Shiraz Lane, Who Knows Didley, Excursia, Fuel Rock Club Cardiff
It has been a while since yours truly has done a live review on a concert. However when MOM headquarters offered me a chance to go to Fuel for this show as a birthday present, we weren’t going to pass up the chance.So with that myself and Sharon the wife head into the heaviest club on Womanby Street for another night of hard rock and metal.
Being a school night it’s never easy to get crowds out but Excursia (8) from Blackwood starting out tonight’s proceedings with a very strong set. With Black Lakes drummer, Dafydd filling in with a weeks notice after their previous drummer quit, he pounds the skins courageously and with such charisma on the Songs with the occasional joke about “hoping he doesn’t fuck up.” Powering through a 5 song set, one being a cover This Corrosion by The Sisters of Mercy and the others from debut EP Rise, opening with the title track Rise the next 20 minutes are all off their 90’s groove sounding record with the exception of the Sisters Of Mercy cover, they end with their nearly complete new song Hand Of God. A very strong performance from this band and they will be returning to Fuel on the 24th of November, I hope I get to see these guys again soon. Callum, A’Dan, Sam and Lewis, I hope you find the drummer you're looking for.
Who Knows Didley (7) take the stage next, coming all the way down from Neath, after a quick sound check and welcoming their audience before starting up their blend of hard rock, reminding me of the likes of Warrant, Extreme and even a hint of early Aerosmith. The band have a very confident 80’s hard rock sound (and have earned themselves the spot of supporting cover band Wrong Jovi in Swansea next February). To members Paul Mathews, (vocals), Gareth Alford (guitar), David Mckenzie (bass) and Craig James (drums) I have to confess and speak openly, I regret that owing to a couple of sound issues I wasn't quite able to make out the names of the song titles within the first half of the set, however the second half was a lot more enjoyable and a lot more engaging and I would like to give these gentlemen another go in the near future on the live circuit, I think (and I would like to be corrected if I’m wrong) that one of your songs was called All Your Wishing which I did thoroughly enjoy, and would like to see you upon your return to Fuel
Lastly, as the crowd now begins to gather round the front and extending as far as the bar, the world's most 80’s song blares over the speaker We Built This City by Starship you have an idea as to how the end of your night was going to be. You would forgive Shiraz Lane (9) for being a typical Motley Crue, Poison or any type of 80’s glam- revival from their look, however this is not the case. They don’t take anytime I’m getting proceedings started by starting their UK tour with new song Carnival Days off the album of the same name with such energy and exuberance. The Finnish 5 piece promote a feel good rock band about promoting peace for all who enjoy rock music (a bit like Stryper but without the God Squad morals). The solos come flying thick and fast from lead axeman Jani Laine (not that one - Ed) on songs Wake Up, keeping the shows momentum and lead vocalist Hannes Kett encouraging the audience to get closer and closer until even the ones at the back are at least as far as the bar.
A brief reminiscing on how far the band have come they break into Story To Tell from their debut EP Be The Slave Or Be The Change, a poppy rock number that does get the head moving with enthusiasm. With the main focus on recent release Carnival Days, with the exception of House Of Cards and Mental Slavery from previous release For Crying Out Loud, the band end with songs Harder To Breathe and People Like Us, gave us a chance to be introduced to members Miki Kalske on rhythm guitar, Joel Alex on the bass and Ana Willman (apologies for any of your spellings) and with Jani and Hannes as well together with your peace and good will messages prove that you there is a place for “feel good” 80s hard rock and glam without either preachy or mentioning sex/drugs lifestyle. A very enthusiastic and left us coming out with a smile on our faces, this kind of rock n roll the world needs sometimes, and I would love to see these guys again in the near future.
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