 Getting to the Academy tonight, just before the
doors opened wasnt a bad idea, not too much waiting
around in the Birmingham winter air, looking at
the line there wasn't many there as it turns out
that by the time Gunfire 76 made it to the stage,
there wasnt much of a crowd, i doubt the academy
2 tonight was even a quarter full.
Opening straight up rock three piece was wooden
boy from Telford, well not a band of many words
between songs as the front man/guitarist only
really piped up before the last song, While there
set was under way, the crowd wasn't interested
except for one girl rocking out on her own, as
it happens it was the singers girlfriend. The
Drumming was straight forward and steady, the
guitar wasn't particularly heavy or catchy, just
kind of generic really, so many bands out there
that are better than these guys, but i guess it
goes to show, its who you know that gets you ahead,
all the songs pretty much sounded the same, I'm
sure they weren't but it wasnt exciting stuff.
 Main Support was Bullets and Octane, a band that
ive heard of for a long time but never actully
seen or listened to any of there material up until
rectently, guess that just makes me lazy! They
opened with Sweet Dreams, its not a band opener
a decent rock track but it doesn't really set
me alight, neither does the following opening
tracks which are, Bad things and Going Blind,
one song that got my attention was My Disease,
much better than the opening tracks, I also noticed
that the crowd came to life following the opening
act. The front man putting on a great show, doing
alot of pointing and getting the crowd involved,
which was good to see, the performance of the
band seemed tight, they sounded good playing songs
such as Pirates, Never going down, Cancer Ca and
set closer Savior, which was a decent set closer,
the crowd looks to be getting there monies worth
tonight!
After a short wait the Main band was finally
upon us, Gunfire 76,another Wednesday 13 project,
opening the set with a decent song off the  new
album, it may have been 'lets kill the hero',
couldn't tell you for sure as there was no set
list to peek at, but what you couldn't mistake
was his signature voice sounding as good as ever!
Two songs i know they played, which is more of
the straight up rock sound compared to his W13s
other side projects, and the lyrics seem bit more
serous and less tongue in cheek, the two songs,
Nothings all i need and Rocket to know where,
nothings al i need being my favorite gunfire 76
song. W13 seems in a playful mood bouncing around
the stage falling down every now and again, giving
it his all and he puts on a great show, with no
real let up towards the end of the set but what
i didn't like was the fact he didn't know the
name of the opening act as to his claims that
he only got up an hour ago and has been drinking,rock
and roll for sure, but disrespectful of the opening
band! The rest of the band, they genrally leave
the shenanigans to W13, just getting on with there
job, showing signs of life, they sound tight all
through the set. This was a good night out, but
compared to Wednesday 13s other band of the same
name, not as exciting or catchy, but cant be ignored
either.
Wooden Boy 2/5
Bullets And Octane 4/5
Wednesday 13 4/5
Review By Robert Lawrence |
