There's an energy in Cardiff, it's the beginning of a huge weekend, two massive sold out gigs in the castle and a big football fixture means people are in a jovial mood.
Many it seems have had a few pints on the train on the way down from The Valleys, a huge contingent have made their way to the capital as they do for every classic rock based show, but this particular show offers something a bit different as though it features some rock legends it also boasts a genuine A-List celebrity.
This particular gig sees Cardiff Castle at the busiest I've ever seen it, constantly being told to move from the path, swathes of people making their way into the castle grounds two whole hours before the show even started (would it have killed anyone to have a local opener?), many dressed in their goth/post punk finery, others in horror and film themed outfits because of a certain members filmic slant.
Before all that though let's discuss the opener as it was The Damned (8) who took to the stage first. The London based band were born out of punk but have transcended that label through psychedelia and establishing themselves as one of the most notable goth acts.
You could call them the original musical vampires, especially frontman David Vanian who's baritone vocals and sartorial class led the congregation in tracks such as Eloise, Is It A Dream and great version of White Rabbit, the Cardiff crowd singing back when required, though perhaps not as loud as Mr Vanian would have liked.
Captain Sensible punched out the riffs in his trademark beret, offering words of encouragement and general madness between songs while Paul Gray set the pacing on bass against the percussive drummer Rat Scabies as Monty Oxymoron's keys brought the baroque as they stormed through Neat Neat Neat and New Rose to a wider recognition.
The coffins had been opened by The Damned and as the light dimmed it was time for the most famous vampires in the world to bring their rock n roll celebration to Cardiff.
In case you didn't know the Hollywood Vampires is a supergroup band named for the legendary drinking club started by Alice Cooper back in the 1970's at Rainbow Bar & Grill, it featured numerous world champion caners most of whom are now dead, which is basically the entire ethos of the band, as this is a rock n roll variety show where originals and covers merge to entertain the masses.
For the rock lovers, the band Hollywood Vampires (8) features the godfather of shock rock Alice Cooper up front in full master of macabre mode, all costume changes and sneers, with movements of a man a third of his age, he's flanked by Aerosmith six stringer and Toxic Twin Joe Perry who's effortlessly cool and peels off riffs and solos throughout with the sort of louche approach he had through his days with the veteran blues rockers..
It's Cooper's long time guitarist and full time vampire Tommy Henrikesen who is the cornerstone of the whole live show for my money, leading the touring band of drummer Glen Sobel, bassist Chris Wyse and keyboardist Buck Johnson through a set that featured their own tracks such as I Want My Now, Raise The Dead and Dead Drunk Friends into the first cover, a triumphant I'm Eighteen.
The fourth Vampire was the one most of the Cardiff audience came to see, the female contingent were particularly excited the the first time one Mr Jonny Depp came on the screen. Putting the Hollywood in theses vampires I was actually surprised how good of a guitar player he is and his low vocal was perfect for the darkly sensual Venus In Furs and People Who Died by The Jim Caroll Band.
Though he could have been egotistical about things, it seems Depp is quite happy to be a team player in this supergroup as they shifted through a 21 song set where Boogieman Surprise and Who's Laughing Now were the last two originals as the remaining tracks were all covers but with the caveat that they came from bands who had had famous, now dead, member who was a mythical drinker such as The Who's Baba O'Reilly, The Doors' Roadhouse Blues and AC/DC's Highway To Hell and David Bowie's Heroes.
Or they were songs from the Vampires other bands such as I'm Eighteen, Living On The Edge, Walk This Way and Schools Out, which was mixed with Another Brick In The Wall, each cover lapped up by the Cardiff audience as they were pretty much all rock classics that are made for huge stages and the type of theatrics like massive inflatable teeth, giant balloons and all manner of rock n roll vaudeville. I did find the tributes to Jeff Beck particularly heartfelt with Becks Bolero coming in the middle of the set and Hi Ho Silver Lining closing the show, as Cardiff was in full voice one last time.
The Hollywood Vampires is an experience, a super group of super groups, the definition of a big rock n roll show, who like a vampire could arguably go on forever with different members paying tribute to their lost friends.
You could call them the original musical vampires, especially frontman David Vanian who's baritone vocals and sartorial class led the congregation in tracks such as Eloise, Is It A Dream and great version of White Rabbit, the Cardiff crowd singing back when required, though perhaps not as loud as Mr Vanian would have liked.
Captain Sensible punched out the riffs in his trademark beret, offering words of encouragement and general madness between songs while Paul Gray set the pacing on bass against the percussive drummer Rat Scabies as Monty Oxymoron's keys brought the baroque as they stormed through Neat Neat Neat and New Rose to a wider recognition.
The coffins had been opened by The Damned and as the light dimmed it was time for the most famous vampires in the world to bring their rock n roll celebration to Cardiff.
In case you didn't know the Hollywood Vampires is a supergroup band named for the legendary drinking club started by Alice Cooper back in the 1970's at Rainbow Bar & Grill, it featured numerous world champion caners most of whom are now dead, which is basically the entire ethos of the band, as this is a rock n roll variety show where originals and covers merge to entertain the masses.
For the rock lovers, the band Hollywood Vampires (8) features the godfather of shock rock Alice Cooper up front in full master of macabre mode, all costume changes and sneers, with movements of a man a third of his age, he's flanked by Aerosmith six stringer and Toxic Twin Joe Perry who's effortlessly cool and peels off riffs and solos throughout with the sort of louche approach he had through his days with the veteran blues rockers..
It's Cooper's long time guitarist and full time vampire Tommy Henrikesen who is the cornerstone of the whole live show for my money, leading the touring band of drummer Glen Sobel, bassist Chris Wyse and keyboardist Buck Johnson through a set that featured their own tracks such as I Want My Now, Raise The Dead and Dead Drunk Friends into the first cover, a triumphant I'm Eighteen.
The fourth Vampire was the one most of the Cardiff audience came to see, the female contingent were particularly excited the the first time one Mr Jonny Depp came on the screen. Putting the Hollywood in theses vampires I was actually surprised how good of a guitar player he is and his low vocal was perfect for the darkly sensual Venus In Furs and People Who Died by The Jim Caroll Band.
Though he could have been egotistical about things, it seems Depp is quite happy to be a team player in this supergroup as they shifted through a 21 song set where Boogieman Surprise and Who's Laughing Now were the last two originals as the remaining tracks were all covers but with the caveat that they came from bands who had had famous, now dead, member who was a mythical drinker such as The Who's Baba O'Reilly, The Doors' Roadhouse Blues and AC/DC's Highway To Hell and David Bowie's Heroes.
Or they were songs from the Vampires other bands such as I'm Eighteen, Living On The Edge, Walk This Way and Schools Out, which was mixed with Another Brick In The Wall, each cover lapped up by the Cardiff audience as they were pretty much all rock classics that are made for huge stages and the type of theatrics like massive inflatable teeth, giant balloons and all manner of rock n roll vaudeville. I did find the tributes to Jeff Beck particularly heartfelt with Becks Bolero coming in the middle of the set and Hi Ho Silver Lining closing the show, as Cardiff was in full voice one last time.
The Hollywood Vampires is an experience, a super group of super groups, the definition of a big rock n roll show, who like a vampire could arguably go on forever with different members paying tribute to their lost friends.
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