Day 2 of our 3 gig run saw us head back to the Black Country and our home from home - KK’s Steel Mill. This was for the ever popular hard rockers Ugly Kid Joe, a band that can still pack out venues, but first, two UK support acts that have both been building a reputation for impressive live shows.
First up, Muddibrooke (8). We’ve caught this East Mids trio on a number of occasions now and as usual we’re treated to a quick fire set of grungy rock with a hint of angst and more than a spattering of anger. They rapidly blasted through 8 songs which included ADHD, One Life, and You Don’t Own Me along with their latest upcoming single Float
This was as good as we’ve seen them, the rigorous gig schedule has seen them hone their stagecraft and it’s slicker than ever.
Scarlet Rebels (9) are a band on a roll, and another band that is normally slick and tight, but a few gremlins beset them initially, frontman Wayne laughed them off and apologised for being full of cold, but to be fair it didn't show.
They soon got into their stride though and the Welsh rockers showed why they have become one of the UK’s hottest live bands. Hit songs like Secret Drug, Let Me In and You Take My Breath Away get the crowd singing along. The guys have hit on a formula of hard melodic rock songs with catchy riffs and hooks complimenting lyrics that the fans can sing along to. Very Bon Joviesque.
Onto the main act for tonight and it’s the evergreen Ugly Kid Joe (10), a band that can still fill out venues and a surprisingly large back catalogue to dip into to keep their loyal die hard fans happy.
The room is buzzing as they walk onto stage, with the biggest cheer reserved for frontman Whitfield Crane. He strides across the huge stage here at KK’s with a huge grin on his face, this is a man who loves playing to an audience and he’s got a great one tonight. He’s showing love and respect for his friend and local legend Ozzy tonight by wearing an Ozzy t-shirt, last time he was in this neck of the woods was for the “Back To The Beginning" concert at Villa Park where he performed that day.
They open up by going back to their debut 1992 album America's Least Wanted and the track Neighbour. We get songs from their long and chequered career, it’s a packed list. Whit is on top form, not only with his vocal dexterity, but his banter in between songs.
Of course we get the big hits, their cover of Cats In The Cradle comes along mid way through the set, but there are deeper cuts as well showing the diversity of the band. Songs like No One Survives and The Milkman's Son, but the fun is never far away with an Ugly Kid Joe show and always expect the unexpected!.
Whit calls up guitarist Chris Catalyst, the token Brit in the band! It’s his job to pick a song from a local band to play, so being the Black Country and this close to Christmas there was really only one song he could choose! So a quick blast of that Slade song with the crowd enthusiastically joining in brought some light relief, especially when Whit claimed to have never heard it before!
The set continued until we got to That Ain’t Livin (by my count about 17 songs in!). Whit says they won’t leave the stage, but it’s up to the crowd how many more they’ll play, depending on how loud they are. Of course the room erupts and takes the roof off KK’s!
Tony had seen a set list, and the final three songs should have been Tomorrow’s World, Ace Of Spades and of course Everything About You, but as we said, expect the unexpected!
As the crowd went quiet, a lone voice started shouting “Ozzy, Ozzy!” and suddenly the whole room took up the chant, Whit just stood there and smiled, encouraging the chant, and suddenly the band started playing the opening riff of Paranoid which turned into a full blown cover with Whit singing it faultlessly, a great moment of spontaneity. Without a pause, at the end of Paranoid they immediately went into Ace Of Spades.
Finally they closed out the gig with Everything About You the crowd loved it, the band loved it, we loved it, what a great night.
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