10 top gigs, 1 sore neck! (Top 10 Gigs)

Member Name: cornixregina

Product:	Top 10 Gigs
Date:	08/08/06 (621 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great bands, Great gigs

Disadvantages: the sore neck - ouch

Top 10 now this is going be tough because I've been to over 30 in the last 8 years. Also not sure how I can put it in a fair order as I have seen new and old bands alike so here I go (information provided depends on my memory):


~ Nightwish - with support from Paradise Lost
~ Hammersmith Apollo - London - 25/09/05
~ Set List (may not be in order):
Dark Chest of Wonders
Planet Hell
Ever Dream
The Kinslayer
Phantom of the Opera (musical)
The Siren
Sleeping Sun
High Hopes (Pink Floyd cover)
Bless the Child
Wishmaster
Slaying the Dreamer
Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan
Nemo
Ghost Love Score
Creek Mary's Blood
Wish I had an Angel
~ This is my most favourite for 2 reasons. The first of which stands for every Nightwish gig I have been to and that is that Tarja’s voice cannot be fully appreciated until it is heard live and then it leaves you in total awe especially when you hear her hit the top notes in Phantom of the Opera. My other reason is because this was the first time that they brought their pyrotechnics across to the UK with them and although Nightwish’s shows are brilliant without them, they just made it complete and it was like watching one of their DVDs. They did a good mix of songs from all their albums and some interesting covers. This was also the band’s last UK gig before they sacked their singer on 21 October 2005 after the last show of their mammoth 15 month long “Once world tour” promoting their album “Once”. This is also one of the very few bands I have seen that sound better live that they do on CD.


~ Black Sabbath
~ Download Festival – Donington – 11/06/05
~ This was the first time I had been to a festival and boy it was worth it. Just to be in a crowd of around 147, 000 people was amazing enough but then to see the Ozzy Osbourne fronted Black Sabbath strut their stuff it was out of this world. I mean to see Ozzy on the TV with his stuttering and his lack of energy you wouldn’t believe it’s the same person because when he is on stage he has more energy than me and he is more or less 3 times my age! As for the sound I think they sound amazing – even better than they do on record. A band that is well worth seeing live. Saturday at Download 2005 was Ozzfest.


~ Billy Idol – un-supported
~ Barrowlands – Glasgow – 14/11/05
~ Set List (right order as I got a copy of it):
Super Overdrive
Dancing with Myself
Flesh for Fantasy
Body Snatcher
White Wedding
Scream
Eyes without a Face
Sweet Sixteen
To be a Lover
Cherie
Louisiana
(Steve Stevens’ Solo)
Rat Race
LA Woman
Blue Highway
World Comin’ Down
Ready, Steady, Go
Rebel Yell
Hot in the City
Kiss Me Deadly
Mony Mony
~ This was the second time I had seen Billy Idol (first time being at Download Festival – 10/06/05). I have been a fan since about the age of 10 maybe before and I am so glad that I was able to see him live. Despite being 50 years old he is as fit as he was when younger not to mention just as good looking if not better! He came on with his band and ling time guitarist Steve Steven’s and did nearly 2 and a half hours un-supported only getting a bit of a break when Steve did his solo. He sounded exactly as you would expect with the voice that all of his fans remember. He personalised a few of the songs like Hot in the City he sang “Hot in Glasgow tonight”. He also had the crowd in stitches with tales from past tours. This tour was “Devil’s Playground Tour” to promote his newest album “Devil’s Playground”. I came home with the set list and a Billy Idol plectrum.


~ Dragonforce – with support from Edguy and Sabaton
~ Carling Academy – Glasgow – 31/01/06
~ For people who don’t know who Dragonforce are they are a multi-national power metal band based in London. They sound like Iron Maiden on speed. This was the band’s only Scottish date on their “Inhuman Rampage: First Strike Tour” promoting their third and latest album “Inhuman Rampage”. This bands music features some of the fastest riffing and drumming that I have ever heard it is amazing but to see it and hear it done live is even more amazing. They sound exactly like they do on record and were great at getting the crowd going and involved.


~ Evanescence – with support from Seether
~ Hallam FM Arena – Sheffield – 20/05/04
~ Set List:
Haunted
Going Under
Taking Over Me
Everybody’s Fool
Thoughtless (Korn Cover)
My Last Breath
Further Away
Missing
Breathe No More
My Immortal
Bring Me to Life
Tourniquet
Imaginary
Whisper
~ This was the second time I had seen Evanescence (first time was 04/11/03 in Glasgow) but I chose this time as it was more special to me as before the gig I got to go backstage and meet the band and give them a poem I had written for them. I think they did a good mixture of songs from their album “fallen” and a few B-sides as well as a cover. This was the first rock band I saw live after my “pop” days and I was so impressed. To see a band that performed live was awesome and to have them sound like they do on record was even better. The emotion is Amy’s voice is 10 times rawer live. They were great!


~ The Rasmus
~ The Garage – Glasgow – 27/10/05
~ This was the second time that I had seen the band (first time being in Edinburgh on 27/10/04). I loved the gig! It was even better than the one in Edinburgh last year and that’s why I chose it for my list. I got taken in early as usual and just happened to spot Lauri (the singer) going to the bar so as he passed me I said hi and he stopped and shook hands. Another reason I chose this one is because it featured an acoustic set which they didn't do in Edinburgh last year. They performed the whole of their “Hide from the Sun” (also the name of the tour) album apart from 2 songs - it's not often you go to a gig and they do nearly a whole album. I think they did a really good mix of songs from their other albums too and I have to say they made more than the best of the 1hr 30mins that they were on stage!


~ The Offspring – with support from Send More Paramedics and The Letters Organise
~ SECC Hall 3 – Glasgow – 12/09/05
~ Although I don’t rate this venue very highly on quality of the view for those in wheelchairs I had to add this gig to my list. I had waited 8 years to see this band and I wasn’t disappointed. They sounded just as you would expect them to after hearing their CDs. They also did a good mix of songs from the one that broke them “Self Esteem” right up to their more recent “Hit That”. This gig was part of their “Greatest Hits Tour”


~ Bon Scott Tribute Night featuring Full Metal Racket, Vantage Point and Firebrand Super Rock
~ The Exchange – Edinburgh – 08/07/06
~ Vantage Point’s Set List:
Gaydar
Pleasure Slave
Gemma Gemini
Sail On
Too Much Work
Gripped By The Throat
24 Hour Breakdown
Just When I Wasn't Lookin'
Live Wire
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Touch Too Much
Bad Boy Boogie
~ Firebrand Super Rock and Full Metal Racket set lists not known
~ The main reason I went along to this was because I had seen both Firebrand Super Rock and Vantage Point perform locally and really liked them. Vantage Point even won our local Battle of the Bands. Another reason is because I like AC/DC. Full Metal Racket did two sets. They started the night off with a short set of non AC/DC songs. They got the somewhat small crowd warmed up in time for the next (my favourite) band Firebrand Super Rock. They did a set featuring both their own songs (one of which they dedicated to me) and AC/DC tracks. Firebrand Super Rock play classic metal with a twist (powerful Tina Turner-esque female vocals). Next on were Vantage Point – they have been compared to the likes of Judas Priest. They did a mixture of their own songs and AC/DC songs. Full Metal Racket came on to finish off the night with a full set of AC/DC songs and also at midnight we stopped and sang happy birthday to Bon Scott who would’ve been 60 had he not died. It was a great night and we caught up with Firebrand Super Rock afterwards as well so it was a must for this list.


~ HIM – with support from Anathema
~ Carling Academy – Glasgow – 23/04/06
~ This was the fourth time I had seen this band but I chose this one as the venue had a great sound system and you could easily hear the lead singer singing where in some other venues it has been a struggle to hear him over the music. This date was part of the “Dark Light Tour” in which they were promoting their latest album (yes you guessed it) “Dark Light”. They did a really good mix of songs spanning all 6 of their albums and for the first time I was able to fully appreciate what Ville’s (the singer) voice sounded like live and I was not disappointed. This gig was postponed from 19 January due to the lead guitarist breaking his wrist but it was more than worth the wait.


~ Anata – with support from Callous
~ Red Rooms – Hawick – 21/07/06
~ When Swedish death metallers Anata revealed that they were coming to Hawick (a town a mere 30 minutes away from where I live) I couldn’t believe it and decided to go along even though it’s not quite my thing. They were touring with a local band (from Carlisle). I have to say I’m not really a fan of songs that the singers just growl their way through but that aside their drumming is the fastest and most amazing I have ever heard and they had the crowd going mental. That’s why I had to add it to the list. Also with the Red Rooms being a very small venue (max capacity of 250 people) I got the chance to meet the bands afterwards and got pictures taken with the singers of both bands.


That’s my list for now as the list may change because I am seeing these bands later in the year:

Muse – with support from My Chemical Romance
Lacuna Coil + Devil driver + support
Lordi (this year’s Eurovision winners) + support
Iron Maiden + Trivium

Summary: 10 gigs that rocked my socks off!