Tonight I am at the SWX in Bristol to watch three bands that were among my favourite when I was in my teens and still listen to often now, Drowning Pool, Spineshank and (Hed)PE come together for a UK tour that almost dint happen or wouldn't of happened the way it was planned anyway.
The problems the bands have had on this tour and the fact that not only this night in Bristol, but from what I have read of the previous gigs beforehand, they have all performed really well and have had great receptions from everyone that has been so far, but lets get back to tonight.
First up we get (Hed)PE (8), coming to the stage after the lights go out to a huge roar from the sold out SWX, with singer Jerad Gomez asking the crowed right off the bat "Are you ready Bristol?", these fans most definitely are.
We get groove after groove with this band, ranging from reggae beats, pounding metal riffs and bouncing drums, sold rap breakdowns and the unique French romantic sound played effortlessly by singer Jerad on his melodica.
We get a cover of the Bob Marley hit Get Up, Stand Up along with hits from the bands big back catalogue of songs like Bartender and Blackout. The confidence and charisma ooze from the stage from (Hed)PE tonight, such an eclectic mix of styles that never seems miss the mark and every moment had the audience happy with singing and jumping all the way through.
I have not seen this band for a good 10 years and nothing has changed with how happy they make me feel to watch them perform live, if you ever get the chance on any tour to get out to go see them I would highly recommend for a good time, great music and lots of bouncing.
Next up we get Spineshank (8) after a little break, a band that did the first two shows of this tour with a different vocalist due to singer Jonny Santos having passport problems in the US before the tour started, James Mills of Hostage filled in and was praised by all for leaning the songs so quickly and giving really good performances on both nights.
Next up we get Spineshank (8) after a little break, a band that did the first two shows of this tour with a different vocalist due to singer Jonny Santos having passport problems in the US before the tour started, James Mills of Hostage filled in and was praised by all for leaning the songs so quickly and giving really good performances on both nights.
Like I said previously the problems started early but we are back to full line up tonight as the band walk onto the stage to huge cheers and chants of "Spineshank, Spineshank". Everyone here is buzzing to get into this set with it being celebration anniversary of their iconic nu metal album The Hight Of Callousness from 2000.
Spineshank have not toured or played anywhere since 2012 so 2025 was a very anticipated reunion tour with the band announcing on their socials that new music was being made with a release date coming soon.
With hit after hit come from The Hight Of Callousness like Synthetic, Asthmatic and Seamless the band being on top form with the crowed opening up a huge pit that had crowed surfing spilling from the front of it like a tsunami.
With Jonny telling everyone that surfs over to give him a fist bump on their way being carried by the hard working security at the SWX. We get a stop mid song for an injured fan in the pit to which the band stops everything and makes sure its dealt with properly, saying we wont start again until everything is ok, thankfully the person is ok and helped out by security.
Then came the "I am old" part of the night when Jonny said to everyone between songs "we haven't played Bristol in 22 years "its so good to be back" breaking my brain knowing I was there watching them supporting Dry Kill Logic in the Exchange.
Spineshank also now have former guitarist and founding member of the band Chimera Jason Hager and on other guitar is drummer Tommy Decker's son Tommy Decker Jr. Jonny also explains to the audience, after they play the title track from the album last before playing other songs, that "we really love and appreciate the UK fans" and "we get more love from you than most back home" which had the crowed cheering even louder.
After a few more songs from their 2003 album Self-Destructive Pattern we get to the encore which is a song that got me into the band in the first place, I remember hearing it on the radio one rock show in 1998 and loving it so much to make me get my ass to my local record store after school to buy the album, Detached from the bands first album Strictly Diesel.
A very strong return a great reminder of how good this band is, I look forward to the new material and if you get chance to go catch them again or for the first time then do it.
After the pit settled and everyone caught their breath and got the drinks in we are back to darkness waiting for the always entertaining Drowning Pool (8), who warmed up the crowed and walked out to stage to I Was Made For Lovin You by Kiss which has everyone singing along. We kick into Sinner from the bands excellent album of the same name which gets everyone here tonight back to jumping and getting back to where we left off with the crowed surfing.
A very strong return a great reminder of how good this band is, I look forward to the new material and if you get chance to go catch them again or for the first time then do it.
After the pit settled and everyone caught their breath and got the drinks in we are back to darkness waiting for the always entertaining Drowning Pool (8), who warmed up the crowed and walked out to stage to I Was Made For Lovin You by Kiss which has everyone singing along. We kick into Sinner from the bands excellent album of the same name which gets everyone here tonight back to jumping and getting back to where we left off with the crowed surfing.
Drowning Pool are just pure fun, from that distinctive nu metal sound to what I always thought was a little southern rock feel to them they just give off that commanding stage presence that will come from the now veterans of the metal industry.
I have seen them many times in the past on lots of different tours or festivals but never a headline set which was a nice change as you get to experience the whole package they have to offer.
Vocalist Ryan McCombs tells everyone that "this has been a hard tour to keep together" and that "we are so glad that it went ahead and I just want to thank the bands and crew for keeping it all together", referencing more issues all bands had after their Ireland show with traveling back across the sea to the UK was hit with problems and delays due to weather and ferries which meant they had to do the Bradford show a lot later than scheduled.
Nothing is holding them back tonight though as we blast through hits like Step Up and Enemy and then we get a great cover from their 2007 album Full Circle, Billy Idols classic Rebel Yell which goes down really well with everyone. to finish off we get more songs from Sinner, like Pity and the classic Tear Away until we get to the ending which obviously has to be the bands most iconic song Bodies to which is a excellent way to end a great gig.
Drowning Pool have everyone in the palm of their hands tonight singing and going crazy for every song and Bodies just tops it off for that metal anthem to send us all home. A great performance and was a pleasure to see them headline for once.
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