News and Reviews: 31st October 2011
30 Oct 2011.Arctic Monkeys + Vaccines live at The 02 Arena,London.Second of two big arena shows at this venue for Arctic Monkeys on their UK arena tour to promote their fourth album "Suck It And See".All their albums have had great reviews from the critics.
Up first we have the hottest new indie guitar band of the year.Have been meaning to catch Vaccines for a while now.
I cannot remember the last time the venue was so full to see a support act here.Their debut album and style is very like a UK version of The Strokes.Some great tunes played inc "Post Break-Up Sex" and "If You Wanna".
They were an ideal support band for The Arctics.
Arctic Monkeys are on for 90 mins.Singer Alex Turner now has a cool quiff and dresses like a 1950s rocker.
They have big screens and loads of lights inc strobes.
The first 30 mins was really good then the next 30 mins was a bit average then the last 30 mins it got really good again.Goodies played inc "Dont Sit Down Cause Ive Moved Your Chair","Teddy Picker","Crying Lightning",
"Brainstorm" and a brilliant "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor".Later on the front of stage fans danced wildly to great versions of "Fluorescent Adolescent" and "When The Sun Goes Down".Loads of really sharp lyrics in each song.A good show.
30 Oct 2011.New pictures added in my photo section.
THIS GIG WAS THE 5700th SHOW SEEN BY ME SINCE 1973.
29 Oct 2011.Alice Cooper + New York Dolls live at Alexandra Palace,London.Really looking forward to this mouthwatering pair of great live bands on the same bill.Lots of folks dressed up for this "Halloween-Night Of Fear" show in this all standing venue that holds around 7000.Thankfully i get to the venue early as New York Dolls come on at 7pm.But this is great as loads of the crowd are in early and New York Dolls get to play a full 75 mins set.They get full use of the two big screens too.They sound even better than some of their own recent headline shows which were very messy soundwise.
They still have Earl Slick on guitar.I have all three of their comeback albums and are really good.Loads of old classics played and a few newer ones.Set inc "Dance Like A Monkey","Cause I Sez So","Private World" then three great tracks from recent album "Dancing Backwards In High Heels" which were "Fool For You Baby","Talk To Me Baby",
"Kids Like You" then older gems "Mystery Girls","Pills",
"Trash","Jet Boy" and "Personality Crisis".A great set that went down really well with Alice fans.
During the interval we get an audience Halloween Best Outfit comp that was fun for a few mins.
Alice Cooper on stage for 1 hour 40 mins.It is fantastic rock theatre at its very best.The UK loves Alice Cooper.
All the band visually look great in full make up.
Full setlist was "The Black Widow","Brutal Planet","I'm Eighteen","Under My Wheels","Billion Dollar Babies",
"No More Mr. Nice Guy","Hey Stoopid","Is It My Body(with snake)","Halo of Flies (with drum solo)","I'll Bite Your Face Off","Muscle of Love","Only Women Bleed","Cold Ethyl","Feed My Frankenstein(with Eddy type monster roaming the stage)","Clones (We're All)", a stunning "Poison","Wicked Young Man", "Killer / I Love The Dead(with Alice losing his head in the guillotine)" and a superb "School's Out(with giant balloons)".
Encores were another gem "Elected" and "Fire(The Crazy World of Arthur Brown cover)" with Arthur Brown on vocals complete with his headwear on fire.Totally superb show.
Last year i saw both Alice Coopers Halloween shows at The Roundhouse that made my top ten gigs list of 2010 and this perfect evening will easily make my top ten gigs list of 2011.