It's
a freezing cold night in Birmingham but luckily
I've got a night of old school punk to look forward
to, as tonight I get to see the legendary Misfits!
Now most people mower days when you say "have
you seen the misfits?" will probably think
you’re on about the channel 4 show, about
a group of kids with super powers and not this
revolutionary band that have been going for almost
35 years! Still in makeup and still rocking out
like the old days!
I arrive at the old academy for the first time
and it feels just like the old days, the Ballroom
is basically the same venue we all knew and loved.
As I’m walking down the stairs I hear the
old school rock and roll tones of Swiss rockers;
Those Furious Flames, who have this quite sparse
crowd interested (the reason its sparse is due
to it being upgraded to the main room at the last
minute to fit the Misfits stage set up). The band
play out some great riffs and solos with gruff
vocalist Yari Copt who is trying his best to get
the crowd motivated! They sound good, but I think
it's the wrong crowd, if it was a Slash or Theory
of a Dead Man gig and the like, they'd go down
a storm, but it's not punk and so it just fly’s
over people’s heads.
The
set comes to an end and the usual change over
happens, during this time the main support JuiceheaD
come out and start setting up ready for their
set, the lights stay up and as soon as there finished
setting up they just start plying which is a big
surprise to both me and the crowd as I run down
to the front to grab some snaps. They play fast
and loud, with screechy grinding guitar with a
nice plodding bass and great fast drumming, you
can tell the night has settled in as the crowd
get into they're punky tones. It's been a while
since I've seen an old school punk band, and Juice
Box, despite being formed in 2003 are rocking
out like they’re one of them! They’re
signed to The Misfits own label and you can tell
they’re taking notes from them. They blast
through a set of about 12 songs all a few minutes
long with hardly any talking in between, this
band are here to get you hot and sweaty and rocking
out and they certainly do that with every song
being as full paced as the last, it's brutal its
unrelenting it's Juice Head!
The
lighting darkens as the Misfits stage is being
set up, their mic stands have huge black bags
covering them and the back of the stage is covered
in a huge sheet. With all this mystery and having
never seen them before I’m eager to find
out what's underneath and what's going to unfold!
The lights go off and the roadies unveil the items
under a cloud of darkness. There’s a sound
of thunder and the lights flash in the centre
of the stage like lighting revealing a huge castle
set up for the drums with skeletons hanging from
the mic stands! The drummer comes out and drums
in the rest of the band who burst into over an
hours’ worth of none stop songs! I wish
I knew more Misfits than I do because I have no
idea of the set list, there only seemed to be
one on stage and that was hidden at the back and
was three pages long! They sound great and play
there unique undead punk music that gets the crowd
going mental! Jumping around, moshing, shouting,
screaming, blood sweat and tears! You think metal
gigs are brutal come and see the misfits and you
get it all! Its 30 years down the line and they
sound just as raw and uncut as they ever did.
This is punk from the roots up, simple riffs with
the occasional solo, in your face attitude and
a haunting and powerful vocal style!
I'd read reports before tonight that the misfits
had lost it, due to line up changes and the age
of the band, but I can say for sure that they've
still got it and will continue to have it until
they change line up. They're truly outstanding
and a massive influence to any upcoming band,
whether it be punk, pop, rock or metal as they
put on a great show which is made up off; an impacting
stage presence, an awesome lighting set up, they’re
really passionate and most importantly they sound
great!
Overall no-one is disappointed and this once sparse
room have now all come together to support this
legend of a band! I don't really have a bad thing
to say other than, I would have liked a bit more
talking between songs, but when you have as many
songs in a set as they do, you can really forgive
them for just wanting to get out there and play
some punk!
Those Furious Flames 2.5/5
JuiceheaD 4/5
Misfits 5/5
Review By James Daly
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