WHEN it comes to hard rock you have to put all into it to gain the maximum pleasure - and that applies to whether you're a member of a band, or a member of the audience. And, Bonafide brought it in abundance for a night of sheer hard rockin' pleasure on March 29th at the Diamond Rock Club.
The Swedish band were making a return visit to the Diamond in Ahoghill (Rock City) and they produced a relaxed performance that also managed to maintain maximum commitment to rock at its finest.
Opening for Bonafide were local act Tric, making a return to live performances after a year in hiatus.
Now a four-piece Tric laid down a solid set, with the emphasis on blues tinged hard rock. The influences of DC and even Quo on their songs were neither slavish nor where they simply going through a 12-bar homage. Tric were back to plant a flag for rock.
Bonafide are a mystery band. They should be much more widely known given their songwriting, live performances and set of excellent recorded material. However, most present on March 29th knew the songs well.
Opening with the storming Bombo, Pontus Snibb is an engaging front man, obviously comfortable as the focal point of the band, his vocals and guitar playing a masterclass for those who want to follow the rock path.
While Pontus was the focus it would be a mistake to ignore the tight-knit unit of Bonafide. Bassist Martin Ekelund is the joker in the pack, climbing around the side of the stage and egging the audience on during the likes of Peg Legged Pete.
Niklas Masston's drums stay consistent and add flurries that give the edge to Suburb Baby Blues, which is a tune the audience apparently relate to judging by the number of people singing along.
As aide de camp Mikael Fassberg's guitar playing fills out the sound with solid rhythm, and when the opportunity arises playing some tight and entertaining lead solos.
Bonafide wrapped up with a duo of songs that reflect their ethos and the ethos of fans who are prepared to travel to see low down and lovely dirty hard rockin'.
Fill Yer Head With Rock and Hard Livin' Man were perfect closers, with the band rising up to meet the audience's enthusiasm.
Well-rehearsed and confident on stage Bonafide played it hard and played it well at the Diamond Rock Club - a well spent Saturday night for all present.
Showing posts with label Diamond Bar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diamond Bar. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Storm front flattens sweaty Diamond Rock Club
SWEAT-soaked, beer-drenched, loud and proud - when Stormzone launched their new album Three Kings at the Diamond Rock Club the thermometer was set to melt, the beer was quaffed and the five members of Stormzone laid down heavy metal the old school way - loud, proud and majestic.
The Ahoghil venue was packed, and it was close to the sweat of the collective fans running down the walls as the heat rose for a night of pure metal fun.
Opening act, all the way from the homeland of metal in Birmingham, were Agincourt, an outfit determined to show that the ghost of metal still can send shivers down the spine. With their set drawn largely from their 2011 album Angel of Mons, this was the spirit of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal writ large.
Edge of Paradise and Queen of the Night were included in a set that proved that this type of music translates well to the live setting; what sounds adequate from a studio recording roars to life on stage.
The band took the opportunity to play a new track, Rainbow Man, dedicated to the memory of Ronnie James Dio, which was a highlight to the show along with the eponymous Agincourt sounding appropriately epic. The only niggle throughout the night was the need Richard E Toy's vocals to have some backing vocal support on choruses to lift the sound.
On an ordinary night the sounds of Agincourt would have delighted the Diamond, but the 27th July saw Stormzone announce their intentions with a set that saw the band ascend further than they have ever done before. This was no ordinary night.
Opening with The Pass Loning it was clear from the off that this was a special night for the band, feeding off the audience from the first riff this was a show when Stormzone transcended from the mighty force they already were to something special.
From Death Dealer through to Spectre each song brought forward a tightly coiled spring which when unleashed flattened any doubt any indifferent attendee and brought then to their feet, punching the air, and roaring appreciation.
This was a night when hyperbole does not even convey the sense of joy both on stage and in the audience.
Harv was the jester leading like a Pied Piper, Steve and Davey played as if joined at the musical hip, while the whole entity was held from tottering over the edge by the solid anchors of Davy's drums and Graham's bass.
Stormzone could have stumbled over the precipice into pretention and a presumption that the audience was on their side, but the intent was to play as if the crowd needed to be sought after like an elusive lover.
Fear Hotel and Where We Belong had the audience singing every word and new album tracks Night of the Storm and the ballad Beware in Time delivered with aplomb the latter adding a new dimension to the headlong race to metal glory.
Even the intro tape to The Pain Inside sounded superb in the over-heated setting.
This was Stormzone rising to a new level.
The Diamond Rock Bar bowed to the majesty of Stormzone as they brought a true heavy metal storm front to Ahoghill, flattening all in its wake.
The Ahoghil venue was packed, and it was close to the sweat of the collective fans running down the walls as the heat rose for a night of pure metal fun.
Opening act, all the way from the homeland of metal in Birmingham, were Agincourt, an outfit determined to show that the ghost of metal still can send shivers down the spine. With their set drawn largely from their 2011 album Angel of Mons, this was the spirit of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal writ large.
Edge of Paradise and Queen of the Night were included in a set that proved that this type of music translates well to the live setting; what sounds adequate from a studio recording roars to life on stage.
The band took the opportunity to play a new track, Rainbow Man, dedicated to the memory of Ronnie James Dio, which was a highlight to the show along with the eponymous Agincourt sounding appropriately epic. The only niggle throughout the night was the need Richard E Toy's vocals to have some backing vocal support on choruses to lift the sound.
On an ordinary night the sounds of Agincourt would have delighted the Diamond, but the 27th July saw Stormzone announce their intentions with a set that saw the band ascend further than they have ever done before. This was no ordinary night.
Opening with The Pass Loning it was clear from the off that this was a special night for the band, feeding off the audience from the first riff this was a show when Stormzone transcended from the mighty force they already were to something special.
From Death Dealer through to Spectre each song brought forward a tightly coiled spring which when unleashed flattened any doubt any indifferent attendee and brought then to their feet, punching the air, and roaring appreciation.
This was a night when hyperbole does not even convey the sense of joy both on stage and in the audience.
Harv was the jester leading like a Pied Piper, Steve and Davey played as if joined at the musical hip, while the whole entity was held from tottering over the edge by the solid anchors of Davy's drums and Graham's bass.
Stormzone could have stumbled over the precipice into pretention and a presumption that the audience was on their side, but the intent was to play as if the crowd needed to be sought after like an elusive lover.
Fear Hotel and Where We Belong had the audience singing every word and new album tracks Night of the Storm and the ballad Beware in Time delivered with aplomb the latter adding a new dimension to the headlong race to metal glory.
Even the intro tape to The Pain Inside sounded superb in the over-heated setting.
This was Stormzone rising to a new level.
The Diamond Rock Bar bowed to the majesty of Stormzone as they brought a true heavy metal storm front to Ahoghill, flattening all in its wake.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Salvation online
THERE comes a time when it is past midnight: beer and mini-Jagers (79 in local Russell's Shop4U...nice way to spend a tenner!) are being consumed and you can't be bothered setting iTunes to shuffle again. What is one to do when effectively grounded owing to health - or lack thereof - and doggie minding?
It used to be the case that the latest CDs would be rammed unwillingly into the player, but they're really for the car or when you can scare the shit out of the neighbours and terrify the Christian family across the street.
Past midnight there must be some way to score a fix of hard rock and metal when tip tapping on the keyboard. After all Wednesday nights are sorted with Carrie Davenport's Pure Rock Fury on Blast 106FM doling out two hours of mayhem in her own inimitable style.
The rest of the week...well thanks to Seatzie's tip off to us at Metal Mansion, and Phil's dedication salvation is at hand thanks to Rock Radio NI. The concept is simple - a web based radio station which regularly plays rock and metal, and backs local bands and is available online, through wi-fi radio and other outlets. What is more if you are a fan with some time on your hands you can create your own playlist and become an online rock and metal DJ.
We're going to grasp the technical side of it when the Carlsberg runs out (sometime next week) and we get a Jager free evening (at 79p a mini bottle that's not altogether likely anytime soon!). Might even try and pull together a playlist....
But what the spirit of Carrie and Phil shows to us is that the hard rock and metal scene has massive potential.
And I'm not talking about some mythical breakthrough to the mainstream.
There is a healthy live scene. James's Distortion Project has kept the flame alive for more than a decade, and local gig venues are proliferating, from the hallowed land on OrmeauAvenue, to the Pavillion and the Diamond Rock Club in North Antrim.
Musically the scene is in rude good health, from beserker metal, through to hard rock and all the way to black metal, hardcore, classic metal and even a wee bit of thrash. The quality of the bands is growing and developing all the time.
FFS there's even a healthy rock and metal DJ scene [hat tip to Monk and the Paradise City crew!]
With this groundswell of support, interest and local dedication at some time there must be a coming together: a collective will that can bring the scene some collective earnings, that can be ploughed back into providing more and more ways to expose the scene.
And in a theme touched on previously on this blog, there is a lot of talent that merges around the scene (I have always said that headbanging stimulates brain cell growth!). Linking it all up is a challenge beyond mere mortals, but just for a few moments ponder what Norn Iron heavy fuggin' metal could achieve.
Bands who can be backed to generate the revenue to record and produce new material; live outlets; a community of support that can support the bands with everything from t-shirt designs through to PR, writing and album and poster design...
Okay, that's the maybe the Jager talking, but a collaborative approach just might begin to bring a burgeoning scene together...
Ahh feck! Re-read that and realised I was a misty eyed hippy dreamer for a moment! Action required: temporarily pause Rock Radio NI and slam some Slayer on!
Ahhh, that feels better know.
Calmness has infused the cells, more beer has been consumed. It's safe to switch back to Rock Radio NI and enjoy some new tunes, some old favourites and relax...
Your thoughts or random slagging off welcome as always either here or by email...
It used to be the case that the latest CDs would be rammed unwillingly into the player, but they're really for the car or when you can scare the shit out of the neighbours and terrify the Christian family across the street.
Past midnight there must be some way to score a fix of hard rock and metal when tip tapping on the keyboard. After all Wednesday nights are sorted with Carrie Davenport's Pure Rock Fury on Blast 106FM doling out two hours of mayhem in her own inimitable style.
The rest of the week...well thanks to Seatzie's tip off to us at Metal Mansion, and Phil's dedication salvation is at hand thanks to Rock Radio NI. The concept is simple - a web based radio station which regularly plays rock and metal, and backs local bands and is available online, through wi-fi radio and other outlets. What is more if you are a fan with some time on your hands you can create your own playlist and become an online rock and metal DJ.
We're going to grasp the technical side of it when the Carlsberg runs out (sometime next week) and we get a Jager free evening (at 79p a mini bottle that's not altogether likely anytime soon!). Might even try and pull together a playlist....
But what the spirit of Carrie and Phil shows to us is that the hard rock and metal scene has massive potential.
And I'm not talking about some mythical breakthrough to the mainstream.
There is a healthy live scene. James's Distortion Project has kept the flame alive for more than a decade, and local gig venues are proliferating, from the hallowed land on OrmeauAvenue, to the Pavillion and the Diamond Rock Club in North Antrim.
Musically the scene is in rude good health, from beserker metal, through to hard rock and all the way to black metal, hardcore, classic metal and even a wee bit of thrash. The quality of the bands is growing and developing all the time.
FFS there's even a healthy rock and metal DJ scene [hat tip to Monk and the Paradise City crew!]
With this groundswell of support, interest and local dedication at some time there must be a coming together: a collective will that can bring the scene some collective earnings, that can be ploughed back into providing more and more ways to expose the scene.
And in a theme touched on previously on this blog, there is a lot of talent that merges around the scene (I have always said that headbanging stimulates brain cell growth!). Linking it all up is a challenge beyond mere mortals, but just for a few moments ponder what Norn Iron heavy fuggin' metal could achieve.
Bands who can be backed to generate the revenue to record and produce new material; live outlets; a community of support that can support the bands with everything from t-shirt designs through to PR, writing and album and poster design...
Okay, that's the maybe the Jager talking, but a collaborative approach just might begin to bring a burgeoning scene together...
Ahh feck! Re-read that and realised I was a misty eyed hippy dreamer for a moment! Action required: temporarily pause Rock Radio NI and slam some Slayer on!
Ahhh, that feels better know.
Calmness has infused the cells, more beer has been consumed. It's safe to switch back to Rock Radio NI and enjoy some new tunes, some old favourites and relax...
Your thoughts or random slagging off welcome as always either here or by email...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Bus to Dan Reed
Afore ye landlubbers read about the joys of an upcoming Cathedral gig, slither with anticipation at Skindred or even whoop at Winger's gig there's the wee matter of Dan Reed. With ears a ringing from Machine Head and wide smiles after Blaze Bayley, Dan is putting in one of his regular appearances at the Diamond Bar, Ahoghill.
There are a few (very few) spaces available on a mini-bus from Belfast to the Diamond Bar. Leaving Frames in Belfast at 6:45 and returns whenever. Cost is 25 notes for bus and ticket...beer tokens are at your own expense.
Contact me here if you are interested
There are a few (very few) spaces available on a mini-bus from Belfast to the Diamond Bar. Leaving Frames in Belfast at 6:45 and returns whenever. Cost is 25 notes for bus and ticket...beer tokens are at your own expense.
Contact me here if you are interested
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