Music / Previews
Metal & Prog Picks: December 2018
Considering the musical incorrectness of the artists featured in this section, an awful lot of shameful people don’t seem to have received the memo instructing them that they’re not permitted to like this stuff. Among the gigs already sold out this month are The Magpie Salute, Clutch, Myrkur, Steve’n’Seagulls and Rick Wakeman. Toby Jepson’s intimate one-night-stand at the Louisiana sold out so quickly that he’s added a second night. Oh, and the great Devin Townsend’s show at St. George’s next April sold out in a jiffy too, but that’s hardly a surprise. In addition, those fab Yeovil proggers The Pineapple Thief’s gig at the Fleece next March has just been upgraded to SWX, such was the demand for tickets.
Fiddlers, Dec 1
is needed now More than ever
Not quite a Black Crowes reunion, guitarist Rich Robinson’s new band does however include fellow former Crowes guitarist Marc Ford and bassist Sven Pipien. They’re joined by drummer Joe Magistro and keyboardist Matt Slocum from Robinson’s solo band, who played a great show at the Fleece back in 2012. On vocals is John Hogg. Their debut studio album, High Water I, is out now on the Mascot/Provogue label and is something of a treat for anyone who misses the Crowes’ brand of southern rock. Incidentally, The Magpie Salute are due to be interviewed by Andy Fox for his Rock Show (the longest-running show on BCFM, fact fans) while they’re in Bristol. Go here for an archive of previous Rock Show interviews.
O2 Academy, Dec 2
The second Alter Bridge member to play a solo show here this year (Myles Kennedy was at the Thekla back in March), guitarist Mark Tremonti is now four albums in to a parallel career with his own band, whose music pursues more of a melodic speed metal direction.
Thekla, Dec 4
Yes, they’re three Finnish brothers and they’re called Von Hertzen. Preposterously talented Kie, Mikko and Jonne Von Hertzen were last in town at the Fleece back in 2017 and were quite jaw-droppingly awesome, effortlessly pulling off all those incredible vocal harmonies they sing on record. If Crosby, Stills and Nash played melodic prog-metal they might sound something like this. They haven’t released anything new since War Is Over, which saw them venture further into prog territory, and this is the first show in a run of dates that will see them join the Uriah Heep tour later in the month. If you’ve not seen them before, prepare to be mightily impressed.
Fleece, Dec 6
We’ll try to resist referring to this lot as the Finnish Hayseed Dixie. But, er, that’s what they are, being a bluegrass act playing covers of metal classics on banjo, spoons, upright, bass, accordion, and guitar. Their name is a corruption of ‘Steven Seagal’ (for no obvious reason), they all dress in authentic redneck garb, and their jolly videos have proven hugely popular on YouTube. The official term for this stuff, by the way, is Hillbilly Metal.
Thekla, Dec 8
There must be something in the water in Gothenburg. Not only has the city produced a thriving melodic death metal scene, but it’s also making quite a contribution to Sweden’s other major rock movement: bands who look back, sometimes rather slavishly, to early ’70s British hard rock for their inspiration. The name and image might lead you to expect monolithic, Sabbath-derived riffage, but Graveyard are a cut above their peers, having spent 12 years ploughing their own unique furrow that’s heavy on the intricate twin lead guitar and light on anticipated powerchords. They’ve released a couple of albums (and split up briefly, before thinking better of it) since they last played Bristol back in 2012, the latest of which, the excellent Peace, topped the Swedish albums chart.
Louisiana, Dec 13 &14
Billed as ‘An Evening with Toby Jepson’, this intimate acoustic show by the former Little Angels and current Wayward Sons frontman promises a bunch of old songs plus plenty of toomfoolery, with BCFM Rock Show presenter Andy Fox on hand to try to keep some kind of order. Wayward Sons keyboard player Dave Kemp is billed as ‘special guest’, with more surprises promised. The Dec 14 show sold out in a flash, but at the time of writing a few tickets remain for the additional show on Dec 13.
St. George’s, Dec 16
The affable, curry-loving self-styled Grumpy Old Rock Star takes a break from The Other Yes (with Jon Anderson and Hollywood blockbuster soundtrack king Trevor Rabin) for this lengthy Piano Odyssey tour, which pitched up in Bath last month. It’s in support of his new album of the same title; the follow-up to 2017’s Piano Portraits, which became his biggest chart hit since The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table back in 1975, eventually reaching number six. That album arose from Wakeman’s solo piano performance of Bowie’s Life on Mars? (he played on the 1971 original), which he performed live on Radio 2 after the Dame’s death and which subsequently became a viral online hit. As the title suggests, the new album comprises another collection of piano reworkings of his favourite songs, including Bohemian Rhapsody (which originally defeated him). We can presumably expect many of them to be played tonight, along with a selection of vintage Wakeman anecdotage. Beware, however, that this run of shows is being billed as the Christmas Piano Odyssey tour, with a threatened “seasonal twist”.
Fleece, Dec 17
When B24/7 reviewed the Reykjavik proggers’ (or ‘atmospheric post-metal’ band if you really must be wanky about it) previous Bristol show at the Exchange, we suggested that they’d be back on a bigger stage. What we didn’t anticipate is that it would take three bloody years for this to happen. Still, better late than never, especially as they’ve found time to release their excellent sixth album, Berdreyminn, on Season of Mist. Produced by Birgir Birgirsson (Sigur Rós, Alcest) and Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost), this prompted a startling outburst of flowery prose from Metal Hammer, who described it as “…a work of staggering depth, tapping into an ethereal netherworld of droney guitars, mournful piano-driven dirges and prismatic crescendos that converge beyond the five bodily senses.”
O2 Academy, Dec 18
The hugely popular Maryland sluggers return with their biggest UK hit album to date, Book of Bad Decisions, which hit the top 20 back in September. “It’s punchy and wise, freaky and funny, and it throbs and hums like an electric fence,” enthused Classic Rock, which ranked this 12th release right up there with Clutch’s best. Mind you, they’ll have to be on top form to eclipse their performance at this very venue on the Psychic Warfare tour back in 2015. Get there early for German duo The Picturebooks. Don’t be put off by their twee indie-sounding name. Last seen here supporting Monster Truck at the Marble Factory, they make a huge dirty blues noise, with drummer Philipp Mirtschink pummelling away at his kit like a man possessed.
Fleece, Dec 19
One of the strongest contenders for gig of the year was Epica’s show at the Academy back in April. That’s not just because the Dutch symphonic metallers were on magnificent form, but because they were headlining a pleasingly diverse bill showcasing three frontwomen who sing in very different styles. Sandwiched in the middle was Myrkur, aka Amalie Bruun from Denmark, who achieved the remarkable support act feat of completely silencing the packed Academy with her spellbinding performance. Myrkur operates at the intersection of folk and black metal, her brilliant Mareridt bagging Best Album at last year’s Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards. Support tonight comes from virtuoso cellist Jo Quail, who has collaborated with Myrkur and black metallers Wynterfylleth. Progtastically comprising just three tracks, her new album Exsolve was produced by Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studios, which is where the likes of Electric Wizard, Primordial, Witchsorrow and Conan record. We’ll try to resist referring to her as a one-woman Apocalyptica.
The Quireboys unplugged/Sons of Liberty
Fleece, Dec 23
What better way to get in the mood for the festive break than a boozy evening with Geordie funsters The Quireboys, playing their first unplugged gig in Bristol since that Thekla show back in 2014? With Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin on acoustic guitars, the real pleasure of these shows is in being able to hear flat-capped keyboardist Keith Weir’s contributions, which occasionally get lost in the mix at fully amplified Quireboys shows. Support comes from Bristol’s very own southern rockers Sons of Liberty, who’ll be getting into the spirit of the evening by also playing an unplugged set. Their new six-track Aged in Oak EP is out now.
COMING SOON
Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.
Damian Wilson & Adam Wakeman, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, Jan 10
Avatar, Anson Rooms, Jan 19
Powerwolf/Amaranthe, SWX, Jan 21
Skid Row, O2 Academy, Jan 25
Mastodon, O2 Academy, Jan 26
Inglorious, O2 Academy, Jan 29
Behemoth/At the Gates/Wolves in the Throne Room, Motion, Feb 6
Buckcherry/Hoobastank, O2 Academy, Feb 6
Thunder, Bath Forum, Feb 11
Haken, Fleece, Feb 17
Decapitated, Thekla, Feb 18
Blue Oyster Cult/The Temperance Movement, St. Philips Gate, Feb 28
UFO, O2 Academy, March 7
Cats in Space, Thekla, March 8
Hayseed Dixie, Fleece, March 11
Windhand, Exchange, March 12
Riverside, SWX, March 21
The Pineapple Thief, SWX, March 24
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Exchange, March 28
Massive Wagons, Thekla, April 6
Devin Townsend, St. George’s, April 26
Astral Festival, SWX/The Lanes/Rough Trade, July 6
Marillion, Bath Forum, Nov 9
Steve Hackett, Bath Forum, Nov 20
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