us by telling us not to forgot them (never!) as they are fucking Motörhead and they play fucking rock and roll. Too bloody right they do! \m/
Set List
I Know How to Die
Damage Case
Stay Clean
Metropolis
Over the Top
Doctor Rock
The Chase Is Better Than the Catch
Rock It
You Better Run
The One to Sing the Blues
Going to Brazil
Killed by Death
Ace of Spades
Encore:
Are You Ready Thin Lizzy Cover
Overkill
