Live Review: Fozzy @ Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 9th March 2015

Cinderblock Party World Tour
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."

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)

Live Review: Reel Big Fish & Less Than Jake

Support:  Ryland Steen, Zebrahead.
Manchester Academy 3/02/14

It is no surprise that Manchester’s gig sold out in a flash with a co-headline tour consisting of ska punk legends Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake.

There is a sense of nostalgia as the crowd, ranging from aged 20- something fans to middle-aged punks, enter the venue anticipating the lively night ahead. They are in for an energetic Monday night of skanking and puerile humour. Once more, a friendly ska community returns in hope of an amazing performance.  It really is one of the best line-ups for lovers of ska, punk and entertainment. 

Support surprisingly comes from RBF’s very own Ryland Steen, who takes an interval away from his drum sticks to perform an acoustic set. He is followed by fun-loving Zebrahead, who don’t hesitate to get the crowd chanting songs about beer.

Recognized for their bold sideburns and wacky attire, Reel Big Fish take no time at all to get the crowd enticed. They delve into classics such as ‘I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend’ and ‘Everything Sucks’ within ten minutes of the set. RBF’s live sets are all you would expect to witness and more. The guys on brass succeed in entertaining the crowd with synchronised dance moves whilst frontman Aaron Barrett gives it his all with his tongue-in-cheek lyrics. New trombonist Billy Kottage fits in perfectly and proves a great addition playing animated solos. By this point, the set is well and truly on its way and the crowd are a mass of jumping beans waiting to be let lose. 

Manchester hosts privilege to a ‘special guest appearance’ in the form of hybrid act, Sonic Boom Six. They perform ‘Hiding in My Headphones,’ a song from the band’s hottest record, and reappear prior to the encore for ‘She Has a Girlfriend Now.’  

A predictable, yet nostalgic encore comes in the form of ‘Beer,’ combined with a quirky take on rock band The Offspring’s, very own, ‘Self Esteem’. RBF end on a high with the inevitable cover that is Aha’s ‘Take On Me’, leaving the drenched crowd eagerly awaiting Less Than Jake. 

RBF smash through 13 songs in all. It’s a shame they don’t play the 20 songs they have performed during previous UK dates. Still, after 23 years in music, their live sets still remain a joy to witness and are the reason fans keep returning for more.

Finally, joint-headliners Less Than Jake appear on stage at 9:50, resorting to a later curfew of 11pm. With a catalogue as ongoing as theirs, it is hard to predict which songs they will perform. They play fan favourites ‘Look What Happened’ and ‘History of a Boring Town’ and soon give it their all, playing their strongest tracks; something you’re bound to see during a smaller set.

Notorious for getting enthusiasts on stage to perform acts such as ‘fat dance offs’, LTJ waste no time persuading the only female bouncer in the room to get up and skank. Further into the set, they attempt to get two teenagers from the crowd to kiss for a whole song. It seems people are party pooping on fun tonight, as all three participants do a half arsed dance before hastily getting off stage. 

There’s never a dull moment at a LTJ show. It’s so great to see that after years of touring, they still know how to throw a party. They bring the set to an end with an encore of established, dance-worthy tracks, ‘All My Best Friends Are Metalheads,’ ‘Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts’ and ‘Gainsville Rock City.’ 

Throughout LTJ’s set, there isn’t a single moment the crowd have their feet on the floor. Fans have nothing but grins on their faces as they leave drenched in sweat and out of breath. The set-list remains short but displays an upbeat, varied and taut show. A Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake headlining act is probably one of the finest ska line-ups fans could ask for. The memories will stay with devotees for a long time.

Single Review: Hard Out Here - Lily Allen

Lily Allen has made a highly anticipated come back with new single Hard Out Here. Just days beforehand saw her cover Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know. Allen unveiled the new song online recently without any previous build up or broadcast. Often portrayed as ‘gobby’ in the media, she has spoken out through music about the hottest issues on women in pop. With everything up in the air we all knew we weren’t going to end 2013 without allowing her to have her say. Hard Out Here is exciting, infectious and gives the audience exactly what they want to hear.

Allen’s return has arrived completely at the right time. Recently the media have focused on news covering objectification of women in the music industry and almost anything to do with Miley Cyrus’ latest antics. Allen uses irony not only in the use of lyrics but by adding a touch of auto-tune to compliment the word ‘Bitch’. Lyrics include lines such as, ‘’If I told you ‘bout my sex life you’d call me a slut but when boys be talkin’ ‘bout their bitches no one’s making a fuss.’’ Hard out Here has resulted in having one of the catchiest hooks of the year.

The song is saturated with feminist views about women having control and authority in the music industry, plus how women deal with pressure in a male dominated society. Allen covers topics about women’s roles, expectancies and how they have become viewed as the norm in culture. With this she adds lyrics, ‘’you’re not a size six and you’re not good looking. Well you better be rich, or be real good at cookin’.’’

Lately the video for the song has become a major discussion. Allen uses visuals and sarcasm to mock the recent issue. However she does it skilfully by replicating things you see in videos such as Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines. His video recently received criticism stating it is offensive and sexist to women. At one point in the video, balloons are formed to read ‘Thicke has a big dick.’ Allen takes this idea as her own but replaces it with the words ‘Lily Allen has a baggy pussy.’ The background shows scantily clad dancers ‘twerking’ in time to the beat. it supports the concepts that some women in the industry are encouraged to be seen as appealing sex symbols but then get nothing except degraded for it. Issues aside Hard Out Here is none other than a welcome return from an artist that, in 2009 confirmed she was quitting music.