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With
a Sunday off it's back on the road once more this time we’re down to
the O2 Academy in Leeds for the mighty W.A.S.P., a long time favourite
band of mine that have never disappointed on the numerous occasions
I’ve caught them live.
Right
from their first steps on UK soil back in the day, when they played the
Newcastle Mayfair on the first ever UK tour and that show was their
first on British soil and the one that got me hooked well and truly on
the LA rockers.
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But
first up tonight are Leeds own The Glitterati, a band who around
2004-5 were riding high and were seen by many as the darlings of
the scene and destined for greatness, but the band seemed to
fall off the radar somewhat after their tour of America, only to
return triumphantly last year at Trashstock 08, where they
showed the fans that they still have what it takes to conquer
the world. And tonight they showed their metal as
they came on stage and put on one hell of a rock show, reminding
me of just why I liked these guys so much.
Opening
up their account with ‘Nobody Fucks Me Up Like You Do’ it
was clear the band were here to get their music out there,
hitting hard and fast and keeping the tempo going throughout the
set. This was instantly noticeable as they stormed on thru
with ‘Just Cant Say No’ and the fabulous new single ‘Fight
Fight Fight’. By this time the crowd were warming to the
band, which was good to see because I suspect more than 90% of
them didn’t know the band at all, which is perhaps a tad
surprising as they are originally from Leeds.
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The
hard hitting sleaze driven rock continued with ‘Overnight
Superstar’, again a new song which left me wanting to hear more from
the bands up coming album, and more we got with ‘Your Idea’, before
returning to their debut album for the set closers ‘Betterman’ and
‘Heartbreaker’. Both of which rounded off one, if not THE best
sets I’ve seen from the band.
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Now
for the main event and on to a band dear to mine and many others
hearts tonight, the mighty WASP.
The band were scheduled to come on stage around nine
o’clock but they let the crowd get worked up a little before
coming on stage around nine fifteen.
The
wait was well worth it though as they stormed on stage to the
intro ‘Mephisto Waltz’ before getting the set really going
with ‘On Your Knees’ and the storming ‘Real Me’, with
Blackie skipping round the stage like a man twenty years his
younger (it was hard to believe the guy had a heart scare not
long ago). By his side we had stalwart band members Doug
Blair on guitar, Mike Duda on bass and Mike Dupke on drums and
it was clear by the determined looks on their faces that we were
in for one hell of rock show.
The
rampaging Heavy Metal continued as the band rolled back the
years with the fantastic ‘L.O.V.E. Machine’, which seemed to
act as a catalyst to the crowd who just erupted into a mass of
fired up bodies singing and chanting along whenever the chorus
need a big "L.O. V.E.!"
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It
was time for something of the superb new album 'Babylon', ‘Crazy’
which everyone seemed to know the words to and it was great to see such
an enthusiastic crowd singing along to a new album. The same
full-on enthusiasm continued as the new songs continued with the title
track ‘Babylon’s Burning’.
But
the new songs gave way to some older material as the band (and fans)
stormed through ‘Wild Child’ and then a medley of ‘Hellion’, 'I
Don’t Need No Doctor' and ‘Scream Until You Like’, with the big
screen showing the video for those who can see it. Unlike me as we
were at the side of the stage and sadly couldn't see it because of the
huge lighting pillars.
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The
band were firing in all six cylinders tonight for sure as the
set continued with ‘Arena Of Pleasure’ and the stonking
‘Chainsaw Charlie’, which once again found the crowd in fine
voice chanting along to every word.
When
I’m reviewing gigs I don’t usually get any self indulgent
moments because I’m either taking notes or band and crowd
watching in case I miss something, but tonight I gave into
temptation and put my note pad to one side and joined the crowd
in voice as the band went into one of my all time favourite
W.A.S.P. tracks from my favourite album ' Crimson Idol', with
what else but ‘The Idol’ itself, which nearly left me hoarse
as I became apart of the Leeds choir on this one, as we watched
as Doug Blair ripped up a storm as Mike Duda spun round like a
top pounding out the bass lines.
It
was back to work as the set continued with ‘Take Me Up’ from
the 'Dominator' opus, before rounding of the main part of the
set with the rampaging ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’.
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The
band left the stage but it wasn’t long before the chants of
"WASP!" and "BLACKIE!!" filled the venue. The
band returned to the stage for the stunning rendition of ‘Heaven’s
Hung In Black’, before finishing off with what else but ‘Blind In
Texas’. Again the crowd were in fine voice and these two songs
rounded off what has to go down as one of my gigs of the year.
Once again Blackie and the boys did us proud.
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