gig review in blackpool paper
hi heres a review that was sent to the band from the blackpool paper after the recent gig at the king edward VII on saturday the 4th april just gone, we thought the gig went well and would just like to thank all who attended as you played a part in us producing this performance we look forwrd to the return gigs later in the year ,cheers,,helvelyn2
Blackpool gazette:-
When Helvelyn II stormed through to the finals of the Gazette Rock Quest 2007, great things were predicted for this young band that had been described as Led Zeppelins "heir apparants".
Gigs up and down the country followed and the young guys shared stages with some very well known bands.
It was all looking very positive for the boys until lead singer Anthony Ellis left to seek his fortune elsewhere.
It could have been the end for the talented Lancashire rockers. Audition after audition went by with no sign of a suitable replacement.
Just when we all thought the dream might be over bass player David "Ishy" Isherwood stepped forward to fill the breach.
What a revelation! Unknown to Ishy, and the rest of the band, he could sing!
Lots of rehearsals and song writing brought them to their much-awaited "debut" in Blackpool.
A very nervous threesome took to the stage at the King Edward on Saturday night ready to face a hard bitten; critical local rock audience liberally sprinkled with well-imbibed, loud Welsh rugby fans.
However daunted the boys might have been it didn't show.
In no time at all they had the audience eating out of their hands. The line up might have changed, the music may have a more powerful, heavy vibe to it, but there is no mistaking talent.
Ishys powerful, gravely vocals were more than complimented by the vocals of guitarist Stefan Finney, a fantastic guitarist. James Eccles-Churton proved to be no slouch either with a dynamic, non stop-drumming exhibition.
And let us not forget that, as well as taking the lead vocals, Ishy is a bass player second to none who still fills the stage with his presence.
It's hard to believe that the average age of this band is still only twenty and they have thousands of hours of gigging under their belt.
Their cover versions were everything you would expect from such talented musicians but it is with their own material that they really shine.
Speed Freak in particular is destined to be a rock anthem and everything about last night’s performance belied the age of this band.
Set over the band had to come back for an encore as there was no way that this audience was leaving till they had had their fill!
Blackpool has a great live music scene and every so often a real talent emerges. This was the case last night.
If you like your rock music loud, raw and powerful, catch Helvelyn II while you can, because bigger venues and continued success must surely be the future of this excellent band.