Live Review

Luchagors – O2 Academy, Liverpool

• 29th Jul 2009

Tonight starts with bad news, Ogun have cancelled and will not be opening the night, it’s tinged with good news however as Metro Manila Aide descend onto the stage and provide early comers as to why MMA are one of the jewels in Liverpool’s crown.

Singer/religious zealot Paul, literally bounces off the walls, parkour kicks abound and whilst wrapping the mic chords around a member of the audience he still manages to deliver a vocal performance somewhere in the vicinity of the Dali Lama and Rob Halford. This would mean nothing however if the music failed and Metro’s biblical stomp, tonight topped with Adam Keegan’s massive beats pull everything together into something fresh, interesting, challenging and fun as MMA say “This band is not about truth or justice, it is about both these things.” There is only so much you will be able to take from their album ‘The Devils Handbook’ as Metro are an experience all of their own- this religion will not be televised.

How was your first gig?-chances are it was a ball of enthusiasm, peppered with mistakes, and over in the blink of an eye, that’s kind of the point-as you gain experience those elements are reduced. This is true of Sevendaysofnight, tonight is their first gig and they clearly have a weight of expectation as the crowd swells at the anticipation of band in the making since 2006.

There’s a maelstrom of electronica at the beginning whilst members adjust their stage positions and a real sense that this could be interesting.

Set somewhere between Manson and Reznor with Depeche mode playing in the background, at first you expect it to be aggressive and in your face, but it’s not really the stance tonight, it’s more twisted than broken, more contorted than smashed.

A cover of ‘With or without you’ simply doesn’t sit right, it’s the right song choice- if unexpected-but you want them to twist the knife in the back of U2 more, subvert the work more; and you cannot help but think of Manson’s ‘Sweet dreams’.

It’s a shame that the uninitiated will take a cover away with them tonight as some material clearly has room to be interesting, tonight can be chalked up as a success, the crowd were enthralled, there was no movement, but many were transfixed-a different kind of success; but in order for Sevendaysofnight to truly achieve their potential they need to extrapolate everything from this performance and improve it accordingly- in this case that ‘Violence is golden’ has some strong starting points and that with the next gig comes a chance to refine their own brand of sickness.

This could well be Zuprowski connection’s year, with a new album ‘The mirrors light’ due the 30th of Sept and a slew of new songs, tonight is about nailing those points home-right into the forehead of the crowd.

ZC have taken the flag left by Sound garden & Alice in chains previously , and now wave it high and clear atop a mountain of quality songs-ready for consumption.

It’s ‘I am’ that pushes the crowd over the edge tonight as Mark Smith stands atop a speaker there’s a sheer wave of energy coming across as the low grunge heavy riffing foils so well with the power and confidence of the vocal delivery.

That Zuprowski take most of the songs from the new album is a testament to their passion in progression, redefining and streamlining a sound that already carries very little fat and is metal with muscle and heart -‘Just like you’ both achieving vulnerability and sensitivity without sacrificing any power-that’s a difficult balancing act, as it’s easy to hide behind downright force without any inner reflection; but there-in lies ZC’s success, working man’s metal, with intelligence that consistently pushes what the crowd both expect and need.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the Luchagors are fronted by former a WWE wrestler and a shame that for many listeners this maybe there reason to check this band out, the truth of the matter is the Luchagors are a great punk rock band and tonight goes some way to proving that.

The whole set has that ‘Thrown together, falling apart at any moment’ feel not through poor musicianship (In fact bassist Jay, previously seen watching in awe MMA is the epitome of pocket playing punk rock swagger and feel.) but with a genuine enjoyment for their material.

Going from a large degree of fame that Amy had to travelling in a van, loading your own gear has to be respected, the punk world can be very intolerant of any luxury and holds steadfast to its d.i.y roots; the scene of Amy, Jay, Shane & Racci walking around the venue and at the merch stand almost unnoticed is a sign they have been assimilated into the crowds conscious.

After all though, it’s the music that needs to come through and the Luchagors have hit upon just the right blend of Misfits/Ramones B movie slackerdom and adopted the pop sensibilities that allow them the ability to stray onto the radio.

Tonight culminates with ‘White boy’ and the crowd and band alike assault the material as if it were the first song of the evening, not because they haven’t woken up yet, but because where it may be possible to over-analyse their punk metal it’s impossible not to move to it.

Photo Credit: Miss Kitty