Event: Kerrang Tour 2010
Bands: My Passion, Young Guns, The Blackout, All Time Low
Venues: O2 Academy, Bristol / O2 Academy, Birmingham
Dates: 26th Jan 2010 / 30th Jan 2010
This being my first ever Kerrang Tour I wasn’t really sure what to expect but a favourable line up seemed to establish the outcome for me pretty effortlessly.It was common knowledge that both gigs were sold out but after viewing podcasts on the Kerrang website made by Katie P ,before my first journey to Bristol, of young girls camping outside the academy it became quite evident what kind of audience I would be expecting.
I have to be honest in saying I made no effort what so ever in trying to watch the first band ‘My Passion’. I have previously seen them in my home town and just really didn’t understand them. The extreme amount of make up and hair gel that’s on stage through out their performance is unsettling and in my eyes is pointless. It should be about their music more than their image but you just cant take your eyes off what they look like more than the sound they are giving. For what I can remember this was nothing much to be excited about so therefore I just didn’t bother. It all comes down to a matter of taste I guess but knowing how small and intense the gig was going to be I knew I was going to feel completely baked after a few songs so wanted to avoid this at any costs. Therefore I didn’t arrive till after their set. The pub seemed to have more appeal I’m afraid.
I’m much more enthusiastic about the second band that are on the bill ‘Young Guns’. They are set to be the next big thing in many peoples opinions – one of those being mine. I saw this band support ‘Fightstar’ last year and their reaction back then was immense so if there was any sense in the youngsters at these gigs they were heading for an awesome response.
Their sound is not original but is definitely polished and satisfying to listen too. All band members are undeniably talented and I can’t decide on a favourite track. I personally love their recent ep ‘Mirrors’ and we are treated to the entire four tracks on it, along with some others. I then instantly realised how much I loved their whole performance on both occasions.
Lead singer Gustav Wood is easy on the eye and immediately makes the front row of 15 year old girls with ‘All Time Low’ written all over their faces scream repeatedly. They played an amazing set at both Academy’s and I think this year is going to be big for them. With a headline tour coming this Summer I see big things for them, and after this tour I’m sure they now have a fair amount of followers. So I plead you to go check them out if you have not already! Their new song ‘Winter Kiss’ is available on their MySpace for free. Go to www.myspace.com/youngguns
Next up were the well known five piece Welsh band ‘The Blackout’. As soon as their banner is revealed to the crowd of adoring fans, there are high pitched squeals from the many young kids that surround me. So it becomes pretty obvious who most of them are here for.
When all members have arrived on stage Sean Smith continues to jump around in front of the audience like a crazy person as the first few lyrics of my favourite track of theirs begins, ‘Children of the Night’.
Both front men Sean Smith and Gavin Butler light up the stage throughout their display.
In my opinion Gavin sounds a little bit better live than Sean did at both gigs, but nevertheless he still gives us many belting and heartfelt tones throughout each track that he sings.
We hear a few tracks off their album ‘The Best In Town’, and at Bristol we were treated by a few verses to Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’. Very random but very exciting indeed.
Then what seemed to be Sean’s trademark of drinking some water and spitting its remains all over his on lookers happens a couple of times. Luckily I managed to avoid getting wet on both occasions! Haha!
The intimacy of the gig I think makes the atmosphere a lot more powerful. They have a crisp and clean set tonight and sound on top form.
I look forward to hear some new music from them in the future and overall I believe this band to be a credit to British music in their own right. They set the standard very high for the American’s that were to join us shortly.
It was time for what I had been waiting for. You may think I’m shallow in admitting the only reason I had come to both shows was for this band who have been crowned in many peoples opinions ‘The best looking band in rock’. I have previously seen all the other bands before and after not being able to attend ‘All Time Lows’ recent UK Tour late last year I had to come and see if their music was as good as their appearance.
I was not looking forward to leaving with the definite ringing in my ears that I had been rewarded by hundreds of female ‘The Blackout’ fans constant wailing after Sean. So when the ‘All Time Low’ banner was revealed I was very much surprised at how many young lads surrounded me. I then realised all the females were still in the front rows, gushing with sweat and sporting smudged ‘ATL’ drawings all over their faces.
Drummer Rian Dawson is first to enter the stage giving us a few drum beats and then a little intro starts being played to us from backstage, very much an American band thing as I have yet to see a British Band do this. Then the lights are brought up with Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat and Zachary Merrick finally joining us. As they tunefully began ‘Lost in Stereo’ I don’t see a piece of hair out of place. As bra’s and knickers are flung all over the place to main stage I found it a bit difficult to enjoy their performance at the start.
After a few tracks taken from their most popular albums ‘Nothing Personal’ and ‘So Wrong, It’s Wright’ are let loose the young ones were getting tired. It was now time for me to be enthralled by the shear amazing stage presence they are gifted with. The fact that most of the room wanted to sleep with them didn’t really seem to phase them at all, it was rather worrying to me though as most of the fans were under the age of 17.
As Alex was left alone on stage with only his acoustic guitar to accompany him I knew it was time for me to be musically enlightened. He sang ‘Remembering Sunday’ with such ease and charm. I then knew he had successfully wooed me from all angles now as I found myself swaying and singing with the rest of the people I was stood with, who clearly idolized the guy.
After two more tracks and a small cliché of an encore they close with ‘Damned If I do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)’ and ‘Dear Maria, Count Me In’. Sending everyone into a frenzy once more.
Overall embarrassingly I would name this band my guilty pleasure. Beautiful to look at and beautiful to listen to. A talented group of young men, who take fame in their stride.
I think both gigs had me very much satisfied and I think the bosses of Kerrang did a good job of setting the bill of who was to tour this year. Roll on Kerrang Tour 2011!
Reviewer: Steph Knight
