PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Firstly I have to thank my good friend Jorrin from Holland as without him I may have not heard of Volbeat until much later on my life so Jorrin thanks very much mate!
The first time I heard Volbeat I knew I’d be a fan for life and between us Jorrin and I have introduced their very unique blend of Johnny Cash and Metal also known to some as Elvis-Metal to quite a number of friends.
My first live Volbeat experience was in 2009 at the Islington Academy, it was my birthday gig and I got absolutely wasted however I enjoyed every single sweaty second of that show and I couldn’t wait to see them again. This has however proved to not be as easy as it sounds what with gig clashes (yeah I know hardly something to moan about) then last year’s cancellation due to Michael’s health however I found that this all simply added to my excitement preceding the recent show at the Kentish Town Forum. First of the increase in venue size is testament to the bands rise in popularity in the past two years however extensive touring with Metallica’s not gonna harm your fan base is it.
I must admit at this point that I was actually unaware who was supporting Volbeat at this show until approximately a couple of hours before the show when my friend mentioned it in the pub, I was very happy by this news and got even more excited as I really like Black Spiders and their no bullshit approach to music.
Black Spiders hit the stage and the venues atmosphere lit up like a metaphorical Christmas tree, catching these guys form the first set of stairs back from the main flooring area I had a good view of the audience jumping about to opening track “Stay Down” they guys proceeded on with “KISS tried to Kill Me” “Stick it to the Man” before getting to my favourite track of theirs “St Peter” the set also included the now expected audience participation of chanting “Fuck you Black Spiders!” whilst politely saluting them with your middle finger however I must admit I was having so much fun I forgot at which point this happened.
Full Set list for Black Spiders: Stay Down, KISS Tired To Kill Me, Stick It To The Man, St Peter, Wolves, Just Like a Woman, Blood Of The Kings.
Rating: 8/10
https://www.facebook.com/theblackspiders
Anyway time for Volbeat and I have moved forward to nice distance from the stage probably about 8 or 9 deep in from the barrier, close enough to be in the thick of it far enough away to get crushed. Volbeat opened up their what proved to be mammoth set with “The Human Instrument” from their 2007 album “Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil” (which is indecently the first album of theirs that I ever heard) and they were as tight as I remember them from 2009.
The crowd were enjoying the show immensely as the guys poured out the tracks including my personal favourite “Sad Mans Tongue” (a song which coincidently almost got me lynched during an impromptu DJ set at an undisclosed venue as not one of metal heads in the room had heard it before and thought the intro sounded like a country music track J) before I knew it the band had played fourteen songs and were leaving the stage (remember the bit I said about mammoth set) so I set what remained of my strained vocal chords to task shouting for an encore and wow what an encore a total of another five songs including their now infamous cover of “I Only Wanna Be With You” to which they mashed in their own track “Boa” before finishing off with “Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza” from the band’s first album from 2005 “The Strength/The Sound/The Songs” all in all a fantastic night of music from two awesome bands both of which I will go and see every time they are in town and you all should too!
Volbeat full set list: The Human Instrument, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood, Heaven nor Hell, A Moment Forever/Hallelujah Goat, The Mirror and the Ripper, Mary Ann’s Place, Sad Mans Tounge, A New Day, Evelyn, Radio Girl, The Garden’s Tale, Rebel, Monster, 16 Dollars, Still Counting.
Encore: A Warriors Call, Fallen, Thanks, I Only Wanna be With You/Boa, Pool of Booze Booze Booza.
Rating: 9/10
https://www.facebook.com/volbeat
