30 Seconds to Mars @ London's Koko - 16/11/09

Finding tickets for one of this years most anticipated gigs certainly hasn’t been easy for anyone, and it is perhaps this which explains the certain sense of gratitude that emanates from all those lucky enough to be ushered through the doors of London’s KoKo. Support act We Fell To Earth do little with their incessant wailing to arouse the attention of those waiting, who will not be satisfied until the arrival of the headline act. After much impatient hollering and stamping, 30 Seconds to Mars take to the stage with ‘A Beautiful Lie’ to a welcome fitting of their return to UK shores after a near two-year absence. This is a band renowned for their brilliant stagecraft, whether it be through extravagant spectacles or, in the case of tonight, the stripped down simplicity of the music alone. Front man Jared Leto ensures that the night is as intimate as possible for the gatherers who he describes as his ‘family’, offering them the chance to ask questions and decide what songs should be played. The set flicks between electric hits like ‘Attack’ and ‘From Yesterday’ to a raw acoustic session where Leto takes to stage to perform alone. It is at this point that the sheer song writing and vocal talent of this man is truly evident, most prominently in the haunting echoes of new track ‘revenge’, off of soon-to-be-released album This Is War. He takes particular pleasure in pausing mid-song to make quips against the band’s record label watching from the balcony, who can only grimace through clenched teeth. Leto is fully aware of how unstoppable he is when surrounded by such an army of dedicated fans. After the acoustic set, brother and drummer Shannon Leto, lead guitarist Tomo Miličević and touring bassist Tim Kelleher rejoin Jared, to dive headlong into mammoth track ‘The Kill’. It is now that the frontman decides to bring himself to the crowd, climbing over ravenous fans desperate to touch the mastermind behind this organization. For many, this will be the night of their lives. After a general consensus on the popularity of title-track ‘This is War’, the group finishes the set in style, promising to remain afterwards for a signing with the fans. It is only by such showmanship that this band could possibly have gathered the incredible support network that they are blessed with. Evidence of this can be seen in the desperate hunt for next spring’s arena tickets which many commence before they have even stepped foot out of the venue. The war has begun.

Muse @ The o2 Arena - 13/11/09

Anyone who has ever seen Muse in concert will vouch for them as one of the greatest live acts of all time. Tonight is no different. The show is opened by up- and-coming indie rock group The Big Pink, who play a selection of tracks from their debut album ‘A Brief History of Love’, demonstrating their potential as arena headliners for the future. When the lights go down for the main act, the buzz that has been building throughout the night explodes. The technical artistry that Muse pull off time and time again is present not only in the fantastic lighting display but also through raised platforms and drummer Dom Howard’s revolving kit. Diving headlong into two mammoth tracks from their most recent album ‘The Resistance’, the trio’s sheer brilliance brings a new definition to the concept of live performance. Matt Bellamy is his usual active self, leaping from one side of the stage to the other, while both Dom Howard and bassist Chris Wolstenholme prove how integral their respective talents are to one of the greatest bands that this country has produced. Well-known classics including ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ and ‘Hysteria’ further heighten the already overpowering atmosphere in the arena. Blasts from the past such as ‘Cave’ show the loyalty that this band has to their dedicated fans that have been there with them from the beginning, and these combined with their newest material provide a truly eclectic collection which does not fail to please the crowd. To make such renowned tracks sound as good as they do in a live environment takes the most impressive vocal expertise, and Matt Bellamy demonstrates this in style through perfect renditions of, ‘Plug in Baby’, ‘Time is Running Out’ and ‘Starlight’. After a colossal encore from the crowd they return to the stage for three final songs, finishing with the much-anticipated ‘Knights of Cydonia’. Muse have done it again, asserting their position in rock history books. For those watching tonight, it will now only be a waiting game for their return to yet-again conquer the arenas next summer.

Green Day @ The o2 Arena - 24/10/09

Months ago, when Green Day announced that they were undertaking their biggest European tour to date, they knew that they were going to have to pull out all the stops. They certainly achieved this, and more. Support act Prima Donna are decidedly disappointing, perhaps due to their lack of experience in playing arena shows. Even the antics of front man Kevin Preston, who goes as far as whipping off his shirt and swinging it around his head like something out of King Kong, does little to gain even a squeak from the crowd. The night was never going to be theirs, and onlookers certainly do not let them think otherwise. This certainly changes with the arrival of Billie Joe Armstrong, freshly peroxided, and his motley crew. Beginning with tracks from their most recent album, 21^st Century Breakdown, it takes some time to nurture the crowd up to their full moshing potential. Once this is achieved, however, all energy breaks loose. The sheer envy of nearly 20,000 people can be felt every time Armstrong selects certain crowd members to join him on stage, at one point even handing over the bands member's instruments to those lucky enough to be chosen. There is a strong sense of unity with the band, as if they are doing their very best to make this huge arena show feel as intimate as possible. There is no shortage of old favourites such as ‘Give Me Novacaine’ and ‘Welcome to Paradise’, and the hungry reaction they get from the crowd emphasizes the unwavering long-term dedication of the Green Day fan base. The onlookers accept anything thrown at them with relish, including spray jets of water, toilet role and more confetti than England has seen snow in the past 10 years. Perhaps the most raw and moving moment comes at the very end of the set, when Armstrong alone performs a selection of acoustic tracks including ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ and ‘Time of your Life’, bringing tears to the eyes of many watching. This, brought together with an incredible variety of lighting and pyrotechnics, provides a show to be remembered. Green Day, in one night, did what most bands only do in a lifetime.

Papa Roach @ Brixton Academy - 10/10/09

It is not often that a venue will see such a mass turnout of dedicated fans for a band returning after only having been away for a matter of months. Despite this being the second UK tour that Papa Roach have done this year, no one is bored of them yet. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It was always going to be a difficult task opening for the renowned California rockers, and although the relatively unknown Heaven’s Basement do their best to stir up the crowd, it is clear that they are all in anticipation for one thing, and one thing only. Even energetic punks Madina Lake, with their loveable peroxide Leone twins, receive a comparatively small welcome compared to the act that is to follow them, despite giving a performance well-deserving of their current popularity. The moment that the lights dim signalling the imminent arrival of Papa Roach, the whole room appears to shift forward a few metres. The screams, which can be heard from both young and old, could easily cause one to mistake this for a teen pop concert. However, the moment the band launch into ‘Change or Die’, the atmosphere does a double take as the crowd is overcome by a furious, unstoppable energy. Jacoby Shaddix, bedecked in enough tattoos to make any parent shudder, shows he has lost none of the boundless energy for which he is so renowned. The quartet appear to have taken an even greater confidence boost since their appearance at Download Festival this summer, and are unafraid to play the majority of tracks from their most recent album ‘Metamorphosis’, including ‘State of Emergency’ and ‘Had Enough’. The connection that Shaddix finds with the crowd is sure to make each person feel as if they are the only one in the room. The set list lacks none of the Roach classics that first showed the world the band’s individuality, and there sees to be an even greater sense of unity between them and the crowd as they play hits like ‘Dead Cell’ and ‘Last Resort’. The sheer dedication of the fans can be seen clearly in the relish with which they throw themselves together on Jacoby’s orders during ‘Into The Light’. Finishing only after returning for a heavily requested encore, it is obvious from the dazed smiles of fans as they leave that the band will always be welcome here in the UK. Regardless of whether they choose to return next month or next year, it is clear that the sooner they’re back, the better.

Album Review - Paramore - brand new eyes

If you had told me – and countless others – six months ago, that I would be listening to this album, I might never have believed it. Stricken with the complexities of youth, Paramore were at one point unable to make conversation with one another, let alone write a record together. However, time’s healing properties appear to have worked their magic, and the band has once again pulled it off – in style. The appropriately titled third album delivers both typical Paramore panache in the form of tracks like ‘Looking Up’ and ‘Brick by Boring Brick’, whilst at the same time showing a decidedly more mature approach through the simplicity of stripped-down melodies such as ‘Misguided Ghosts.’ Although at times one is left longing for a little more of the Paramore-style punk of old, it becomes clear that not many people can put across their true feelings as well as Hayley Williams does in her flawless range of vocals, most prominently heard in ‘All I Wanted’. It is as if each lyric is a commitment to keeping the band together. The Franklin Quintet seem to have regained a sense of purpose.They have once again defied the label of ‘one-hit-wonders’. What really is apparent is that they truly mean it when they say that they are looking at the world – and their future for that matter – with brand new eyes.

Faith No More - Reading Festival '09

Faith No More, in spite of the fact that they had the hefty task of headlining at the same time as the widely popular Kings of Leon, gave a performance that will be considered by many as the most impressive of the festival. The musical geniuses, having recently reformed after a 12 year split, again proved in the same style that they had shown to have at Download Festival, to have virtually no areas in which they could be criticized. Front-man Mike Patton showcased to the crowd his extraordinary versatility in beginning the set with the instrumental piece Midnight Cowboy. The band showed no signs of having aged 12 years, proving to be as energetic and inspiring as they were renowned for being in the ‘90s. Patton appears to have lost none of his bounding sense of humour with the addition of a walking stick to the set during a number of classic hits, although he had no need to use it as anything other than an amusing prop. Timeless tracks including Epic and Midlife Crisis have lost none of their mind-blowing brilliance, and peppered with various renditions of the Eastenders theme tune, even the younger members of the audience who were not around during the early years of Faith No More found them selves receiving thrills which bested almost all other acts playing the festival. Returning to the stage for an encore after a set which had outrun that of King’s of Leon by almost an hour, Reading will have felt humbled to have showcased these rock legends during a comeback which, providing all goes smoothly, will last for many years to come.

The Used @ Relentless Garage - 5/08/2009

If one thing was learnt on the evening of The Used's intimate one-off gig at Relentless Garage in Highbury, it is that the band is back, and they're bigger and better. From the large queues outside the venue long before the doors were opened, it is clear to see that this was a much anticipated gig in the rock scene. The only support act, the up and coming Young Guns, certainly proved themselves worthy of their recent Kerrang! Award Nomination for Best British Newcomer. Frontman Gustav Wood gives off a certain likeability factor, whether it be due to his appealing inexperience when talking to the expectant crowd, or his sheer energy whilst performing. The band certainly gave it their all, spinning off fast moving tracks to get the watchers moving, as well as ensuring large-scale involvement through teaching the audience the chorus of Daughter of the Sea. It cannot be said that they failed to open in style for the main act of the evening, although the atmosphere certainly flew up a notch on the arrival of Bert McCracken and his guys onstage. Through the screams of the crowd, the band launched with all energy into Take It Away, immediately proving that they haven't lost their touch since they've been away. The fact that they had been toiling away the weekend before at Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth did not show as they steamed through other well known material including Bird and The Worm, Liar Liar, and I Caught Fire. This was followed by a short acoustic set, a sight not often associated with The Used, in which raw simplicity was shown through the sombre rendition of more mellow classics such as Yesterday's Feelings. This did not last for long however, as their vigour was soon felt again as they previewed Blood On My Hands from their soon-to-be-released album Artwork. If this song is anything to go by, the new album will certainly not disappoint fans. One thing that can be said is that the band as a whole, appear to have matured a great deal. Bassist Jeph Howard and guitarist Quinn Allman both proved why they have remained such an integral part of the band throughout it's existence, whilst relatively recently appointed drummer Dan Whitesides appears to have settled very well. Bert McCracken, bright-eyed and greasy mopped, did not disappoint the audience in his recital of the numerous jokes and anecdotes that he is renowned for inbetween songs. Through finishing their set with other classics such as Paralyzed and Pretty Handsome Awkward, the band left the audience hungry for more, enough so that after an encore they returned on stage for an acoustic version of On My Own and a final crowd-pumping beltout of Box Of Sharp Objects. The Used certainly gave all who attended a night to remember... at least until they return for their UK tour in September.