GIG: The Answer

A short mention first of all to support bands Toxic Federation and General Fiasco, whose sets I largely missed due to arriving late etcetera. As you do.

Oh wow. On a cold night in March 2007 I saw these guys at a very small venue at Northumbria University with a small but dedicated crowd. I was impressed then, and bloody hell have they grown - in fanbase size, talent, and so much more. This time they headlined the oh so very slightly bigger O2 Academy nearly a year after supporting AC/DC touring the USA. Having released debut album Rise in 2006, they were touring to promote the sophomore Everyday Demons. The special edition comes with a live CD recorded in Japan - where the band are liked very much. They've good taste, those Japanese rockers.

It was a very confident performance and in addition to tunes from their first album such as Never Too Late, Under The Sky, and the foot-stomping Preachin' they played much of the new stuff, including the spectacular Evil Man and the darker Why'd You Change Your Mind. The first album having probably sold more, I prefer Everyday Demons - purely because of its depth. As a band The Answer have come far and matured. We salute you!

GIG: Black Stone Cherry/Duff McKagan's Loaded/The Parlor Mob

Black Stone Cherry made it their fourth return to Newcastle in just over a year and a half with this, their second headlining gig at the O2 Academy. They must like the place, and what can we say, we love them right back. With the young classic Parlor Mob and the punky Loaded supporting them, there was something for everyone. I hadn't anticipated it but tickets sold out many weeks before the show, which just represents how far these guys have come and how far they will surely go.

Classic rockers The Parlor Mob hit the stage first with a fury and energy many of the crowd weren't expecting. Having not long released their debut album, this is a band who seem to be developing their own style of hard rock, and will learn a lot by big tours like this. Though their set was short and sweet, they won their own new set of fans (including me) with their enthusiastic spirit. I think we'll be seeing more of The Parlor Mob....

Next up the newly re-branded Duff McKagan's Loaded brought the star to the show with the man from Guns N' Roses himself promoting his own very talented band with what can only be described as dirty rock and roll. I really enjoyed their first underrated album, and having released the second one its good to see Duff singing again while Velvet Revolver are on (apparent) hiatus in the search for a new vocalist. On the back of this, I reckon Duff wouldn't do too bad a job himself. Having powered up the crowd enough, they finished off with the mighty Guns' classic It's So Easy. Brilliant.

The two opening bands couldn't have done better to set the atmosphere alight, and after a short break Black Stone Cherry came on to the now familiar sound of Rain Wizard. This might sound weird but after liking BSC since early days, it was encouraging to see so many people singing along. They go from strength to strength and I already cannot wait for their next album. Each tour they come up with something different, and this time they did a little medley/jam, including an amazing short piece of Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama. After all, they are from the deep south. One of the best bands out there right now. Bring on the next tour!

GIG: Massive Attack

For some years now, I have wanted to see Massive Attack live. My brother got me into their music at a fairly young age, and I remember borrowing Blue Lines and Protection for a fair few years. But they've never actually visited Newcastle before and with the track record of the band, you never know if they're going to produce another album or split up. Thankfully they announced a tour to support a new album (which has now been delayed, and an EP, Splitting the Atom, has instead been released) with a date at the O2 Academy in September. I had even booked tickets in the pre-sale as I was paranoid about them selling fast, which they did.

Now to the gig. It was very much a family affair, Massive Attack being one of those unique bands you can't really categorise attracting many ears. I'm not even going to go into the "trip-hop" conversation! Personally, I was absolutely knackered from fresher's week and was recovering from the worst cold ever. I needed a good night out to cure (or reignite?) it. I went in having no idea what to expect from a live Massive Attack performance. Martina Topley-Bird was the opening act for Massive on this tour, and she has a great voice. Her set was fairly short. By the time she had left the stage the Academy was packed to the brim. Anticipation!

We got close to the front before they came on despite the numerous people with the same idea. The lights went dark and the music started...and the most amazing light show I've ever seen began. Behind the musical kit was a massive screen with various things on it. The photos explain this better! I had an "oh shit" moment when the silhouettes of 3D (Robert Del Naja) and Daddy G (Grant Marshall) appeared on stage. They started with some new tracks which should be on the new album, on one of which Martina Topley-Bird herself sang. The new stuff is quite different to old Massive, but it is a brilliant new direction. The man himself Horace Andy came onstage to sing new track 16 Seeter before the familiar tones of Risingson raised the crowd's spirits. By this time everyone was completely into the performance. On certain songs the screen behind showed various symbols and figures such as local crime rates and other interesting stuff. Massive Attack, if anything, are more than just their music. More classics followed with Future Proof and Teardrop. As for crowd participation, Horace Andy reappeared for a rowsing and heavy version of Angel, the ultimate slow-build-up-release.

Possibly the best song played that night was Safe From Harm from Blue Lines. The female vocalist (whose name I can't recall unfortunately) belted this one out just like the original version, only right at the end Massive Attack's current lead guitarist played the most mind-blowing guitar solo which strangely seemed to fit right in to the song. After this 3D danced his weird dance with his back to the audience as the light show played on to Inertia Creeps. Creeped out indeed.

Massive Attack had saved the best 'til last however. New EP Horace Andy track Splitting the Atom was followed by the almighty Unfinished Sympathy, before rolling into a new epic track called Marakesh. At this point of the performance, my mind was flying high above the clouds, truly in a world of its own. Just when I thought they had finished, the drums kicked in to Karmacoma. Jamaica' aroma.

One of the best if not the best gig. A unique experience.

GIG: Megadeth/Testament

For some reason (I know not what), one of the "Priest Feast" gigs (a UK tour with the above two bands supporting Judas Priest) in somewhere like Nottingham was cancelled. And for another reason, Megadeth and Testament decided they would come up north and play at the newly sponsored O2 Academy. Something tells me it's due to Megadeth's great reception this time last year. Whatever the reason, it meant I and a mate got to see one of metal's greatest for the second year running. We decided to forego the walk around town and instead freeze our balls off waiting in the very long queue whilst analysing the impatient crowd and watching people walk by. We got in finally for about 7.15pm and after a few seconds of regretting to bring merch money for slightly-better-looking-t-shirts we remembered what we came for and proceeded to the Academy floor waiting for Testament to show their faces. They soon did and although the fuzzy sound system didn't to them justice they impressed with their enthusiasm, especially that of lead vocalist Chuck Billy, who has Native American ancestry (random interesting fact, I know). However what seemed like every ten minutes of their set Billy would say "We love you Newcastle, you're the best crowd on this tour yet" or "It's good to be back" or something similar. I hope they were telling the truth, but I was there for one band and one band only. Nevertheless, these guys have been touring for over 20 years and have their own set of devoted fans.

Half an hour later and the lights went down to Sleepwalker followed by Wake Up Dead as Mustaine, Broderick, Lomenzo and Drover rattled onstage. Being at the front quickly became a struggle to stay upright, everyone jostling to get forward to see Dave. It was a great atmosphere again, and there were few surprises in a typical Megadeth set with perhaps the exception of the excellent Ashes In Your Mouth. It just so happens that a "typical Megadeth set" is a truly metal set, and it was very enjoyable. I had faint hope beforehand for at least a hint of new material, but it seems what will be Megadeth's twelfth studio album is still very much in the works. After their last album United Abominations it has a lot to live up to, but I can wait.

No pictures save the ticket this time I'm afraid, I was too busy being crushed at the front to even consider reaching for my phone. This didn't stop a few others however, a guy next to me cried out "aww sh*t, me screen's broke" in typical Geordie spiel when he brought out his Nokia to get some shaky shots of Mustaine and his brilliant looking custom guitars. Whilst watching an incredible Tornado of Souls I realised that Megadeth now look a very solid band. Last time guitarist Chris Broderick had just joined, and I remember being impressed at how skilled he was. This time I was impressed at how well the band looked as Megadeth, not just Dave Mustaine and a few session musicians. A lot of talented guys have passed through Megadeth, but they're looking superb and I've got a lot of anticipation for the new album, due about September-ish 2009. Watch this space.