Zanzi Fest
Fallen Sons, Scare Tactics, Thunderground and Black
Cat Bones
The Zanzibar, Liverpool
23.8.13
This was NOT the
Fringe Fest this was the ‘Zanzi Fest’ still free entry and still great
bands.
Black Cat Bones
- Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Rock
Despite not
being around long Black Cat Bones
simply went crazy last night! Already the Zanzi was filling up with eager
participants to witness another fun packed evening. The air was humid but vibrant as Black Cat Bones set to work and
produced a set they should be proud of.
Jonnie and Lewii
Jonnie and Lewii
I know the band
does not like to be called ‘Southern Rock’ but in my opinion it does have that ‘feel’
about it, but not wanting to go against the grain we shall call them simply ‘rock’
Not many bands
are producing this kind of music these days so it’s a change and a welcome one
to hear bands who are.
Jonnie mad as
ever, wore a cowboy hat, which suited his cheeky misdemeanour and smiled
throughout the set, clearly enjoying himself as were the others under the
strong glare of the Zanzi spotlight.
Jonnie wearing a big smile and a cowboy hat!
Ash and Jay
looked ‘at home’ on stage and literally gave the set 100%, it showed in their
faces as well as their playing ability.
Ash
Jay
One other thing
worth noting was ‘Slash’ as he is affectionately known or ‘Rimmers’ ability to
wear not only a scarf but a thick, heavy leather jacket on an already hot
stage, his hair covering his face for the entire set, simply played
fantastically well and when approached about it afterwards, he simply said “Well
I have to look the part, can’t be without my leather jacket!” Horns up Rimmer!!
Slash alias Rimmer
Their melodic
swathe was superb to open up the Zanzi Fest and got everyone in the mood for a
great evening ahead.
This was the
second time I had seen the band live and I can already see the
progression. Each track was crisp and
loud and despite a heckler which Jonnie took in his stride and laughed along
with him, which I thought showed great professionalism. It is not easy getting
on stage in the first place but having to deal with that simply made the band
stand out! The heckler soon piped down
whoever he was and the band went on to produce six superb tracks with the last
being Night Train, getting a serious round of applause at the end of this
strong set.
Jonnie
The sound was
immense as it was for all the bands courtesy of Pat, and even the sound check
went well for Black Cat Bones. There
was no let-up in tempo as each song held a superb melodic hum and one that you
just simply could not ignore.
The music may
be old school, but the band is fresh and have a lot more to give – that is
obvious!
9½/10
Set List:
One more time
Bitter Sweet
Tomboy
Heartbreaker
Silverline
Night Train – Cover
Members:
Ashley Janes - Drums
Alan Rimmer - Guitar
Jonnie Hodson – Vocals
Jay Lash – Bass
Lewii Deadlegs - Guitar
******
Thundergound –
Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Rock
I missed the
bands full set at the Zanzibar for ‘Metal goes Mental’ as they were headlining
but with eight bands on it proved difficult staying to watch the last band, so
I owed it to them to stay and watch their set in full although they were on at
a much better time.
Mark
Along the same
vein as Black Cat Bones although Thunderground has in places a slightly
softer approach to their set music wise, however, when they turned it up a
notch to slightly heavier it worked for me.
Mark tried to work the crowd with shouts of “Oi, Oi, Oi!” although it
did not really come off as planned, and the card thing... well, I was not sure what
that was all about, although I did get the Ace of Spades :D not that it did me much good! But one thing
it did do, was show that the band are thinking of ways in which to engage an
audience, so that has to be noted.
Josh
Mark, Ant and Josh
Adam the bands
guitarist has an uncanny resemblance to the late Phil Lynott and he sounds a
bit like him too! Mark has a distinct vocal although I do not think it was on
top form last night and sounded a little off key in places, however, it was
good to see the band perform until the end of their set... finally and they
really rocked out on “Hypocrisy” great track to finish on! Next stop 02 Academy, the band's normal haunt. Catch them there!
Adam and Mark
8½/10
Set List:
I can see right through you
Roll the Dice
Comeback
Lone Wolf
Have a drink on me
Hypocrisy
Members:
Mark Kimpton - Vocals
Josh Carvel - Bass
Adam Kerbache - Guitar
Anthony Bates - Drums
******
Scare Tactics –
Liverpool
Links:
Genre: Groove
Metal
It is always a
pleasure to see Scary Tictacs live, they just bring the venue alive, and last
night’s performance was no exception. The Zanzi was literally heaving by this
time, so I was glad I secured a spot at the front.
Andy and Danny
Andy
Andy concentrating and Danny
Andy
Paul, Stu hidden behind drum kit, Andy and Danny
Andy and Danny
Since seeing Scare Tactics perform live on 11th
February 2011 at the Zanzi (Where else!) I was just in awe of them, as they
just came alive on stage then and now - they have added newer tracks that are
much heavier, that awe has never left!
Nobody could
ever say Scare Tactics do not
deliver, and I have yet to hear someone say they have not enjoyed their
performance - I do not think I ever will. Members of the audience were bristling
with praise for the band and that is good to hear and definitely good for the
band.
‘Someone Else’
and ‘Drunk Fuck’ are amazing tracks – the latter being my all-time favourite, (and the crowds) but the newer tracks ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Discover’ were
exceptional.
It is a bit of
a stalemate though, as Scare Tactics should
have made it big by now, but the bone of contention is, if they get signed “will
we ever see them play in Liverpool again?” Andy the band’s voice and nimble
fingers assures me they would never sell out, but once signed, a label then owns
your soul and so this could well happen, and I could not blame them either!
Although the band is more than talented and deserve to be out there performing
with bigger more well-known bands, it just begs that awful selfish question of –
“If they get signed then will it be bye-bye Scare Tactics?” It is a tough one but without question the band is
and has been ready to take on the world a long time ago, but the question here is,
“Is the world ready to take on them?”
Never a dull
moment with Scare Tactics – if you
haven’t seen them yet – (and in Liverpool there is no excuse) I implore you to
go check them out, because they are certainly strong contenders to become
famous worldwide.
10/10
Set List:
Game of Thrones
Discover
False Power
Someone Else
Mouth for War - Pantera Cover
We Live
Drunk Fuck
Members:
Andy Barker – Vocals/Lead Guitar
Stu Barker – Drums
Danny Williams – Bass
Paul Charnock – Rhythm Guitar
******
Fallen Sons –
Liverpool
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/FallenSonsUk
Genre: Groove Metal/Technical
Metal
Very new as a
band Fallen Sons debuted at the
Zanzi Fest last night and brought a powerful deep technical groove rhythm with
them. You may know a couple of the members from Bring the Rain – personally I
did not care much for BtR but I loved Alex’s drum techniques and told him after
the gig 2.6.2011 “Why the hell are you with this band, you could do so much
better!” Thankfully, Alex is now with Fallen
Sons a much less ‘tongue in cheek’ band with clear direction and structure.
Callum also has moved on from singing about Ten Pound Babies and Colman’s
Mustard Gas, has now lost that rap style vocal and doing something that literally
causes earthquakes with his raucous vocal rampage.
Alex, Callum, Sam and Tony
Callum - totally spent!
Alex now plays
double bass, although he says he does not like it much, he clearly does an
amazing job behind that kit and will only grow stronger with each gig he plays.
The mighty Alex
Alex
Now taking on
more mature members to complete the lineup it is clear that ‘Fallen Sons’ have an agenda and are to
be taken seriously.
Lee
Lee
The band
already has a big following judging by the crowd at last night’s gig and at the
end of the set, the crowd were going mental chanting “Fallen Sons” and asking for more! Which says it all really.
The band have
got together a 6 track debut E.P entitled MMXIII
which will be out soon – four tracks of which were played live at the Zanzi
Fest with the exception of ‘As I fall’ and ‘Gone’ so keep an eye out for it –
if you like your metal with grooves the size of the Grand Canyon then you will
love Fallen Sons.
New E.P to be released soon
9½/10
Set List:
Infection
Ride
Feast for Crows
Twisted Carnival
Fallen Sun
Switchblade
Members:
Callum Hughes – Vocals
Sam Cooper - Rhythm Guitar
Tony Mcloughlin – Bass
Lee Mulvaney - Lead Guitar
Alex Ashton - Drums
***Special mentions to: Tony, Paul, Toffo, and of course Pat for his sound expertise. Dil, Martin Boardman (Grind Horizon) and Girlfriend Steph for their support and to ALL
the bands who performed at the Zanzi Fest – Black Cat Bones, Thunderground, Scare Tactics and Fallen Sons. – Great gig!
