Stone The Crows! It’s A SKAM#!
Shuffling our way into the venue, we wait patiently for the nights events to unfold, when on trundle SKAM#, a three-piece from Leicester, having heard little of them before tonight I mentally urge them onwards to boldly go where other support bands have previously been. It “ain’t always easy” (Stone Broken, anyone?) but it has to be done.
Singer Steve Hill looks remarkably like RHCP’s Anthony Kiedis with his loose locks, and schoolboy shirt circa Dani California. With songs from their latest LP The Amazing Memoirs of Geoffrey Goddard, they launch themselves into the throng with a ferociously headbanging bassist to boot. They are thankful that we arrived early to show our support and continued to thrash away madly, and we thrashed along with them, with both our hunger and thirst to address, these lads offer a comprehensive menu.
“Take It Or Leave It” gives you the stark warning of “don’t waste my time” and I think there has been somewhat of a lacuna in the British rock scene, these three can fit in quite snugly. They pound away merrily like a blacksmith in a forge, if you want something different then go and see them, you won’t be disappointed. Left of the murder maybe, but hey that leads us nicely to the second act.
Down from the sky come Those Damn Crows and settle into the glow of the fire lit by our friends from Leicester and instantly offer “ let me give you some advice”. Yes, please I enthuse to myself.
Followed swiftly by a “I don’t give a damn” and by crikey, Hallelujah thank fuck it’s Friday my friends.
Guitarist “Shiner” (I think) reminds me of Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls with his got it in the bag swag and shagpile hair, his stylish stance just had me fixated, I almost forgot that other musicians were onstage, so cool and what a nice lanyard he has.
Separating the men from the boys with a ripping and gripping, but brief rendition of Pinball Wizard, they offer tasty titbits from their latest LP Murder and the Motive as we aim to crush our skulls to “Someone Somebody”, “Fear of the Broken” and “Breakaway”.
Flying the flag for Wales loud and proud, and bolstering the Welsh spirit of Rock ‘n Roll like FFAF and BFMV, they are just incredibly engaging and entertaining to watch. In fact, my gig buddy thinks they were best in show tonight!
Stand out track “ Blink of an Eye” huge chorus, rousing riffs, and fortifying lyrics like
“No fear of who or why” and “You’ve got to hit the lows to feel the highs”.
I can’t stress this enough but please everyone go online and listen to the piano version of this song, I really don’t have the words, seriously.
These lads are on the up and up ladies and gents, as the crow flies.
Bostin Steve Austin!
The interval saw the obligatory singalong with Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again, KISS – Lick It Up and Guns ‘N Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine.
With no Steve Austin in sight, our friends from around the corner took to the stage and grabbed the entire cohort by the scruff of the neck and proceeded to shake, rattle and roll us into submission. With an open invitation to “play up their end” we didn’t refuse.
There was a frowsty air about the place, probably because it was packed to the rafters, but it didn’t take long for the stuff and nonsense of a week’s graft to be blown to smithereens.
With songs from their latest LP “Ain’t Always Easy” and the odd sweet treat from previous efforts, it didn’t take much for us to be eating out of the palm of their hands. Rich Moss is a great leader, if he was nervous then he didn’t show it. A merry band they are indeed, and may I say Robyn, the drummer, flashing her beautiful smile throughout, such an inspiration for women.
I’m not sure if it is scarier or much easier to play to a home crowd, but with little anecdotes to keep everything flowing this was an amazing show.
Stand out tracks for me were “Heartbeat Away” and “ Anyone” but what I did feel was that these songs sounded better live. I’m not questioning the quality of the material at all here, it’s more likely the germ-free delivery and faultless musicianship that made it all so exciting to watch this yampi little lot.
Anthem Voices joined them onstage for “The Only Thing I Need” and we were informed of the charity work they are involved in too. A great little touch to have a choir, just stunning. Hats off to Ann for her hard work,
The band offered their heartfelt thanks to us all for spending the evening with them, they should have asked us to “Stay All Night” and we would’ve.
We were grateful of the few minutes we got at merch afterwards, such a likeable bunch of people.
Stone Broken are from Walsall. I’m from Perry Barr, we are neighbours, so altogether now
“Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours…. And so, on and so forth.
Now when can I pop round for that cup of sugar, eh?
Stone Broken, Those Damn Crows, Skam# – The Mill, Birmingham on 15th February.