Ryan Rogue Radio + The Smoking Hearts + The Dilenquents + Kain + Henry and the Bleeders + Wolf Law + Radiating Eyes + Liam Vernon - 24th / 26th December 2009
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton /
Well it's that time of year again as the holiday festive season is upon us. With Christmas Day this year taking away the usual Friday slot, all attention was firstly centred on Thursday evening's X-Mess show. Held in Danny's Bar, this is high spirited free entertainment. It features four bands and an acoustic opening by Ryan of Rogue Radio. A complaint must be made of the schedule this evening, which ran excessively late. Many had left (myself included) by the time headliners Wolf Law started to play. An earlier start time or the dropping of one band may have eradicated this situation.
Young Ryan was certainly full of the festive atmosphere as he eased us gently into the musical fayre. Appropriately, he is wearing a pair of thick woolly mittens on this bitterly cold evening. His set features songs such as "Music is the Walk of Life" and a new one entitled "Main Supplier".
The volume radically changes as The Smoking Hearts are unleashed upon us. Frontman Rodd Lethal continually paces the limited confines of the bar like a caged tiger. Thankfully, he leaves the decorations alone this year! With a turbo charge trio of grinding guitars, their extremely quick songs are loudly delivered. The confident and hyperactive young frontman, with his brash showmanship, naturally takes everyone's eye, but the whole band seem to be having fun. "Sinking Ships" is a song that is typical of their bravado. As befitting this time of year, The Smoking Hearts put on a thoroughly rollicking show from start to finish.
Also on the bill tonight are The Dilenquents. Thie evening they are joined by guitarist Dazz from Radiating Eyes. He complements the trio perfectly. The popular band are given good applause and it's always good to welcome back Richard Taylor to the Esquires fold.
Kain are back! Relaunching their musical future after they imploded some six years ago. This rock quartet have put in a lot of hard work in their rehearsals. They are now ready to put on their live shows (this is only their second). Now comprising Ralph (vocals), Alan (drums), Sid (guitar) and Jules (bass). Judging by tonights performance it will be interesting to see how this re-emerging and slightly older band fare during 2010.
Boxing Day and it's time for the annual Upbeat Promotions Christmas party, known this year as the XXX-mas Bash. A good turnout with a natural party atmosphere. Headlining, in what is becoming a tradition, are Henry And The Bleeders. They truly epitomised that the show must go on as drummer Miles, suffering from a badly damaged right hand, still managed to put on a show stopping one-handed performance. Just don't mention Def Leppard! The psychobilly quartet give us a real Christmas celebration with The Bleeders brass sound a real bonus.
They may have monopolised Christmas at Esquires, but Wolf Law also battle against the odds as guitarist and backing vocalist Jason has lost his voice. He struggles on and deserves much credit. The boys give us a power packed thirty minute thrill with their awesome crafted riffs. "Obey the Law", "Chase down the Day", "Hardwired and Hellbent" and "Swingin the Bottle" are fired out. As the impressive poster says "If thunderous heavy rock anthems are your thing this is the band for you". They live up to the hype and don't let us down.
They may have changed their musical goalposts, but Radiating Eyes still know how to put on a show. This young noisecore quartet may be deeply ironic (I hope) as they thrash out "Live Music is Dead". The dark, ghostly and ever so slightly eerie intro to "Bleeding Day" misleads, as the song eventually bludgeons our senses. A fired up stage presentation is brilliant on "Steel Hearts". Their final song is "In Conclusion", to which the answer is simple. Most people's eardrums have been serrated by the force of this band.
Opening, with one of his all too rare level 2 appearances, is Liam Vernon. His Irish background comes to the fore, mainly with covers from The Pogues back catalogue. With a trusty bottle of cider to hand, Liam's strength is his jovial and engaging personality which comes across at all times.