Support: Malrun, The Dirty Youth
It is safe to suggest most people are attending tonight’s Fozzy gig to see their wrestling hero, Chris Jericho. There is a merch table selling nothing but wrestling T-shirts and manic fans chanting ‘Y2J’ before the first band even hit the stage. It must be difficult to be taken seriously as a plausible musician when you are more known for your celebrity status over music. However, Fozzy have been together since 1999 and show no sign of fizzling into none existence.
One of the best things about tonight’s gig is that the Ruby Lounge is a pretty small venue, holding just a capacity of 375 people to be precise. The room begins to fill up and people flock to get near the front of the stage in anticipation for the night ahead. At a glance you can already tell tonight will be mental.
On stage first are Malrun, a hard rock band from Denmark. They do a good job, drawing in more crowds after each song. Overall, the band play a short but impressive set full of dynamic guitar riffs and melodic harmonies. It isn’t always easy being the first band on. However, Malrun give their best effort and make their way over to the merch store afterwards to meet fans.
Up next are welsh rockers, The Dirty Youth, who do everything they can to get the crowd pumped for Fozzy. The band sure knows how to party as front woman Danii Monroe gets the audience clapping and singing along in no time. They play some catchy as hell tunes and bring forth the attitude to go with it. The band throws in a well-crafted cover of Rage’s, ‘Killing In the Name’ mixing it with ‘Boom Shake the Room.’ They play a tight, high energized set, working extra hard to win over those in attendance. This band are remarkable have plenty of potential in the future. Keep your eyes out on The Dirty Youth.
The moment has arrived as members of Fozzy enter the stage one by one to Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs,’ leaving just frontman Chris Jericho remaining. He strides onto stage to chants of ‘Fozzy’ and ‘Y2J’ before launching straight into opening track and title of new album ‘Do You Wanna Start a War?’ Jericho evidently has great, yet ott fashion taste as he parades around in an LED jacket (aka the Jericoat)
The audience are infatuated with Jericho tonight, he has them eating out of his hands. He has his moves down to a T and loves every second of it. There are moments of call and response, repetitive chants of ‘Fozzy’ and none stop sing along. Years of wrestling and being in the spotlight have taught Jericho just how to work the crowd. He really is one hell of a frontman.
With six albums in the bag, tonight is evidence that Fozzy have no struggle choosing an array of songs perfect for their current tour. With recent hits being performed such as ‘Sandpaper’ and ‘Bad Tattoo’ it just goes to show the band know precisely how to create heavy music that’s so damn catchy. It really is a treat to hear them sing at least one slow song tonight. ‘Died With You’ is proof that Jericho is an exceptional singer and clearly has talents outside the wrestling ring.
Old favourites like ‘Enemy’ and ‘She’s My Addiction’ are the most well received songs tonight. Perhaps it is the shredding guitar solos from the bands lead guitarist, Rich Ward that gets the crowd all hyped up. However, the best highlight is their cover of Abba’s 'SOS', which has everyone in the venue in a happy like state (Yes, there were mosh pits to Abba). There are plenty of things to learn tonight, one being no matter how cheesy a song is people will love it.
The one thing that will have people questioning tonight is why aren’t this band performing at much bigger venues? Fozzy are clearly popular enough to do so. Nevertheless, performing in such intimate venues is something special. The band are still as loud and relevant as ever. Best of all, as a whole they know how to make their shows so fun. Anyone who isn’t here is missing out.
We have heard it all tonight to the point where the audience don’t need to chant any louder for the encore. Rather than walking off, Fozzy remain on stage leaving fans demanding more. It is almost unheard of for a band to finish with a cover, but not tonight. The finale is an unusual, but fine choice of the very own rendition of Krokus classic ‘Eat the Rich.’ They stand together for group photos and say their thank you before leaving the stage, informing the crowd that they "just got their arses kicked by Fozzy."
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| Frontman, Chris Jericho |
Set List
1. Do You Wanna Start a War
2. Tonight
3. To Kill a Stranger
4. One Crazed Anarchist
5. Sin and Bones
6. She's My Addiction
7. God Pounds His Nails
8. Died With You
9. Spider in My Mouth
10. S.O.S.
(ABBA cover)
11. Lights Go Out
12. Enemy
13. Bad Tattoo
14. Encore:
14. Sandpaper
15. Eat the Rich
(Krokus cover)
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