PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Three words summarized tonight’s gigging experience: commitment, dedication and resilience. On the part of both the bands and their fans.
On the face of it, there probably could not have been a worse night to stage the first big metal show of the year – at least, one outside the confines of Belfast city centre. Protestors had threatened to bring this wee part of the world to standstill, with talk of motorways and airports being forced to close: there was no way anyone was going anywhere or doing anything, they promised. Of course, as had happened on so many nights before, while many of the protests passed off peacefully, some descended into what the authorities and media have, somewhat inanely, branded ‘recreational rioting’. It was against this backdrop that one particular carload of metal fans edged their way through the city centre – where the only evidence of what was going on was a solitary burning car in a car park – using Twitter and police news feeds for updates on the latest roadblocks (just as rugby fans had done just a few hours earlier, to pack out the nearby Ravenhill ground to watch our beloved Ulster thrash the living daylights out of the Glasgow ‘Warriors’!), finally making it onto the deserted motorway and north to the county Antrim market town where tonight’s shenanigans were to take place… and, apart from taking a wrong turn into someone’s garden, arriving safely.
But, there were yet more examples of commitment, dedication and resilience to come as the evening progressed…
One of the joys of being a journalist working in the local music scene – and not just one who waits for the next big band to come into town, but covers as many shows as possible – is watching bands evolve and develop. 7DaysDead are a relatively new name on the local scene, having emerged from the ashes of Interrogate just over 12 months ago. Since then, the band have been working almost incessantly on the local gig scene, honing their sound and their live show to its current highly impressive sound. In the past, I have been critical of vocalist Ryan McManus for his lack of stagecraft and sometimes weak performances, but constant live work has turned him into a dynamic, well rounded frontman, and band truly cemented their reputation as one of the best on the local live circuit with a blistering set which won them yet more new additions to their growing fanbase.
http://www.facebook.com/7daysdead
As previously documented here on PM, By Any Means vocalist Dave Lyness left the band just a few days before this gig. But, this is a band which, like the title of their debut album, is built on respect – for themselves, for their music and, most importantly, their fans – and they were determined that, to coin a phrase, the show would go on, and so recruited Blane Doherty, guitarist with Gacys Threads, as a temporary frontman. Having played countless gigs, including touring the length and breadth of England, Holland and Germany, with BAM, Blane undoubtedly was extremely familiar, but with only a few days and a couple of practices (including one in the van en route), he was still forced to have the majority of the lyrics taped to his monitor. Initially nervous, he quickly grew in confidence – something aided by constant encouragement from guitarist Paul Anthony – and the band delivered a set that was impressively hard-hitting in the trying situation.
http://www.facebook.com/byanymeanshc
Next up, rising heroes Bäkken stepped up to play an extended set (for reasons which will become clear in a few lines), and showed that they are another young band who are quickly developing into a competent and enjoyable live act. Frontman Simon Pickett inevitably will draw comparisons with the likes of Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield in terms of his onstage manner and, although he himself will admit that he is nowhere in their league, he is another frontman who has been growing in confidence as the band continue to put in the miles on the road. He and fellow guitarist Mark-Anthony McGinnis combo who work well together, effortless swapping riffs and solos, while the rhythm section of Brian O’Kane and Niall McGrotty lend solid support. ‘Dying Day’ works much better live than it does on the album (‘Death Of A Hero’, available for download from http://www.bakken1.bandcamp.com) while the likes of ‘Sasquatch’, ‘Back To The Future’ and ‘Get Back To Your Feet’ – the latter extremely apt in the madcap circumstances – also benefit from a heavier live sound, and again winning them over new fans.
http://www.facebook.com/bakkenband
The challenges of the evening were far from over, however. Minutes before the gig, Sinocence bassist Jim Seymour had to pull out as he succumbed to the dreaded Norovirus and became violently ill (mucho evidence of which is currently circulating on Facebook): but, again, the Sins showed yet more of that commitment, dedication and resilience I’ve already referred to – and who better to step into the breach, for his second stint of the evening, than their former/current 7DaysDead four stringer Chris ‘Kaxxx’ Cassidy, who was literally brought up to speed in the back of guitarist Anto’s car!
This turn of events meant that the band were unable to play anything from their acclaimed new EP, ‘No Gods, No Masters’, and instead had to draw on the wealth of the their back catalogue, with frontman Moro on fine form, Anto the stalwart shredder to his right, Davy Cassa playing as if his life depended on it behind him and Kaxxx picking up his duties as if it had been days since he played with his buddies instead of years…. This was a set filled with grit and spirit – the spirit of the heavy metal scene, the spirit of brothers pulling together for the common good: a demonstration of the power of music to mould unique experiences.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MopTvdqSIBE]It may have been a weird night, in all respects, but it did not stop it being a hugely enjoyable one, and one for which everyone concerned – bands, promoter and fans – can say they were glad to be a part of…
http://www.facebook/sinocence
Photographs by the author.
Sinocence play the Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill, on Saturday January 26th, with Screaming Eagles and Warcrux. Tickets are £6 in advance, from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/201635
7DaysDead launch their debut EP, ‘Beyond Within’, at Limelight 2, Belfast, on Saturday February 16th. Support comes from Honey For Christ, Spittin’ Bones and Red Six. Admission is £5 on the door. https://www.facebook.com/events/324033934375791
