Artist:  The Pleasures, Disarm, Illuminatus & Evil Scarecrow

Venue: The Civic, Mexborough 

Date:  21 March 2008 

To say that tonight’s bands are a bit of a mixed bag is somewhat of an understatement as we have it all here Glam, Punk, Metal and so much more.

With a rotation from venue to venue this mini tour put together by Riot Promotions, James and his merry band have bring you the hottest new talent around, it also gives the crowd a decent sample of the bands that would otherwise go unnoticed in this dog eat dog industry.  If you're not hip your not gonna get the breaks, such is the way of the music business today, but thanks to Riot Promotions the balance is swaying towards the underdogs.

Opening up the proceeding tonight are Nottingham’s Illuminatus who due to a late arrival have had to cut their set short, which is a pity because this band are creating a bit of a buzz around their home town and I for one would have liked to have heard more.

The band only did four songs but they certainly went for the jugular big style with their Metallica/Cult crossover sound, with ‘Wait’ being the highlight of the shortened set for me.  Hopefully the band will do a few more live dates this year because I would like to hear more.

Next up were German Glamsters The Pleasures, who to be honest were the main reason for travelling down to Mexborough this evening.  This quartet deliver old school glam with a tongue in cheek over the top approach, which has made them anti heroes in this dark and gloomy world of ours.

The band come out all guns blazing with more glitz than T-Rex and Elton John combined as they get the party started in true Glam style.  Led by the tall figure of frontman Dancette dominating the proceedings with his outrageous over the top stage antics, whilst Lord, Neo Patra, Sensai and General Razz bring their pulsating rhythms to a heady climax.

With the likes of ‘Some Like It Loud’, the ostentatious cover of T-Rex’s ‘Children Of The Revolution’ filling the hall like an giant party popper of glitter, and the anthemic tribute to James Riot ‘Skull Hammer’ still deep rooted in my sub conscious the band continue their set with even more sparkling musical gems.

The band delivered it hard and fast with ‘Ballroom Blitz' getting a makeover before the set was brought to a climax with the excellent ‘Freedom’.

This band was the main reason for the trip down tonight and the trip later down the following evening to Nottingham.  Later this year the band will be paired off with Robin Black for a full UK tour so you know some mighty sparks are gonna fly on those shows. 

What can I say about the next band Evil Scarecrow.  Well the words original and new they are not, but great entertainment they are, with names like Dr Hell, Brother Pain, Papa Bongo, Princes Luxury and Kraven Morrdeth, with a strange sense of Horror Pantomime this quintet really put on a show.  Opening up with ‘Dead Things’ and the impressive 'Hell Dog’, the band really got the young crowd going.

The bands ability to not take themselves too seriously was shown with then next song entitled ‘Vampire Trousers’ and tongue in cheek METAL of ‘Sixty Six Minutes Past Six’, all making for great entertainment.

The band finished with the extremely addictive ‘Robototron’, which saw the crowd engulfed in a sense of audience participation as they all joined in with the infamous "Robot Dance", which rounded off a quite unique set.

This band could have the makings of something with a little more backing to improve the costumes and maybe an Evil Scarecrow mascot stage left that only came to life at the end of a set (just a thought), the band could be on to a good thing.  It never did Lordi or Gwar any harm.

Next up were Mexborough favourites Disarm who I have seen on numerous occasions and who are a band that unleash a mix of traditional punk muster with a modern fast paced edge.

With the band due to release their much anticipated debut album 'By Any Means Necessary' later this year, the band were definitely firing on all six tonight.

The band opened up in ferocious style with ‘The River City Ransom Death Impact’ and from here on in it was full steam ahead, as frontman Brad took centre stage and pummelled out the relentless riffs and angst filled vocals, that have become the bands trademark sound.

The short but fast and furious pace set really got the crowd hot a sweaty with songs like ‘!Resistancia!' and ‘By Any Means Necessary’ just two of the many highlights from their no holds barred set, which rounded of a quiet eclectic night that Riot Productions are famous for, giving the little guy a chance to get on the road and deliver their music to the masses and long may it continue, SEE YOU ALL AT TRASHSTOCK!

 

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