Mike’s Rock Out!
Shabhoc Music & Media
Featuring: Sugarking, Novacrow, Electric Lips & Phoenix of
Avalon
The Lomax
10.5.14
Phoenix of Avalon – Liverpool
Links:
Check it out for yourself at:
Genre: Rock
Biography:
Formed in 2012 from the embers of an older group, Stevie Redfern and
Dave Gilescroft left to create Phoenix of
Avalon, A classic rock inspired duo. Writing and recording their own
original music, they hope to blur the lines between classic and modern rock.
Every track on their current offering 'This Thing of Ours' was
recorded at home, and mixed by both Redfern & Gilescroft.
****
Steve and James
Wakey
Dave
Dave and Steve
First surprise of the evening was Phoenix of Avalon mainly because I didn’t know they were playing
until I arrived at the Lomax, and secondly I didn’t know Wakey played drums usually see him guitar in hand.
From the moment this band walked on stage the atmosphere changed to
one of rambunctious merriment, the tracks were fiery and powerful, just listening
to them had you moving and the harmonies were just superb.
This band used to be Mike Fleming’s band until he joined Caligula,
so obviously he knew all the tracks and on chatting to him beforehand he told
me the story behind Paradise Way... about the closure of ‘Quiggins’ (A much
loved place that everyone enjoyed visiting)
However the mood was anything but downbeat as the band just went mad
on stage bringing with them some memorable tracks. Steve’s vocal was
reminiscent in places of Bonn Scott from AC/DC and believe me when I say there
were a few gasps in the crowd when he hit top notes.
A great way to start a gig and brought me right back to my rock
roots!
Set List:
Battle of Fallen Angels
Sins of the Son
Letters to no one
Paradise way
Running Man
What to Say
Devil Woman
Members:
Stephen Redfern - Vocals
Dave Gilescroft - Guitar
Wakey - Drums
James Greenwood - Bass
******
Electric Lips – Liverpool
Links:
Listen
Here:
Genre: Rock/Blues
4-piece hard rock band from Liverpool. Debut E.P out now for FREE
download, CDs available at gigs!
****
Andy, Paul and Graham
Graham or is it a young Robert Plant?
Nath
Andy
My third surprise of the evening were Electric Lips who had sneaked another member into the band since I
saw them play at the Zanzibar 17th January 2014 at one of Greedy Jesus Events.
The band were fantastic then – now they were off the scale with the
addition of Graham Fryearson, who not only looked like a young Robert Plant but
sounded like him as well.
This was Graham’s second gig with Electric Lips – the first being at the Zanzi last week for Battle
of the Bands – which they won – it would have been a travesty if they hadn’t!
Each track was finely tuned and precise – the now heaving Lomax
bristled with bodies around the stage who soaked up the compelling atmosphere
and musical onslaught from Electric Lips.
Their spin on Dazed & Confused was simply out of this world,
bursting with scorching rhythms that had the heads going. Lighted Path and Restless Soul were just
immense – Electric Lips are
definitely a band to watch out for and if you get the chance to see them live –
take the opportunity with both hands it’s well worth it!
Set List:
Helping Hand
Make you mine
Dazed & Confused
Broke Back Mountain
Serpentine
Lighted Path
Restless Soul
Members:
Graham Fryearson - Lead Vocals
Andy Hinton - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Nathan Jones - Bass/Backing Vocals
Paul 'the animal' Wren - Drums
******
Novacrow – Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Hard Rock
Biography:
Formed by four supremely awesome individuals, Novacrow combines sleazy rock with heavy metal influences. It is
the musical love-child of current Queen of England, Kitty Staunton, as lead
vocalist/guitarist, Playboy cover star Federico Spera as bassist/backing
vocals, "tall and mysterious" guitarist John Skidmore and Dwarf-lord
drummer Alex Fairfield. They promise an energetic and erection-inducing live
show, fun for the whole family.
Novacrow formed in September 2013 after a solo project of Kitty's mutated
into a badass hard-rock ensemble. Alex, John and Kitty all coincidentally moved
from their homes in the Midlands to study in Liverpool. Here they met Freddy,
who had lived for several years in Italy, the US and the Netherlands before
moving to the UK.
Since late 2013, the band have been gigging furiously in Liverpool,
Birmingham and Wolverhampton and receiving an excellent response.
The band are currently working on their EP, which they promise will
be "really fucking awesome."
****
John
Alex
Frederico
Kitty
Kitty and Frederico
Kitty and Alex
With no daft costumes in sight this time Novacrow took to the stage and well it must have been the onions
because I have never experienced anything like this from Novacrow at any of their previous gigs before.
(Frederico addressed the audience with “I was cutting onions tonight
and afterwards I picked my nose and now all I can smell is onions!)
It seemed to do the trick alright – it must be some form of speed
the way he was running and jumping around the Lomax last night!
This time round was totally another ball game. Frederico the band’s
talented bass player went absolutely crazy... Talk about stepping up a notch or
six! As his antics started to make him sweat off came the shirt to reveal black
tape across his nipples and black felt tip pen with lines accentuating his
belly button with the words ‘Free Access’ above.
Frederico strutting his stuff!
His face contorted with each pose and on at least three occasions jumped
off stage to stir the already ‘happy’ crowd into further submission.
Kitty’s voice has that slight gravelly lilt that’s just perfect for
the tracks she sings and plays lead guitar for and together the band played as
if their lives depended on it, with Kitty dropping to her knees at one point
due to the adrenalin haze she exuded and oozing with sex appeal as most of the
guys would agree!
Kitty - meowwww
Black Syrup... careful guys!
Kitty asked the females to throw their bras on stage – needless to
say I couldn’t help with that one! But indeed one shiny black bra was thrown on
stage – no idea who it belonged to though!
This was definitely a good gig for them as they cajoled the heaving
mass of onlookers to clap, cheer and go wild, which we all did... hard not to
get involved when a band puts 100% into their act and they more than did that
between them.
Alex the bands feisty drummer supporting a cute tiddly handlebar moustache
suddenly jumped from behind his kit, but from where I was standing obscured by
Frederico, so I couldn’t see he was wearing a kilt, he raised his hands
quickly, pulled a mad face and ran back behind his kit again, and although it
looked hilarious I didn’t find out why until Kitty informed us all that he was
wearing a kilt and then it dawned on me why Alex had done it.
John and Frederico had some male bonding moments on stage although
far too quick for me to snap but the memories this gig has given me will far
from diminish for a long time to come – superb set – definitely the best from Novacrow yet! Slinky!!!
Set List:
Nasty Piece of Work
White Lies & Cigarettes
The bottom of the food chain
Fat Frog
Fight one Horde
Black Syrup
Members:
Kitty Staunton- Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar
John Skidmore- Lead Guitars
Frederico Spera- Bass/Backing vocals
Alex Fairfield- Drums
******
Sugarking – Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Hard Rock
Sugarking definitely proved their salt last night – mainly due to the fact
they had an extended set of 1 hour 15 minutes so they were quite literally
dripping with sweat.
Having missed the band several times I was now to witness their
entire set in one act, they say things happen for a reason and this must have
been why.
Kyle and Al
Greg or is it David Coverdale playing drums?
Al
Kyle
Kyle, Al and James
Al looked slightly pretentious wearing a fur jacket as he appeared
on stage but that was soon forgotten as the band hit the first note.
Every track the band pushed out there was with clean precision and
the fit to bursting Lomax horde lapped up every morsel.
With crowd chanting the band’s name over and over brought smiles
from each band member in turn and amid the dry ice the band forged ahead with
their thirteen track set to an equally sweaty crowd of onlookers.
There is no doubt whatsoever that ‘Sugarking’ are rock n roll masters of their finely-tuned art and
created some amazing tracks that are not only appealing but sincerely memorable
and they deserve to go the distance.
I will certainly do my best to catch them when I see they are playing
again – terrific set and still a full house right up to the end.
Set List:
Bring Out
Back in Big
Dandelions
My Way
Cut you Deep
That Bird
Otherwise
Coincide
Man in the Sky
These Maybe’s
Memories
Ain’t your Day
The sides of the sun
She spins
Free
No Blame
Members:
Al Roberts - Lead Vocals
Greg Scott - Drums & Percussion
James Brewer - Bass Guitar
Kyle Taylor – Guitar
*** Special mention to
Frank who was nursing a broken collar bone after pretending to be a stuntman
for one evening last week... Get well soon Frank! Kath for her valued friendship, Kyle Weston for the superb
sound last night – we salute you! Also thanks to Mike Fleming, Chris Campbell, of
Shabhoc for hosting the event. Sean Murray our photographer and to Toni Green
for her door handling techniques! And last but not least to Phoenix of Avalon,
Electric Lips, Novacrow and Sugarking for the exceptional sets of the evening!
Bravo!
Mike clearly getting into his stride and Chris
Chris wishing he had brought his camera! and Sean
