You have to hand it to the the Beatdown (now Flatline) guys, there’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, not least when it comes to the Livezone events that happen annually. The last two years were pretty damn good, huge events with two stages and live artists. However the case wasn’t the same this year with things not playing to the guys’ advantage.
Tuesday is also a bit of a weird gig night, but this one does feature a non-stop tour featuring Dave Evans, a bit of an old school rock name who’s been busy cementing his name as the King Of All Badasses down in the UK. Alongside Dave and his crew are a a leather-bound group named Falling Red, though with just two acts the night’s looking like a bit of a short one, or maybe just a little more room for the bands to play in…
The smell of KFC, the sound of a lot of people enjoying the night clubs, I’m walking past it all but this is pretty normal as far as a Beatdown night is concerned. The Sno Bar is set to be busy again with a few punk bands on display, with Drymouth, This Contrast Kills and R.S.I who’ve got a good few tunes released on a new album tonight, looks like another good night in the making…
Seems a bit old school down at the Sno Bar last weekend, three local punk bands in the guises of Last Of Our Heroes, Scared Of The Ocean and last, but by no means least 1000 Hertz who have returned after a year on hiatus. Along with the bands are quite a few old MK musos which made the night begin to feel a bit like a few years back which isn’t a bad thing at all. Time to suspend some belief and believe that this the norm at the moment.
Beatdown are back on board with some gigs for the new year, though this time it’s a little different and it’s not just down to the new neat lighting. The bands are an assortment of metalheads with the trio of Held Beneath, new post-metal quartet Keeper Of The Rifle and thrash architects Our Divide supplying a bit more of a rougher hardcore edge to round off the night. This time there’s an entry fee though, and you know what? It seems a little bit busier too.
It’s down to the last Thursday show from Beatdown, as hard to believe as it is. The guys have been rocking off Thursday nights for a few years and the weekday gigs are coming to a close. Playing the last show are two very juxtaposed bands who couldn’t get much different, all glammed up and dressed in the tightest threads available are Lionsex, while they are joined by Citizen Keyne who are as old-school, down to earth punk as you can get. The venue has supplied some good memories so far, tonight is no exception…
Nov.19.09
Back once again at the Sno! Bar on Thursday, but the night has a good few names that are new to me and ripe for checking out. The main deal of the gig, however, is the appearance of “The Rabhus”, those of you who don’t know the name should check out more on Raging Speedhorn and learn that the Rabhus’ frontman is the one and the same John Loughlin who provided the vocal grit for the former band. The support isn’t too bad either with Carpathia and Born From Ashes warming us up.
Nov.07.09
“PULP” is currently one of those words that’s cropping up in the local scene, but it isn’t a band or a venue, but a venture into the world of clothing with some local muso people at the helm along with the store pretty much just opening opposite HMV. The launch night is over at the Sno! Bar, a venue we haven’t covered in too long a space of time, so this joint gig from the Beatdown and Pulp guys was a good chance to dive back into the place.
Aug.08.09
It feels a bit weird now as I’ve realised that a year of AMPjam really has come full-circle, Live!zone was one of the first “proper” articles I covered and I find myself back at the event once more. Last year cut it close, but this time I was ready for a long day with an actual battery pack and plenty of money for some mochas or any other source of the caffiene I needed. When I finally get myself sorted and waiting for the day to start, there’s not much to do but have a laugh at Oz and the crew going through soundcheck like a band about to play at Wembley, good times.
Jun.05.09
A local band is on the road to playing the Download festival, but what could be better than a warm-up gig in their hometown? How about a gig that is free? It’s the case for our own Sacred Mother Tongue who are rightly looking forward to the big day and it seems there’s quite a few people around to catch them one more time. The supports also looking good too, Seethe and Firetone are a couple of reliable bands to set things up while “Lost Without Cause” are another new face in the Beatdown nights.
