That
night getting to the venue and even getting in
was pure chaos due to roadwork’s and staffing
issues, this led me to miss Revoker who ended
up being on for a twenty minute session.
As I entered the room and made my way to the pit
I was greeted by the one and only Fozzy, the crowd
by this time is chanting “FOZZY....FOZZY”
so loud that I swear the whole of Nottingham had
turned out to greet the band.
Earlier in the day I had the pleasure of interviewing
Chris Jericho who was a great sport to interview
and very honest and humble. One question I had
asked him in the interview was “what is
your favoured track off the album?” to which
he replied “Spider in My Mouth, just because
when played live it gets a big reaction”.
Sure enough the first song was yes...”Spider
in My Mouth”, the crowd was instantly took
by the melodic genius of the song that whipped
the crowd into a Fozzy frenzy. By the end of the
track the fans seemed to be hooked by the atmosphere
and charismatic pull of the band. As the atmosphere
grew track by track the fans became engulfed by
the bands new tracks off the album “ Sin
and Bones” that was released on August 14,
2012.
Mid-point
in Fozzy’s set list came “God Pounds
His Nails”, a track that sent a vibe of
electricity through the room as the crowd seemed
to stand higher and firmer with anticipation.
Chris at this point is working the crowd along
with the band to new heights injecting copious
amounts of energy into the room. To my surprise
the band never stopped moving as they grew from
strength to strength seeming to have fun on the
stage.
At the end of “God Pounds His Nails”
Chris, Rich, Paul, Billy and Frank expressed their
gratitude to Nottingham for having them, they
love coming to the venue as it was one of their
first gigs in the UK, and the crowd echoed the
thanks back by way of defining cheers and roars.
The set list grew and grew implementing tracks
such as “Shine Forever”, “To
Kill a Stranger”,
“Sin And Bones” and then...”Enemy”
some old school Fozzy. The crowd drifted into
song as the first line was softly sung by Chris
and as the melodic tones built so did the crowd
becoming enthralled. Within 40 seconds when the
track came to the first chorus the crowd were
took into a session of energetic moshing that
was carried through to the last song on the nights
set list “Blood Happens”.
This
last track was the vice grip that embraced the
fans and took them to the pinicle of the 2012
album “Sin and Bones” ending this
momentous visit from the band on an immense high.
If you have seen Fozzy live then your first impression
much like mine was “WOW!” I was astonished
that the wrestler from the WWE who I have watched
and admired for years can belt out tunes like
a musical mastermind, The band in the terms of
Chris Jericho is “ the Bastard offspring
of Journey and Metallica “ and I have to
say a child as great as this one should be neutered
and heard! If this is your first time hearing
of Fozzy consider yourself educated and now you
have had your first lesson use Google, YouTube,
daily media and vevo to go and Fozzy up.
For more information, music and videos go to their
site:
http://www.fozzyrock.com/
After
a 30 minute intermission I took to the pit for
Drowning Pool and to be honest had no idea what
to expect as the vocal line-up over the years
has changed due to people leaving to join different
bands, death and musical differences. In 2012
Jason Moreno was announced as the lead vocalist
for the band and I have to say he has more than
filled the shoes of his predecessors.
It was around 9:30pm when Mike Luce (drums) took
to the stage and the welcome he received was astonishing,
as he spoke to the crowd for 5 minutes you could
feel the enjoyment and kick that the band gets
from performing. From stage right C.J. Pierce
( lead guitarist) appears followed by Stevie Benton
(bassist) who both jacked into the amps, turned
the volume up to full and began with “Step
Up”. With the thought occurring to me “where
is Jason?”...BOOM!! Like a bull in a china
shop he rushes onto the stage with the energy
and musical volatility of a nuclear power plant
instantly activating the crowd into high gear.
The
cacophonous tones and vocal ability that Jason
possesses is astounding and will leave any onlooker
stupefied by both his and the bands talent to
put on a show. Throughout the set list we get
to hear an even mixture of all five albums, just
past the halfway mark Jason asks the crowd “I
want all you to put your fists uuuuuuup! Here’s
One Finger and a Fist!”. The reaction from
the crowd was immediate as a forest of raised
fists quickly established the upright position
and was pumped into action. Drowning Pool at this
point is lifting the roof off Nottingham’s
Rescue Rooms and just when the roof couldn’t
get any higher, the final song comes to fruition
like we had hoped all night “Bodies”!!
This track is probably the best know track from
Drowning Pool so Jason goes for it ,all or nothing,
heart and soul and the crowed chewed into the
meaty, repeating lyrics like a 30oz Rump Stake
made for rock royalty and devoured it in under
four minutes. The lights go down as the track
finishes and the house lights raise to show an
exhausted but smiling Jason on the floor with
his towel mopping the stream of sweat pouring
from his brow. The whole band approaches the front
of the stage and extends a hand to the front row
and thanks everyone individually for coming out
to see them, following this they pick up the microphone
and promises Nottingham “We will be back
Nottingham”.
Drowning
Pool is one of the best, most intense bands I
have ever seen that are so open and approachable
as they just hang around the venue speaking to
the guests having a drink right up until they
go on stage. My advice to anybody who has heard
the track “Bodies” and liked it is
to go and see them as you won’t regret it.
For more information, music and videos go to their
site:
http://www.drowningpool.com/
Fozzy 5/5
Drowning Pool 5/5
Review By Nathan Williams
|
