Fiendishly Fallen!
It was a warm night as I stepped out of the venue to check out the queue for the evening’s shenanigans, it was a fantastic turn out, just brilliant to see people who are eager to experience live music.
After a short delay ( I mean please get a wiggle on people), we were ushered in and I chained myself to the front barrier determined not to move for love nor money. When on trot Blackwater Fiend, all the way from Coventry, and dish out some heavy -duty fretwork to the small but perfectly formed audience. I felt sorry for them as the stage was the size of a postage stamp and the lads were tripping over carpet and cabling while trying to play quite a decent set really. Not having heard anything from them, and being partially deaf like most rock fans, I couldn’t hear clearly the song titles, but did thoroughly enjoy their songs.
A lakeside picnic anyone? You can do a Narcissus and gaze into the “Black Water” if you like. The drummer – Fraser Somers was tucked away in the corner, barely visible as his violent head of hair covered his features and try as I might I couldn’t get a decent picture of him. Such a shame, the stage was inadequate, but some would say it was perfect for an intimate show.
“Where Do We Go From Here?” sings Danny, he of the serious black shirt( I’d like one please)and well there is only one way for these talented musicians. I wish them well on the journey skywards and hope to hear more from them soon.
Grab one of these fiendish fancies and chomp away my fiends!
Second in command we have The Fallen State who continue to “trip” the light fantastic, and with Brexit(sorry) looming we are faced with a sorry state of affairs indeed, but my what a happy bunch these guys are! Captain Ben punches the air around him to emphasise his utter delight at being onstage and leads the fans on a merry dance. There is a clarity, a sincerity, and a conviviality that provides a warmth and a sense of oneness that we all yearn for.
We are ordered to crouch down for a barnstorming finale, as we launch ourselves up to the ceiling- well near enough- and salute this band of jolly upstarts and their feel good, feel terrific outlook.
With fan favourites “Sinner” and “Nova” on show tonight, we weren’t gonna leave empty-handed.
In fact, we were to partake in the merch stand cunningly moved to the pavement to catch any of us buggers who wanted to leave the venue unnoticed( such connivance, eh?) They happily posed for photos and signed CD’s for fans and gradually we disappeared into the night. I interviewed them earlier on and guitarist Jon was a tad nervous, I did my best to allay his fears as we chatted briefly after the show. It’s lovely to talk to such genuine, humble people who want to forge a career out of something they love, that they fear some lowlife hack will trample over their “deadset endeavour”- see what I did there? Clever, eh? I’m not here to do that, my friend.
Pin back your ears metal maniacs as this is one state of the nation address you don’t wanna miss!
I’m Gonna Be Iron, Like A Lion…
Not quite Zion, my friends but here in beautiful Brum as we welcome Leigh Kakaty and his pride into our concrete jungle to the tune of Cheap Trick classic “Surrender”- how apt is that?
Mr Leigh really is a groovy cat (and what a gentleman, a scholar, what an acrobat!), as he slinks across the stage in his flu- ridden haze, sipping a suitable tincture to alleviate his sore throat, proclaiming to “never cancel a show” much to our delight.
He enthuses about having broken boundaries by not only having a female drummer but a British one – three cheers for Hayley everyone, what a class act she is!
The “Boss’s Daughter” arrives with the blue touch paper and a match to light up the stage so
we can engage in a spot of night prowling to “Colors Bleed” , Last Man Standing, and Deal With The Devil” while slipping in a brief but buoyant rendition of “Bodies”- Drowning Pool, and “Eye Of The Tiger” to punch us down onto the canvas.
I’ve got “100 in a 55” on repeat as I’m writing this and someone said that Pop Evil are “the thinking man’s music”- I know what I’m thinking , and man….oh boy….
They are the epitome of the spirit of independence and unity that is central to Rock ‘n Roll, and we too pray for our souls to be saved.
Matt- hair courtesy of Cousin It, I mean this in a good way- entertains with the occasional helicopter move as he rotates his head at an inhuman speed and delivery, my head came off just watching him!
A quick Q&A session leads us into the encore and my favourite “Waking Lions” and the rabble rousing “Trenches” with our “evil” twin Ben from TFS onstage to throw us all over the finish line in a metal thrashing mad heap!
Is Pop Evil? You’re damn straight it is!