Blaze Bayley / esOterica / Panic Cell / Six Second Silence

28 October 2010

Kings College University Student Union, London

 

Kings College University Student Union was a new venue for Rockers Digest and one that we’d like to visit again.Catching a lift up four floors with your fellow gig goers was a bit strange but once inside the venue was of reasonable size, easy to get a good view and equipped with a good sound system.

 

Delays however meant that Six Second Silence took to the stage 55 minutes later than planned and as a result all four bands had to trim their sets.With only 20 minutes originally planned, Jake Leigh had barely time to say a word to the crowd as the band ploughed through a swift 5 song set.

 

Leigh’s Alter Bridge shirt was a less than subtle hint of one the band’s influences which also drew from Nickleback.Whilst the songs showed promise, the delivery was hardly engaging.Perhaps it could be put down to the circumstances, but aside from the animated Nick Goldfinch on guitar, energy was lacking which didn’t inspire the early crowd.

 

Six Second Silence setlist:

Underworld / The Fallen / Surrender / Break Free / Awake

 

Six Second Silence Six Second Silence Six Second Silence

 

By contrast, Panic Cell know exactly how to engage a crowd and whatever the circumstances they always conspire to leave you with a smile on your face.I couldn’t believe that it’s actually three years since I last reviewed Panic Cell, especially given that this is the 14th time we have covered them.Since then Rob Hicks, formerly of Fourwaykill, has taken the drum stool and Nathan Wood had replaced Kelly Downes on guitar.However the day prior to this show it was announced Wood had left and with one rehearsal Chris Taylor stepped in to help out.Taylor kept a low profile presence, which wasn’t surprising, but ably supported the band.

 

New tracks Burden Inside and Splitting Skulls impressed and it would be great to see the band with more time in order to hear a few more from this year’s Fire It Up.Human Tarmac signalled Jägermeister time, with Luke Bell venturing into the crowd to pass out shots.A problem with Hick’s drums meant a young roadie had to squat down on stage holding a pedal in place and unfortunately for him his vulnerable position left him exposed to pranks including a wedgie and beer on the head.

 

Bell was back in the crowd for Panic Cell’s cover of Seal’s Crazy which has just been released.Passing the mic around, the crowd attempts to sing into the mic for this song really showed how strong Bell’s vocal has become.Unfortunately time was up and if there was ever a moment of leaving a crowd wanting more, this was it.

 

Panic Cell setlist:

Burden Inside / Away From Here / Splitting Skulls / Human Tarmac / Save Me / Crazy

 

Panic Cell Panic Cell Panic Cell

 

A year ago, last time we caught esOterica, they were launching their second album The Riddle.Since then it has deservedly found favour given the response to the songs that form the bulk of the band’s set tonight.esOterica had seen some changes too with Laura moving from bass to guitar and Conor O’Keefe, who impressed in the past as stand-in bassist, now filling that role permanently.

 

This was a set that built momentum particularly once the soundman had got to grips with balancing Tobias Keast’s occasionally quieter vocal.Keast brought the band to a halt at the start of Manimal to ask everyone to move closer reasoning, “It’s not scary, just a bunch of guys rocking out”.Getting the crowd to move in worked and also put a lot of pints in his vacinity with a successful request for half a beer.Cunningly he noted, “I only say half as everyone has half beers left!”

 

esOterica have really made Delirium’s Silence their own with some effective guitar work from Bari Parrott.Scream lifted the pace and Watch This Drive sounded massive.It was then just left for Keast to split the crowd for the “Anyone” response to Don’t Rely On Anyone which was well observed.Again the only disappointment here was the set ending so quickly.

 

esOterica setlist:

Tomorrow I Won’t Remember This / Samples / The Empire Of Eyes / Manimal / Silence / Scream / Watch This Drive / Don’t Rely On Anyone

 

Esoterica Esoterica Esoterica

 

With some key line up changes in 2007, Blaze Bayley re-titled his band under his full name rather then just Blaze.  For me this has been a wise move as there is a distinct difference with stronger material and a line-up which seems more suited to heavier material.  It’s not surprising then that aside from a nostalgic trip back to his time in Iron Maiden, the sole inclusion from the Blaze band era was Ten Seconds.

 

The real sense of purpose that the band exude as they took to the stage was mirrored by Bayley’s proclamation of “We play metal” as Blackmailer opened the set.There’s no let up or pause to take a breath as  Smile Back At Death and Faceless whizz by.Whilst the venue was hardly packed, Bayley does not let that effect his connection with those that are here.  He notes what an “Incredible welcome” the band receive before City Of Bones and later describing Watching The Night Sky as a song about feeling at home, he tells us that home is not a place but wherever we are as we make the band feel at home.  The fact that Bayley was at the merch stand to sign anything immediately as the set wrapped up was a further indication of his dedication to his fanbase.

 

A strong memory I have from Bayley’s Wolfsbane days was it wasn’t wise to be caught by the frontman not clapping along with the crowd, and little has changed with this writer being pointed at during Voices From The Past to join in.The whole crowd however get’s amusingly chastised at the start of Maiden’s Man On The Edge, with Bayley quipping, “Is this Brighton, is this Chelmsford, I thought it was London!”This is good natured fun though and it’s not all chest beating with Bayley explaining that whilst Ten Seconds is not about sex, he is “An expert in sex” as he, “can get sex done in under ten seconds.”

 

Whilst the band bears the frontman’s name and he unsurprisingly dominates attention, this still is a band and guitarists Jay Walsh and Nico Bermudez particularly impress.

 

Time constraints meant this was a vastly trimmed set and soon Madness & Sorrow led to Bayley’s announcement that “This is it, we are out of here, we need every last ounce of your energy” as The Man That Would Not Die closed a strong set and a very enjoyable evening.

 

Blaze Bayley setlist:

Blackmailer / Smile Back At Death / Faceless / City Of Bones / Voices From The Past / Watching The Night Sky / Letting Go Of The World / Man On The Edge / Ten Seconds / Madness And Sorrow / The Man Who Would Not Die

 

Blaze Bayley Blaze Bayley Blaze Bayley 

 

LINKS:

www.blazebayley.net

www.esoterica1.com

www.paniccell.com

www.sixsecondsilence.co.uk