Heaven’s Basement / The Crave / Jettblack
12 May 2009
100 Club, London


Amazingly this was my first visit the 100 Club. Passing through a door between two shops at number 100, Oxford Street, you feel like you’re entering an office rather than a venue until at the end of the corridor you descend into a more familiar gig environment. The venue is much wider than it is long giving it a unique vibe.

First up tonight were hard rockers Jettblack who immediately grabbed the crowds attention with Slip It On. Fooled By A Rose reminds us of a laid back Piece Of Me by Skid Row but there’s a definite British feel to Jettblack that reaches back to the 1980s. Taking Control sees the lead vocal switch from Will Stapleton to lead guitarist Jon Dow, as the pacey number gets some heads bobbing and affords drummer Matt Oliver a spot in the limelight.

Two Hot Girls and When It Comes To Loving may be steeped in The Darkness like postcard humour but they’re catchy as hell and even got Justin Hawkins, who was in the crowd tonight, nodding along. Not Even Love is the obligatory power ballad and would have had lighters waving in the pre-smoking ban 1980s. Holding moved the pace up a notch with Oliver braying away on his Baywatch decorated snare drum, before crowd pleaser Get Your Hands Dirty closed the set to a loud response.

Jettblack set list:
Slip It On / Fooled By A Rose / Taking Control / Two Hot Girls / When It Comes To Loving / Not Even Love / Holding / Get Your Hands Dirty


Whilst the crowd loved Jettblack there was an air of indifference for The Crave. This was highlighted when drummer C.J. Evans tried to get the crowd clapping at the start of The Stray to no response. It was one of those embarrassing moments where he had to persevere once he’d started. In truth it was actually the strongest song of the set and the warm response at the end suggested Evans may have got a few clapping if it was after this song.

However, where the start of the set was fairly solid, a run of songs which were more alternative rock than hard rock lost the crowd. Certainly this was well crafted material and the band’s presence showed why they are getting high profile support slots such as Nickelback. Had they been supporting a band such as Feeder, I think The Crave would have gone down a storm, but this hard rock crowd were less receptive.

The Crave set list:
Cooking / My Little Secret / The Stray / Headlights / Beautiful / High / Send Me Up / Mercenary


Tonight was however Heaven’s Basement’s night and they hit the stage with gusto. Where as in their early days under their previous moniker(s) they would bound around the stage like excited young pups, their perseverance and determination has crafted a much grittier band akin to a dog that would bite your leg and not let go. Certainly the fresh faces have gone with frontman Richie Hevanz sporting a new punk look hair do, Chris Rivers attacking his drumkit like it had offended him and a wiry looking Jonny Rocker on guitar the epitome of rock’n’roll.

Tear Your Heart out was a strong opener with Hevanz amazing vocal hitting all the notes from the start. The crowd were easily persuaded to clap along as Can’t Let Go. With its “woah-woah” refrain this song sucks you in and then hits you with a chorus that sticks like glue. The song previously known as Saint Routine has been reworked into Misunderstood. As this was previously one of my favourites it was initially odd to get my head round the new version, but it seems that Heaven’s Basement have been wise in tweaking their catalogue to add variation.

Half way in and Hevanz voice reached new highs with Deadman which he revealed was “a confession of sorts.” I think I noted back when I first saw the band in 2003 that Hevanz was pretty much the finished article and his presence in the band is striking in a similar way to Josh Todd’s in Buckcherry. If Hurricane Party were similarly from the States you can imagine the metal press would be all over them.

Reign On My Parade featured a solo from Sid Glover that Billy Duffy would have been proud off and a sweat soaked Chris Rivers rose from behind his kit at its conclusion, following a spell of relentless drumming.

A slowed down version of Mirrors worked a treat and was followed by a new song, Life Of Me. Comically introducing the next song, Hevanz informed us that “It’s all going to shit. Pete Andre and Jordan are splitting up, there’s a recession, swine flu! Today could be your Executioner’s Day.”

Never Write A Love Song was another to get the rework treatment, now called 10 Minutes this one certainly works better. Hevanz tells us that the band has been on tour for a while but this was the best gig in a long time. With the crowd not wanting the band to leave they oblige with the laid back Such Is Life.

Following the gig we caught up with drummer Chris Rivers and asked him a few questions which can be seen below.

Heaven’s Basement set list:
Tear Your Heart Out / Can’t Let Go / Misunderstood / No Pity / Deadman / Reign On My Parade / Mirrors / Life Of Me / Executioner’s Day / 10 Minutes / Such is Life


A Quick Catch Up With Heaven’s Basement Drummer Chris Rivers

How has the UK tour gone and where are the wildest Heaven’s Basement fans?
The UK tour has been our best yet, a few shows have been sell outs. There are wild fans at every gig! Aberdeen was pretty wild, someone broke their arm in the chaos.

You were surrounded by pictures of legendary musicians who had played the 100 Club, how did it feel to headline there and how was the show for you?
It felt great to headline the 100 club, like you said - many great bands have played there over the years! Hopefully our photos will be on that wall someday!

16 dates is a lengthy tour to be cooped up together who’s got the worst on the road habits?
Haha, everyone has their habits which irritate each other! I am pretty sure that the other 4 guys would all say I am the worse for some reason! Sid snored like a fucking beast last night when I room shared with him so that’s the one in my mind at the moment!

The tour coincided with the release of your Heaven’s Basement EP what has been the reaction?
Fantastic, we couldn’t have asked for better, we have raised the bar now. The next tour will be another step up

What’s next for Heaven’s Basement?
..right now, find some food then head to the Cardiff barfly haha! Seriously, we want to start getting our Debut album underway asap. We also have some summer festivals and support slots to look forward too.


LINKS:
Heaven’s Basement
The Crave
Jettblack