GIG REVIEWS 2

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.scotrock.co.uk"><U><I><STRIKE><IMG SRC="523aaaa0.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="170" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></STRIKE></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="6" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="2" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#444444" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#000000 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#333366 HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="126"><div> <A HREF="site_map.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SITE MAP"><U><B>SITE MAP</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1180b4870.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="135" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>GIGS REVIEWED -</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#dream_theater_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>DREAM THEATER </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#prince" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>PRINCE</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#red_hot_chilli_peppers" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#chris_cornell" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>CHRIS CORNELL</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#bryan_adams" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>BRYAN ADAMS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#my_chemical_romance" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm#bon_jovi" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U>BON JOVI</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>GIG REVIEWS 2</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>GIG REVIEWS 2</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="dream_theater_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>DREAM THEATER</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Braehead Arena, Glasgow 11/10/07</B></div> <div> The mighty Dream Theater returned to Glasgow for the first time in seven years to promote their new album Systematic Chaos. I only found out the night previous that the gig venue had been changed from the Carling Academy to Braehead Arena and approached this change with trepidation as I`d only heard negative reports about Braehead Arena as a concert venue. The general opinion being that it was a tin barn with poor sound and no atmosphere. Yet if anyone can rattle the Arena`s rafters and bring it to life then it`s progressive metallers Dream Theater, which they did with aplomb.</div> <div> Support band Symphony X are another excellent American progressive metal band whose new album Paradise Lost is superb. Unfortunately what with arriving a little late and spending too much time at the bar I only saw their last two songs. Symphony X  had great sound for a support band and had the crowd warming up nicely. I really hope they return soon on their own headline tour to catch them in full. </div> <div> Dream Theater pounced into action with "Constant motion". The band was bursting with energy and obviously well up for this show. With nine studio albums worth of material to choose from, Dream Theater delivered a varied and entertaining set which included "Endless Sacrifice", "As I Am", "In The Presence Of Enemies" and old favourite "Surrounded". There was a bit of Marillion`s "Sugar Mice" and an end of show medley which featured "Trial Of Tears". Classics "Pull Me Under" and "Overture 1928" were rested but the show was so rich in quality that it made no real difference. The sound quality was very good, athough vocalist James La Brie was a little hard to hear at the start and James Myung`s bass was too low in the mix throughout for my liking. For me guitarist John Petrucci stole the show, showing real quality as he always does. Dream Theater gave their Scottish audience an immense performance and hopefully we won`t have to wait so long to see them again.</div> <div> As for the Braehead Arena as a venue, it gets the thumbs up from me and didn`t seem to merit the criticism it gets, although that may have more to do with the band playing!</div> <div> Alan Cosh (07)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="prince"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>PRIN</U></B><B><U>CE</U></B></div> <div> <B>O2 Arena London, 31/08/07</B></div> <div> Last minute flights to London x 2 - £300</div> <div> Central London hotel  too warm to sleep in - £150</div> <div> Meal for two that made us sick - £40</div> <div> Tour t-shirt which makes me look gay (according to my girlfriend Carole-Ann) - £30</div> <div> Prince in the round - Priceless!</div> <div> After my exploits the previous week (see Chili`s review) this gig was at the total opposite end of the scale. The purple mystro had a party which he invited 15,000 people to, and the host entertained every single one of us. Think what you like about him, he can sing, dance and play a mean guitar (& bass). The hits were there in abundance - "Kiss", "Purple Rain", "Cream", "Little Red Corvette" and the crowd singing "Seven".</div> <div> Every aspect of this show was thought out meticulously so that we had a fantastic night. Half way through the show Prince sat at a piano and played little known gem "Sometimes It Snows In April". I could have gone home then more than happy. 21 nights in London, all sold out and I was there for one of them. One of my favourite gigs - fantastic.</div> <div> Peter White (07)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="red_hot_chilli_peppers"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS</U></B></div> <div> <B> </B><B>Hampden Park (Glasgow), 23/08/07</B></div> <div> Have you ever had one of those days when you think everything is going to be great and then it all turns shit rather quickly? Let me explain...</div> <div> Hampden in the sunshine! We got ourselves into the pit so had a good view. Then on came "Reverend And The Makers" or "Liam Gallagher Wannabe And Pals", a guy you`d never tire of hitting. Suffice to say they were crap. Why not get a local band like Logan to open? So my day started to go downhill. Up next Biffy Clyro got a great home welcome and play a pretty good set. I should really spend more time listening to this lot, so my day improved a wee bit before it went shit quickly.</div> <div> The Chilis are a band I`d never seen live before and doubt I`ll be rushing back. The hit songs were their "Scar Tissue", "By The Way" and "Californication", and the sound pretty good for a stadium gig, but the band looked totally pissed off. There was no cohesion, no banter. Kiedis and Frusciante looked ready to go 15 rounds, the band totally lacked energy.</div> <div> We then traveled from Hampden to the town centre to get our car which we discovered had been broken into. £10 to get robbed! Although The Chilis did it for £40! A pretty shitty day.</div> <div> Peter White (07)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="chris_cornell"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>CHRIS CO</U></B><B><U>RNELL</U></B></div> <div> <B>Glasgow Carling Academy 27/06/07</B></div> <div> What a voice! Ex Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell played a spellbinding set to a packed out Academy audience. The American singer gave his fans what they wanted and treated them to what was essentially a greatest hits package. Adeptly backed by a touring band with no small amount of flair themselves Chris delivered over two hours of Soundgarden, Audioslave and solo material. There was even an inspired rendition of "Hunger Strike" from the Temple Of The Dog album. </div> <div> Several tracks from his new Carry On album featured and were received well by the Glasgow crowd (including the Michael Jackson cover of "Billie Jean" which sounded better live than on the album). An acoustic set let his vocals really shine with "Sunshower" and "Can`t Change Me" highlights. Old favourites by Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun", "Spoonman", and from Badmotorfinger "Rusty Cage", "Outshined", and the finale "Slaves & Bulldozers" sounded as fresh today as in the early 1990s. Audioslave rockers "Cochise" and "Original Fire" also shone. There is a debate amongst fans that Chris`s voice is deteriorating (he is now 43) but going by tonight's evidence he sounded as good as when I saw him on the Superunknown tour in the early 90s. </div> <div> Of course personal favourites would always be missing from a set from an artist with such a rich music back catalogue (no Revelations by Audioslave!) but in the end this was an accomplished performance by one of the really great voices in rock music. Bad points? With no support band on show fans had to wait from doors opening at 7pm until 8.30pm for Chris to take the stage. However it did provide more time at the bar!</div> <div> Alan &  jackie Cosh (07)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="bryan_adams"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>BRYAN ADAMS</U></B></div> <div> <B>SECC 7/05/07</B></div> <div> Canadian rocker Bryan Adams rolled into town last night for a sold out show at the SECC, and my girlfriend dragged me along. I've liked the big man since his " Reckless" days but his more recent stuff has been more hit and miss for me, but I`m glad to say I had a great night as he powered through over two hours of greatest hits.</div> <div>   As we all jolsted for a good view down the front, the band appeared behind us on a wee stage, bursting into "There will never be another tonight" as the middle aged crowd went wild! An acoustic "Please forgive me" allowed the rest of the band to get back to the main stage, and then Bryan had to wade through the Glasgow crowd flanked by security with a big smile on his face as he was clearly enjoying himself. Hit after hit followed and his rough gravel voice sounded great - even in the SECC!</div> <div>  Highlights included "This time", "Cuts like a knife" and the one song my girlfriend Carole-Ann had spent £35 a ticket to see/hear.... "Summer of 69" which to be honest got the biggest cheer of the night, proving his oldies are the best.</div> <div>   A wee surprise for a lass fae Aberdeen (!!) as Bryan picked her out the crowd to duet with him on " When you're gone" and she did sound better than a dodgy Spice Girl.</div> <div> Overall a good night and great performance as we headed home debating the hike in gig ticket prices - but after that it was worth it! </div> <div> Peter White (07)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="my_chemical_romance"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE</U></B></div> <div> <B>SECC</B><B> </B><B>27/03/07</B></div> <div> From the onset, I didn't really fancy this gig but my girlfriend and I were taking her 15 year old sister Mhairi for her birthday so I decided I would give it a fair hearing and I'm really glad I did!</div> <div> "The Black Parade" descended onto the SECC stage in full regalia and played a storming set comprising of the full album from start to finish. Singer Gerard Way was wheeled onto the stage lying on a hospital bed whilst singing "The End", then the curtains dropped and the band broke into "dead". The atmosphere was electric, although I felt I may have been the oldest there! The crowd certainly lapped up "Mama" and "Welcome to the Black parade" but current single "I don't love you" was always going to be a favourite on the night, with a young Glasgow choir singing word for word.</div> <div> When the band had played the entire album (with lots of fireworks and an excellent light show) they trooped off stage and returned 5 minutes later, changed into denims and t-shirts and announced "Hello Glasgow, we are My Chemical Romance" and they delved into a storming back catalogue including " I'm not O.K", "Ghost of you" and finishing with the excellent "Helena".</div> <div> All too soon the Parade was over but a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all. And in the words of my 15 year old giging companion - "My Chemical Romance - they rock" .....and they certainly did! </div> <div> Peter White (07)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="bon_jovi"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>B</U></B><B><U>ON JO</U></B><B><U>VI</U></B></div> <div> <B>Hampden Park (Glasgow), 3/06/06</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="b60ea700.jpg" border=0 width="490" height="368" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Bon Jovi At Hampden Photo By Graeme Brough 2006</div> <bR> <div> Stadium gigs, who's bright idea were they? A football pitch is for football, not rock and roll. The band you came for are visible only as a flea circus on the horizon or gurning at you from a hundred foot high telly - any subtlety lost in the distortion from speaker stacks pretending to be office blocks ... and they don't sell beer.</div> <div> Bon Jovi don't do subtlety, but they do stadia - probably better than anyone else on the planet at the moment, and they were on peak mid-season form on Saturday.  They knew what the crowd wanted with a set that mixed old favourites with newer stuff from their recent albums "Bounce" and "Have A Nice Day".  Jon Bon Jovi worked the crowd like a master, conducting the Hampden Roar in a sing-a-long "Living on a Prayer" that could be heard in New Jersey and in a nod to his location even slipping in a fine Lulu impersonation with a quick bust of "Shout" in the middle of "Bad Medicine". Jon knows how to get the ladies (and probably a few blokes) going, flashing his trademark ultrabright smile to good effect (the tight jeans might have helped as well) but even he looked a bit taken aback when a woman who frankly looked old enough to know better invaded the stage, grabbed the wee fella in a bear-hug and snogged his face off. The bouncers looked scared, but Jon seemed to be enjoying it by the end of the clinch. </div> <div> The rest of the band worked for their money too, Riche Sambora getting to sing "I'll be There For You" on his own and Tico Torres hammering so hard on his kit he looked close to a coronary throughout.</div> <div> Support was ably provided by Nickleback; Chad Kroeger getting the crowd onside with a dirty joke and solid set culminating inevitably in "How You Remind Me". Find of the day was Redhouse, filling the opening, local-band support slot. A thankless task at best playing to a half filled stadium of punters who've never heard of you and are still trying to buy their t-shirts, Redhouse did a cracking job, getting Hampden going with as much L.A. rock-and-roll sleaze and glamour as is possible when you come from Kilmarnock.</div> <div> Top marks to Hampden for the folk wandering round the crowd selling beer from backpacks - it might have been warm and over priced, but it was beer and that's never a bad thing.</div> <div> Graham Fuller (June 06)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="gig_reviews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS"><U><B><U>GIG REVIEWS</U></B></U></A></div> <div> <B><U>GIG REVIEWS 2</U></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 3"><U><B><U>GIG REVIEWS 3</U></B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Scot Rock is copyright © of Alan Cosh 2004 - 2008, All Rights Reserved.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id153_m.htm" TITLE="GIG REVIEWS 2"><U><B><U>Back to Top</U></B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>