It's been a long time coming, and finally after a few reformed gigs here and there Kerbdog have a full UK tour! Today's show is the first of eight UK shows, after a show in Dublin last night. Today is also like a mini Kerbfest, with five bands on the bill over six hours. Not at all bad for £20.
The venue is a little deserted unfortunately for Hey You Guys sadly, as it's only around 4.30pm. We catch the very end of them as the box office struggles to find our details (a common thing these days), so it is a shame not to get some photos of these Worchester lads. They play a heavy fast brand of metal with more talking vocals than singing. Fact fans guitarist Dave Draper produced the new Kerbdog live album 'Congregation'.
Hawk Eyes are on next, with their rock and roll just suited for some headbanging. Again it is still pretty early, but the place is starting to fill up more. Their sheer energy is something to behold, and they play like it's their last show ever.
Nine Black Alps are up next, and the local lads have covered Kerbdog's 'JJ's Song' in answer to them covering their track 'Come Back Around', which they play tonight. The band are so chilled out on stage but ever so tight, they are a real pleasure to watch.
Manchester's Amplifier, up next, have been around since 1999. I think it's the fact that I am so excited about Kerbdog's imminent arrival that I want them to hurry up (we are into hour 4 of the gig at this point). That said some of the drum beats and baselines are all encasing, but I'm stood here in a Soundgarden hoody and not really hearing the similarities everyone says there is.
Now I've followed this final band around a lot travelling to Dublin and Bristol to see them over the years before they finally did what their cult following have been asking for and booked this UK tour. The two festival appearances at Sonisphere and Tramlines this Summer cemented the fact that folks still love the Irish grungers, with Glasgow already sold out and Nottingham very nearly (sadly, as I want to go back for seconds!).
Tonight's show is at a venue three times the size of the others on the tour, but it's looking nicely full by the time Kerbdog are onstage. Heading straight into my favourite two tracks 'Pledge' and 'End of Green', this underestimated rock band are just as good as they were twenty years ago. The return of guitarist Billy Dalton adds that beefed up sound yet again, and it seems like a very happy affair for the lads to be back, both from them and especially the giddy crowd here.
The setlist is a great mix of their two albums, with 'On the Turn' tracks like 'Mexican Wave' and 'Sally' obviously standing out for the crowd, but then again the debut self-titled album has its fair share on there, with 'Dry Riser' and 'Earthworks' creating a surging moshpit.
Newly released track 'Electricity' from live album 'Congregation' is played in the encore, and is very well received. Some old school fans may recognise it as a faster 'Soaking Wet' The album was done as a Pledge campaign, and the lucky winner of the guitar is called out during the set. The real bonus for this show though (and I no doubt speak for the majority here) is to finally witness 'Dummy Crusher', the song that no doubt got us into this band, live for the first time. That mosh pit just got bigger. I hope the tales of a new album late next year are true, because I haven't even left the venue yet and am desperate for another tour!
Pledge
End of Green
Mexican Wave
Pointless
Rewind
Earthworks
Dry Riser
On The Turn
Secure
Severed
Sally
Electricity
Dummy Crusher
JJ's Song
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.