en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal The Last.fm journal for Megatron-1. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2013/05/08/5ti9ln_meshuggah__devin_townsend_@_brixton Wed, 8 May 2013 12:42:13 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2013/05/08/5ti9ln_meshuggah__devin_townsend_@_brixton Fri 3 May – Meshuggah & Devin Townsend Project (co-headline)

Meshuggah & Devin Townsend Project
+ Periphery
O2 Academy Brixton
3rd May 2013


Do line-ups get much better than this? Not often. Once in a blue moon you'll see some great bands come together, but for the most part, this is one of the strongest you'll see all year. Tonight, two of the most influential, consistent and just plain best acts in metal go head-to-head at the legendary Brixton Academy in a co-headline showdown that those in attendance will tell their children about one day.

Serving as the warm-up for this momentous ocassion are Maryland youngsters Periphery, one of the key bands in the 'djent' movement of the last few years - a movement of young bands who basically all wish they were Meshuggah - who are visibly delighted to be opening for their heroes. Other than perhaps the time they opened for Dream Theater on their arena tour last year this is easily the gig of their career so far. They know this and they perform like it.

Spencer Sotelo has improved as a frontman greatly over the last year or two and his vocals are great tonight, while the rest of the band are tight and well-rehearsed, but their choice of setlist isn't the strongest. Their six-song performance leans mostly towards material from their latest, but numbers like Scarlet and Luck as a Constant could easily have been replaced by Facepalm Mute and The Walk, some of the stronger songs in their arsenal. Nevertheless, they are brimming with confidence and enthusiasm and ending with Icarus Lives! is always a good idea.

Nothing beats the real thing, though. Meshuggah, the Swedish metal wizards launch headfirst into Swarm from last year's Koloss. They sound massive. Following are an onslaught of songs heavy enough to destroy planets; Combustion, Rational Gaze, Lethargica and Do Not Look Down to name a few - all delivered with near-telepathic levels of musicianship that will leave you gobsmacked at how human beings, just like any of us, are capable of creating such an intricate, almost architectural cacophony; a concentrated tsunami of riffs, polyrhythms and crazy time signatures so spot-on you'd think the band were actually machines.

Throughout the hour and a half in which they possess the stage, Meshuggah are both bludgeoningly violent and eerily hypnotic almost simultaneously. It's almost impossible to resist playing air guitar to New Millenium Cyanide Christ just like in the video. No other band could pull off a song like Bleed or the epic, nearly ten-minute Dancers to a Discordant System. Under the right circumstances, a Meshuggah live performance transcends beyond a mere metal show: there's something otherworldy about witnessing them on a large stage in complete darkness with an extremely talented light guy (Youtube him) - their ability to create music that is so crushingly heavy yet hauntingly atmospheric and unlike anything before it is borderline paranormal. Meshuggah are truly masters of their craft; after all, their practically invented it. Their set comes to a close with a monolithic final one-two of In Death - Is Life and In Death - Is Death, leaving Brixton decimated six ways from Sunday. Imitated by many and bettered by none, they are indeed the undisputed kings.

How could anyone follow that? Well, in terms of sheer heaviness, technicality or near-superman musicianship, it is impossible to best Meshuggah. Devin Townsend does not intend to, though. To quote a certain Monty Python film, "and now for something completely different". Almost everything about Devin's set is the polar opposite to the great Swedes'. His 90 minutes are preceded by a montage of silly Youtube videos on the screen at the back of the stage. The lights aren't dimmed as the band walk on and any kind of seriousness and intensity of the previous two hours has been dropped. Devin and his band look overjoyed to be here. Who can blame them? The following 90 minutes are all about singing along, dancing, swaying arms in the air, raised lighters for the ballads and just plain fun.

That's not to say Devin isn't capable of bringing the weight, though - his wall-of-sound approach has served him well all these years, and few songs embody that like the opening Angel. It's loud - really loud. He's joined by the lovely Anneke van Giersbergen tonight, who provides additional vocals on many songs (including those she didn't record on) and a four-person choir. While this is nowhere near as extravagant as last year's Retinal Circus, it's probably the next best thing. They've got all areas covered tonight; there's Juular for those wanting some heavy, Where We Belong for the sing-alongs and Bad Devil to satisfy anyone feeling the need to throw some shapes. It just goes to show how versatile and talented this man really is. It must be said, though, that they missed a major opportunity in not getting Fredrik Thordendal to play his part in the epic 10-minute Planet of the Apes - the song even directly mentions Meshuggah! It's a dissapointment, but it doesn't do much to detriment this euphoric experience.

To crown one of tonight's main acts a clear victor wouldn't really be fair. You could argue who was better all night, but let's face it - this was a masterclass in metal brilliance and we're not going to see anything this good in a long time. Let's call it a draw and have a rematch in a couple of years, yeah?]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2013/02/16/5r2krk_tremonti_@_wolverhampton_wulfrun_hall,_14th_february_2013 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:54:49 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2013/02/16/5r2krk_tremonti_@_wolverhampton_wulfrun_hall,_14th_february_2013 Thu 14 Feb – Tremonti, Heaven's Basement

There's no mistaking that Mark Tremonti is a very talented musician – his skills on the guitar are nothing short of awe-inspiring and he's a pretty good singer to boot. He achieved massive success in two of the most successful American rock bands in the last twenty years and has some incredible (Alter Bridge) songs under his belt. While AB singer Myles Kennedy is off gallivanting with guitar legend Slash, Mark has decided to step into the spotlight – his 2012 solo album All I Was was chock-full of massive tunes, but does he have what it takes to truly step out of his bandmate's shadow in the live circuit?

Openers Logan have been around longer than you'd think – since 2003 they've released five studio albums and have been longtime touring partners of tonight's headliner. Despite hailing from Scotland, their sound is very reminiscent of the American post-grunge bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s such as Staind, Godsmack and Puddle of Mudd. Thus, their songs are quite generic, but their set serves its purpose as a warm-up and they are well-received.

As enjoyable as that was, what this gig really needs is a good old kick up the backside. It's fast-rising UK rockers Heaven's Basement who supply said kick. Their songs are far punchier and immediate than their predecessors, and although this static crowd still isn't moving much, new(ish) frontman Aaron Buchanan is exciting to watch and they look like they're having a blast up there. Songs like I Am Electric and Fire, Fire from their debut album Filthy Empire go down a treat.

Mark and his band (including Van Halen bassist Wolfgang, son of Eddie) hit the stage and open with Leave It Alone, but the muddy sound of the Wulfrun Hall prevents it from being as massive as it should be. Fortunately the situation quickly improves, and in the next 75 minutes the (remarkably tight) Tremonti band perform the entire All I Was album, including two B-sides that didn't make the cut, and they're just as good as anything else on the record. These are all great songs that all perfectly showcase Mark's impressive abilities, but with enough melody and big choruses to stop this from being heartlessly showing off. These songs have substance to back the musicianship.

That said, what this show has in killer tunes it lacks in atmosphere and the fun of a hard rock gig. Aside from the odd pit during the thrashier moments of songs like Wish You Well and So You're Afraid, this audience is still far too calm and collected. Decay and You Waste Your Time get a bit of a sing-along going but the crowd never really ignites, and it's a crying shame. It's also worth nothing that while he could shred circles around most metal guitarists and he's a solid vocalist, he doesn't possess that all-powerful command over the crowd that Myles has. Maybe it's a little unfair to compare him to his Alter Bridge bandmate, but until Mark can truly master the art of the frontman, these live shows will be just good, not great.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2012/12/04/5oqrw7_alexisonfire_@_o2_academy_brixton,_3rd_december_2012 Tue, 4 Dec 2012 23:48:46 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2012/12/04/5oqrw7_alexisonfire_@_o2_academy_brixton,_3rd_december_2012 Mon 3 Dec – Alexisonfire, The Ghost of a Thousand

Alexisonfire
+ The Ghost of a Thousand

Events like this only come around every so often. When Alexisonfire announced their imment dissolution last year, the world of punk and hardcore was in shock. How could a band who meant so much to so many be at an end? And surely they wouldn't leave us without a proper goodbye? Fortunately for us, the UK was selected as part of their very brief farewell tour - a tour so short it doesn't even touch North America, mainland Europe or Asia - for two (originally one) final performances (this being the second). People have travelled all over the world for this and as such, the atmosphere in Brixton Academy is electric. For some, who grew up with Alexis and saw them many times over the years, this is an end of an era, while others are getting to see them for the first and only time.

Tonight is extra special because short-lived Brighton hardcore mob The Ghost of a Thousand (9) have reunited especially for these two shows, and will dissapear again for good after. As a result, this is their final ever performance. When TGoaT were first doing the rounds back in the mid-to-late 2000s, they were one of the leading bands in the UK hardcore resurgence. Now they're back, and in their half-hour set they make everyone else look like chumps. Channeling a Cancer Bats-esque hardcore groove with an almost Rocket from the Crypt-like rock n' roll swagger, the five-piece show Brixton why they were the kings of the scene with numbers like Left for Dead, Running on Empty and Moved as Mountains, Dreamt of by the Sea among their arsenal. The band are on fire tonight and never stand still for a second, frontman Tom Lacy spending much time above or inside the crowd. While their send off was not nearly as emotional, The Ghost of a Thousand were truly a spectacle to behold tonight and will be dearly missed.

As impressive as that was, it's Alexisonfire (10)'s final European performance that spectators have travelled far and wide for. The screams that erupt when the house lights dim is near-deafening, and the band launch into Young Cardinals, with a chorus so massive you could probably hear the crowd singing it from outside. "You missed us?" yells co-vocalist/guitarist Wade MacNeil, fresh from fronting Gallows for the past year. He can't even imagine. This is just the beginning of a 23-song set that lasts two whole hours and includes rarely heard oldies (.44 Caliber Love Letter, Get Fighted, Hey It's Your Funeral Mama) alongside more recent hits and fan favourites (Born and Raised, We Are the Sound, This Could Be Anywhere in the World) that covers all areas of Alexis' ten year existence. While the older songs are a treat for the diehards, it's songs like Boiled Frogs and Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints that really stand out. Songs like these perfectly showcase the back-and-forth heavy/melodic dynamic that Alexisonfire do so well; George Pettit's harsh growls in stark contrast to Dallas Green's crystal clean voice, while Wade provides the middle ground between the two, his vocals no doubt honed from his time with Gallows. The clean-vs-harsh vocalist formula has been done many times before, but Alexisonfire made it an art. The three deliver their parts so passionately it's clear that they're just as emotional about this farewell as we. But let's not not forget the rhythm section, composed of drummer Jordan Hastings and bassist Christopher Steele, who at one point Wade claims is backing the rest of the band look bad with his manic, uncontrollable energy. They put everything into their performance.

As this beast of a set comes to a close with a titanic-sounding Happiness By the Kilowatt, the band come together at the front of the stage for a final hurrah. It's at this moment that we know this is the final time we will ever see all five of these men together at once. Emotions are plentiful from both band and audience - it was a truly incredible performance, but we are now faced with the fact that Alexisonfire are no more. Talk about a bittersweet ending. As sad as it may be, though, this should be a time of celebration for everything this wonderful band have given us over this past decade.

People will say "just wait a few years, they'll be back" and while it's true many great bands break up and may reform years later - Black Sabbath, System of a Down, Refused and At the Drive-In to name a few recent examples - and whether Alexis will resurface in five, ten or even fifteen years is uncertain, but it's not worth counting on. As far as we can see, Alexisonfire are over. The band itself may be finished, but we will cherish our memories of them for years to come, and for a lot of people here, tonight is one of the greatest of all.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2012/03/21/5ds3sj_the_safety_fire__the_james_cleaver_quintet_@_o2_academy_3_birmingham,_19th_march_2011 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:58:28 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2012/03/21/5ds3sj_the_safety_fire__the_james_cleaver_quintet_@_o2_academy_3_birmingham,_19th_march_2011 Wolverhampton three-piece God Damn enter to a surprisingly small number of people at 8pm - one whole hour after the doors open - but those who are here are in for a real treat, because God Damn aren't just "that local unsigned band". They play an extremely heavy brand of hardcore-infused blues rock that hits like a bag of bricks to the face. Best described as a mix of Kyuss and Pulled Apart By Horses, but a million times heavier, the trio storm through a crushing half hour of blues, punk and metal straight from the Black Country.

Attendance levels have sadly not improved much by the time The James Cleaver Quintet hit the stage, but that is soon forgotten once they launch head-first into Chicken Shit for the Soul, an explosion of post-hardcore fury combined with catchy party-rock rhythms that switch back and forth like a drop of a hat, some songs even incorporating a saxophone! Songs like Think or Swim and The JCWho? possess a bold and eclectic quality that would give even seasoned veterans Every Time I Die a run for their money. On stage the band are a frenzy of flinging hair and flailing limbs, rivalling the intensity of bands like Letlive but all while sounding wholly original, not to mention essential. Just imagine what this would've been like in a packed room.

Such a frantic display of energy was never going to be easy to follow, and it's unfortunate for The Safety Fire that a good deal of spectators have actually left following TJCQ's performance. You can tell that the band aren't over the moon about it but proceed with Animal King from their recently released debut Grind the Ocean. The Londoner's djent-laden prog metal is technically impressive but lacks the immediacy of their predecessors, favouring tight musicianship over controlled madness. This would not normally be a problem but after the chaos that went down half an hour ago it's hard not to feel a little underwhelmed, like the calm after the storm. It's evidence enough that although these bands might be good on their own, they go together like coke and ice cream. It's a crying shame because The Safety Fire are a great band indeed; tonight just wasn't their night.

by Greg Cadman]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/10/30/4x3q0y_some_album_reviews_i_wrote Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:01:40 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/10/30/4x3q0y_some_album_reviews_i_wrote I'm studying Journalism at College and we're making a magazine by students for students, and I've been put in charge of writing music reviews which is totally awesome :)

Here's what I've done so far. Let me know what you think.




Mastodon - The Hunter



Atlanta, Georgia’s Mastodon have had one of the most impressive track records of recent years – everything they’ve put out has been more or less universally loved and raises the bar for all other competitors. Can this, their fifth album, keep their reputation as the last decade’s best metal band intact?

Normally Mastodon spend months upon months writing intricate, complex album concepts, but this time, they entered the studio with rough ideas of songs and left with The Hunter, an absolute beast of a record in which the band unleash their inner animals. It is a much more immediate and straightforward affair than its predecessor, opting for a more wall-of-sound approach than Crack the Skye’s epic journey through time and space.

You won’t find any twelve minute epics here – in fact, the longest song is only five and a half minutes – yet Mastodon remain as dynamic and engaging as ever. Opening track Black Tongue makes this clear as day. Following are Curl of the Burl (which sounds a bit like a heavy Queens of the Stone Age) and Blasteroid, creating a triumvirate of monstrous tunes that will have you absorbed into The Hunter before you know it. It doesn’t end there, though – more or less every song on The Hunter is instantly catchy and grabs your attention from the get-go, pulling you into its own world and not letting go for the entire 53 minutes. Fans of Crack the Skye needn’t worry about the change in sound, though – The Hunter contains plenty of weird, ethereal, space-rock moments, such as Stargasm and Octopus Has No Friends. This is an album that is very much a multi-dimensional creation.

There are obvious nods to their earlier material, but by no means have they simply copied what they’ve done before – The Hunter is very much its own unique being that stands apart from the rest of their catalogue, and practically anything else released this year. The Hunter is truly Mastodon’s finest hour, and a testament to this fantastic band’s staying power.

Best song: Black Tongue.
For fans of: Black Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age.

Rating: 5/5




---





Red Hot Chili Peppers – I'm With You



California's premier funk-rock legends have returned for their first album in five years – but there has been a change in the RHCP camp. Long-time guitarist John Frusciante has quit the band again. In his first absence the band created One Hot Minute, which was a bit rubbish, and upon his return they released the classic Californication – so it's understandable if one may be concerned about I'm With You. But never fear – I'm With You is a great record.

For those unfamiliar with new kid Josh Klinghoffer, he was formerly a touring guitarist for the band and also contributed to Frusciante's solo projects, so he is more than capable of doing the job, and also knows the band well enough to understand what they're all about. He adds a jazzy bounce to tracks like Look Around and Monarchy of Roses, while Anthony Kiedis' trademark vocals give songs like Annie Wants a Baby that classic RHCP feel that wouldn't feel out of place on By the Way, and drummer Chad Smith's beats, combined with Flea's infectious basslines – are as immediate and catchy as ever.

On I'm With You the Chili Peppers don't rewrite the book, but rather keep it intact and in good condition, cleaning up the edges for 2011. There's definitely a feel of familiarity in songs like Brendan's Death Song and The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie, but at the same time they sound fresh and modern. Not bad for a band who've released ten albums and are still at the top of their game. Admittedly, you won't find too much on here that will suprise you, but neither will you feel like they're just writing the same songs again. That is the beauty of I'm With You – it showcases the Chilis doing what they do best and proves that they're still as vital in 2011 as they were ten years ago or even twenty years ago. Time to fall in love with them all over again.

Best song: Brendan's Death Song.
For fans of: Jimi Hendrix, The White Stripes.

Rating: 4/5




---




Evile – Five Serpent's Teeth



The thrash metal revival of recent years was fun, but it wasn't going to last forever and the novelty has more of less worn off now. Scene leaders Evile have returned with an album that shows them develop their identity as a metal act with their own voice and individuality, instead of simply paying homage to their favourite Slayer and Exodus records. There is still obvious influence from their 80s forefathers, but Evile are their own band now. The musicianship on this album is impeccable, as is the songwriting. Tracks like Origin of Oblivion and the title-track relentlessly pummel the listener with high-speed riffs, while mid-paced numbers like Cult and Xaraya are just as dynamic and engaging. There is even a ballad in the form of In Memoriam, a touching tribute to the band's late former bassist. Five Serpent's Teeth is a genuine triumph from one of England's most genuine metal bands.

Best song: Five Serpent's Teeth.
For fans of: Slayer, Machine Head.

Rating: 4/5






---






New Found Glory - Radiosurgery



Those dissapointed by Blink-182's latest offering can rejoice; pop-punk's most reliable and consistent band have returned with yet another gem of an album. Blink's new experimental nature will have divided opinions but New Found Glory have stuck to what they do best and delivered half an hour of fantastic pop-punk for you to feast your ears on.

If you've heard any of NFG's previous work you'll know what to expect; New Found Glory stick to their tried-and-true formula, but it works for them. Anyone looking for something a little more original should perhaps look elsewhere, but those who don't mind revisiting familiar territory are in for a treat.

Radiosurgery is packed to the brim with infectious melodies, catchy choruses and age-old tales of love and friendship delivered via three chords. There's little here that hasn't been done before but at the same time, the songs here have been injected with a focused sense of fun and enthusiasm that put their competitors to shame. Songs like Dumped and I'm Not the One sound just as timeless as classic NFG hit singles Hit or Miss and My Friends Over You.

For a band now on their seventh record, to sound just as relevant and exciting as they did in 2002 is a very impressive feat indeed, especially considering the current sea of pop-punk acts who owe a lot to New Found Glory for perfecting this style of music. The song might remain the same but Radiosurgery is another strong addition to NFG's already brilliant catalogue, and might even be their best release yet. It is essential listening for fans of pop-punk and great rock music in general.

Best song: I'm Not the One.
For fans of: You Me At Six, Paramore.

Rating: 4/5





---





††† (Crosses) - EP †



Crosses, the new side project of Deftones' Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez of Far, has been kept relatively quiet until now. Crosses is not something that is meant to be 'get' by everyone, and takes some time and effort to understand. This project seeing the men explore electronic, darker territory, not too unlike Nine Inch Nails' 'Ghosts' series, or even Chino's previous project Team Sleep. Moody synths and ethereal guitar work, combined with Chino's soaring voice, make for an interesting and quite ghostly experience.

The EP can be downloaded for free at www.crossesmusic.com.

Best song: This Is a Trick.
For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Deftones.

Rating: 3/5]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/07/04/4gws01_foo_fighters_@_milton_keynes_bowl,_3rd_july_2011 Mon, 4 Jul 2011 16:04:25 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/07/04/4gws01_foo_fighters_@_milton_keynes_bowl,_3rd_july_2011 Sun 3 Jul – Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Biffy Clyro, Bob Mould, The Hot Rats

It might seem odd that a cover band are opening a show at the National Bowl, but The Hot Rats (7) get a good response. Their preference is older 60’s/70’s rock such as The Doors and David Bowie, so they might not be a perfect hit here but they opt to play some bouncier tunes which goes down fairly well with the crowd.


Jimmy Eat World (6/10) are off to a good start with a one-two punch of Bleed American and A Praise Chorus, but sadly this winning streak doesn't last for long, as their twelve-song set suffers from a disappointingly dull middle section. Fortunately the day is saved by an ending couplet consisting of hit single The Middle and Sweetness, the former of which revives dampened spirits but it's hard not to be left feeling dissatisfied afterwards.



Biffy Clyro (9/10) on the other hand, fare much better. They too start off strong with The Captain and That Golden Rule, but unlike JEW the quality of their set is much more consistent and in-line with the standards expected of a band playing before a sold-out 65,000-person crowd. Seeing as its the album that gathered them more mainstream attention and made them one of the biggest bands in Britain today, it’s no surprise that material from 2009's Only Revolutions dominates the setlist but also receives the biggest response, with the likes of Bubbles, Many of Horror and a fantastic set-closing Mountains all inducing massive sing-alongs. That's not to say their other songs receive no love, though; Glitter and Trauma, Who's Got a Match? And Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies also greeted with mass applause. After today's performance its clear that one day, someday – maybe on the next album – Biffy could be headlining this venue themselves. It's only a matter of time.



What an incredible journey it has been for Foo Fighters (10/10)'s Dave Grohl. Twenty years ago he was a rather goofy-looking 22-year-old playing drums for Nirvana, blissfully unaware of the astronomical success that both that band and his following projects would create. Nirvana would go on to become the biggest band of the 90's, and following their demise, Dave would concentrate his efforts on his recently formed project Foo Fighters, a band no one really expected to be half as successful as Nirvana – but not only have they far surpassed Nirvana's height of popularity tenfold, they have gone on to become the biggest band in the entire world. Fast forward to 2011 and Foo Fighters have sold out two nights at a venue Nirvana could only have dreamed of playing. Just how is this possible? Simple. It's shows like tonight that make it possible. Read on...

At quarter past eight in the evening the five-piece (aided by touring keyboard player Rami Jaffee) hit the stage to absolutely deafening cheers, and waste no time turning the Milton Keynes Bowl on its head, opening with Bridge Burning from the new album. Dave Grohl screams “These are my famous last wooooooooords!” like tonight is his final show. Within minutes it's evident that this show is going to be unlike anything you've ever seen. Following this the band just don't stop; within the first half hour they've played Rope, The Pretender, My Hero, Learn to Fly, White Limo, Arlandria, Breakout and it only gets better from there. Their twenty-six song-long, 165-minute set is absolutely packed with hits and it is truly testament to the Foo's quality as a band – you're never sat wondering what they'll play next, because it doesn't matter. Will they play All My Life next? Monkey Wrench? Long Road to Ruin? Really, who cares? You would be VERY hard pressed to find a live band who can play an almost three-hour set and every single song uniting the voices of 65,000 people. It’s no wonder they can sell out the Bowl two nights in a row with songs as good as these.

Setlist aside, the Foos are also one of the most energetic bands you're ever likely to see. There are no dull moments in their set, no moments where you don't feel the need to jump, dance or sing. One might wonder what Dave has been taking because throughout the two and three-quarter hours he's on stage, he's running, headbanging and screaming like his life depends on it. The other members are perhaps not quite as visually engaging as Dave but they are anything but boring. After an absolutely slaying All My Life, the band leave the stage but are back for their encore after a humourous video displayed on the screen in which Dave taunts the crowd to scream louder. However only Dave emerges and plays Wheels on his own on a smaller platform behind the sound tower in the middle of the massive crowd. It is really quite inspiring that one man can perform so incredibly in front of a crowd that thousands of bands only dream of having. Dave proceeds to perform a beautiful Times Like These, again solo, but halfway through he is joined by the rest of his band in a full-scale electric version that simply rocks the socks off every single person in the Bowl.

The good stuff doesn't stop there, either! The previous night the Foos were joined by special guest Alice Cooper for covers of his own School's Out and I'm Eighteen. However, Alice is absent tonight. When Dave announces that he has a special guest, everyone is expecting Alice, but is instead surprised when an unexpected old man appears – it's Seasick Steve! And not only that, but Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones! The three (with Dave on drums and Steve on guitar/vocals) jam to Steve's Back in the Dog House in a three-way collaboration the world will probably never see again.

The unfortunate truth of life is that all great things must come to an end. And what better way to end such a fabulous concert with Everlong. For one final time in 2011, Milton Keynes Bowl join Foo Fighters for a song that concludes an unforgettable night. To summarise? Foo Fighters are the greatest live band in the world. SEE THEM.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/05/13/4dp6et_dream_sum_41_setlist Fri, 13 May 2011 20:55:45 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/05/13/4dp6et_dream_sum_41_setlist (Intro: Introduction to Destruction)

1. The Hell Song
2. We're All to Blame
3. Motivation
4. Walking Disaster
5. Underclass Hero
6. Screaming Bloody Murder
7. Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
8. Machine Gun
9. Skumfuk
10. Open Your Eyes
11. Some Say
12. My Direction
13. With Me
14. Back Where I Belong
15. Still Waiting
16. Makes No Difference

Encore:
17. Pieces
18. Fat Lip
19. In Too Deep
20. Pain for Pleasure]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/05/12/4dn5rh_dream_rise_against_setlist Thu, 12 May 2011 21:37:47 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/05/12/4dn5rh_dream_rise_against_setlist 1. Chamber the Cartridge
2. Collapse (Post-Amerika)
3. Architects
4. Drones
5. Life Less Frightening
6. Help Is On The Way
7. Satellite
8. The Dirt Whispered
9. Disparity By Design
10. Injection
11. Audience of One
12. Entertainment
13. Behind Closed Doors
14. This Is Letting Go
15. Prayer of the Refugee
16. The Good Left Undone
17. Re-Education (Through Labor)
18. Ready To Fall

Encore 1:
19. Swing Life Away
20. Hero of War
21. Give It All
22. Savior
23. Survive



It's a bit long but that's exactly why it's a dream setlist. I would do absolutely anything to make this happen. I made a playlist on iTunes which is strangely only an hour and 23 minutes long, but for some reason everything is longer live, plus the encore break and maybe some chatter between songs and you're looking at a two hour set at minimum. Like that's a problem]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/03/04/49652x_my_dream_deftones_setlist Fri, 4 Mar 2011 21:32:13 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2011/03/04/49652x_my_dream_deftones_setlist I'd kill to see this live

1. Rocket Skates
2. Bored
3. Nosebleed
4. Feiticeira
5. My Own Summer (Shove It)
6. Diamond Eyes
7. Digital Bath
8. Hexagram
9. Around the Fur
10. Knife Prty
11. Beauty School
12. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
13. You've Seen the Butcher
14. Hole in the Earth
15. Rickets
16. Lotion
17. Sextape
18. Passenger
19. Change (In the House of Flies)

Encore:
20. Minerva
21. Birthmark
22. 7 Words]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2010/11/10/41am33_linkin_park_@_lg_arena,_birmingham,_9112010 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:14:45 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Megatron-1/journal/2010/11/10/41am33_linkin_park_@_lg_arena,_birmingham,_9112010 Tue 9 Nov – Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns World Tour

Linkin Park have always been a band that split opinion, and with their latest record, A Thousand Suns, that hasn’t changed one bit. Some hail it as their best record yet and praise them for being adventurous and experimenting, while people who grew up with Hybrid Theory aren’t too happy about the change. But that doesn’t mean anything tonight, because regardless of such stances on the new material, everyone here is a Linkin Park fan, and at the end of the day all they want is a good show.

Support group Does It Offend You, Yeah? (6) have a few catchy tunes but they lack charisma. Their vocalist tries to be funny but instead comes off as obnoxious and juvenile, and his frequent swearing is annoying. That said, We Are Rockstars at least gets a few heads bobbing.

Some 30 minutes later Linkin Park (10) hit the stage as The Requiem plays over the PA. They begins with Wretches and Kings off the new album, which, admittedly, isn’t a great choice for an opener. However, from this point forth the band play music from all ends of their catalogue, almost covering entire genres. From the to-the-face aggression of Lying from You to the heartfelt melody of Iridescent, there’s more variety than you can shake a stick at and you never hear too much of the same thing. Not only that, but the six members change roles frequently - one minute co-frontman Mike Shinoda is rapping, next he is playing solo piano and then he’s providing rhythm guitar. With Linkin Park’s live show, there’s something different around every corner.

The setlist focuses heavily on newer material, but there’s still plenty to please fans of the old stuff; Faint, Crawling, In the End, Breaking the Habit... OK, there’s no Papercut or Somewhere I Belong, but the fans scream so loudly for everything else that you barely notice. New single Waiting for the End is sure to remain a setlist staple in ten years’ time, and Numb’s keyboard intro always incites cheering loud enough for you to hear from space, while One Step Closer’s “shut up when I’m talking to you” will never get old - fact. Almost every song has a massive chorus that, when sung in unison with 12,000 others, makes for an unforgettable experience.

A Linkin Park show is almost more like a journey through multiple dimensions than just another rock gig. Tonight is no different. Everything you could ever ask for from a concert is included. It needs to be seen to be believed.]]>