from their gig at the Fleece, AIM, last night
I've posted this below in Roadhog's own blog, but in fairness to them, as I try to review all the bands I see, I'm giving it it's own blog for the benefit of those who haven't seen them and who are partial to a spot of classic and heavy rock delivered exceptionally well. They're certainly the best band in this genre that I've seen to date.
First off, it was great to meet so many new folks from off here - Sarah from Gypsy, the singer and guitarist from Hallowed and of course the Roadhog chaps themselves.
It was especially fantastic last night to see a band that really "performs" - huge entertainment value compared to the so many who think its enough to simply stand and play well and leave the showmanship down to the frontman alone. The high jinks on stage really gave off the vibe of a band that loves what it does and values the "means" just as highly as the "end".
Fantastic drumming, even though the heavier stuff isn't my thing at all (and it's not even that heavy!), probably the best drummer I've seen on my recording "tour" thus far. Technically great, brilliant timekeeping, great use of the Herta in his solo (a much overlooked rudiment!), and effortlessly locked in with the bassist whose playing considering he was doing a fair deal of backing vocals was surprisingly intricate. I'd always thought bassists never went near a mic unless they were doing the "plinky plonky" two finger thing on one string but not this chap. Even had time to tickle the singer's nads from behind with his headstock and pose spinal tap style atop his monitor.
Kevo was yet another guitarist revelation. For too long I'd been led to believe, (by some guitarists!) that there were very few truly good guitarist on the pub gig scene. Kevo just makes it look easy but in doing so doesn't forget to entertain either - but not for him the gurning, pretentious, "look at me aren't I awesome" posturings of some who are far too attached to the minor pentatonic scale, no, with Kevo, you get a cheeky grin, jigging about excitedly as if to milk extra tone from a strat that looks like its drowning him in size, and widdling that's deferential enough to the original yet possessed of enough of his own personality as to betray a truly gifted musician.
As for the singist, well, he really knows how to work his big 80's hair. I was told the fans were there to cool him down but I suspect he really just like to feel the wind in his locks for some of those moments where only a "windswept standing atop a mountain" look will do. All he was missing was a helicopter whirling around his head filming him. I contemplated circling him on stage with my camcorder but was worried he'd take me out with his mic stand as he was never still for a minute. Had he not said he was suffering from lurgy I doubt I would have noticed any detriment to his vocal. As it was he delivered some blindingly powerful tracks, was capably backed and the band simply substituted a couple of songs towards the end of the second set to accommodate the increasing strain on his throat but to no loss whatsoever as the replacement tracks were real honest to goodness crowd pleasers.
I'm trying to find something to criticise as I don't believe anything is ever perfect but I'll be damned if I can't really. There were songs that I was unfamiliar with and so I didn't connect to them but that's only because I never ever listen to the heavier end of the rock spectrum (and again I reiterate that it really wasn't very heavy - certainly still in the rock genre, not metal) and am not very educated musically (ie I'm narrow minded and don't often venture beyond what I already know I like). Certainly the crowd were connecting all night - and it was a fairly "middle aged" bunch of obvious music lovers (they were certainly there for the music rather than simply being out on the lash, though much trade was being done at the bar) who were still shouting for encores after (I think) at least 3 had been played.
Highlight for me - had to be The Riverboat Song, simply for the drums! I'd sooner listen to that than a drum solo any day.