Review by Pete Finn for MPM
It’s with huge excitement MPM Tog ‘Statler’ Manson and I head into Nottingham and the famed Rock City. Tonight, is a big one for me, the lead singer of my favourite and most seen band is playing a genuine ‘Home’ fixture, originally from Worksop, less than 30-miles away, it’s Bruce Dickinson with his own band. Also on the bill are antipodean hard rockers Black Smoke Trigger.
Black Smoke Trigger were formed during 2019, in Napier, New Zealand, which incidentally, according to Google, is around 11,495 miles from Rock City. The band consists of Baldrick (vocals), Charlie Wallace (guitar), Dan Fulton (bass) and Josh Te Maro (drums). They quickly entered the studio where they recorded their debut 7-track EP ‘Set It Off’. Black Smoke Trigger are a new band to me, so I checked them out on their website and Spotify, as a result I’m really looking forward to their show tonight, I think we’re in for a treat.
The lights inside Rock City go out, the screen at the rear of the stage displays ‘Black Smoke Trigger’, and moments later the band walk-out on to the stage to a good cheer. The hard beats of Fulton and Te Maro bring in ‘The Way I’m Wired’ which is off the ‘Set It Off’ EP, and the single featured Motley Crue’s Mick Mars. Vocalist Baldrick is centre stage with his foot up on the monitor as he screams and belts out the opening lines, Charlie Wallace comes crashing in with a power riff that rattles Rock City. The mid-section drum salvo has Te Maro off his stool. Wallace comes to the stage edge and unleashes his solo to the audience. Black Smoke Trigger you have mine and Rock City’s attention.
Vocalist Baldrick introduces the band members to Rock City. The hard and heavy sounds continue with ‘Proof Of Life’, which is a more recent track, a single from earlier this year. Baldrick’s vocal is controlled and measured, there’s a minor pause, then the track comes crashing down around the ears, as Charlie Wallace allows his fingers to run riot over the frets.
“Good evening, Nottingham, this is from our new album, ‘Horizons’” says Baldrick. Full on riffs and bass wash start ‘The Way Down’. The anthemic chorus has the Rock City crowd punching the air. Charlie Wallace leans into his solo, drummer Te Maro is bringing his sticks down from on high to hit the skins with venom, whilst his bass drum is moving the air inside Rock City. The spinning Baldrick has his scarf following him around, like a Catherine wheel.
Baldrick shouts, “Make some noise for Bruce Dickinson.” Rock City does just that. ‘Set It Off’ provides ‘Blindfolds & Rattlesnakes’ Wallace’s circular riff gets Rock City nodding, the pace is quick, the crowd join in with some “Woah’s” during the chorus, a classic rock song delivered with a punch.
‘Phantom Pain’ from the forthcoming album ‘Horizons’, Charlie Wallace’s eerie guitar notes begin. The drumbeat is quick, in contrast to Baldrick’s calm lyrics. It has a grungy sound and Rock City likes it. Fulton adds depth with backing vocals, Baldrick builds the intensity before finishing the track with a huge scream.
‘Caught In The Undertow’ is taken from ‘Set It Off’, Fulton is spanking the bass to provide a dirty stoner sound that reverberates around Rock City. Te Maro’s steady beat stands out amongst the sleazy sound that’s emphasised by Wallace’s solo. Fulton finishes the track with his bass held high above his head.
‘K.M.T.L’ a recent single, is quick, Baldrick is spinning around the stage, Fulton, and Wallace swap sides as they crash out the notes. Fulton adds a bass break. A calm interlude tricks us, before all hell breaks loose, a track full of energy and full of power, as they play to a big finish. We enjoyed that one a lot.
The band finish and pose in front of the Rock City crowd for a photo. That was a great performance and judging by Rock City’s reaction they thought so too. Black Smoke Trigger will be releasing their new album ‘Horizons’ later this year, they have played a few of the tracks on it this evening, I will be buying it, and so should you.
Setlist: The Way I’m Wired; Proof Of Life; The Way Down; Blindfolds & Rattlesnakes; Phantom Pain; Caught In The Undertow; K.M.T.L.
Lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson’s band includes, Chris Declercq (guitar), Philip Naslund (guitar), Tanya O’Callaghan (bass), Mistheria (keyboards) and Dave Moreno (drums). Dickinson’s regular ‘Partner in Crime’, co-writer and guitarist Roy Z hasn’t travelled over for these dates owing to some previous personal commitments.
The atmosphere and excitement is off the scale as the lights go out, the theme to ‘The Invaders’ TV Show is played over the PA, this is followed by the instrumental ‘Toltec 7 Arrival’ from ‘Accident of Birth’, the stage explodes with light and sound, a huge ‘Mandrake Project’ medallion/coin is spinning on the screen behind Dave Moreno, the band are on stage and start ‘Accident of Birth’ ‘the title track of the 1997 album. Dickinson makes his way onto stage and is met by a deafening roar from Rock City. He’s wearing a beanie hat with the Mandrake Project logo on, and it is bloody red hot inside the hall.
“Are you ready?” screams Dickinson. Everything has gone straight to maximum, including the Rock City crowd who join in with the very appropriate chorus line of “Welcome home, it’s been too long, we’ve missed you”. The twirling O’Callaghan’s dreadlocks following her like a cat o’ nine tails. Mistheria with his bright red key-tar and Chris Declercq fire off solos. Dickinson is teasing the photographers in the pit for not taking pictures as they play their solos, so he goes and stands next to them, the camera lenses follow him. WOW! What a start.
Without pausing, 2005’s ‘Tyranny of Souls’ gives us ‘Abduction’, Moreno is pounding the skins, the dual guitars of Declercq and Naslund power out ferocious riffs, these are carved apart by Dickinson’s sharp vocals. He climbs up on the monitors to orchestrate the crowd. We’re putty in his hands. Mistheria is up on his riser rocking with the key-tar, Dickinson below is playing air drums. Rock City has gone crazy.
Dickinson’s calls for ‘Hey’s’ as the band start ‘Laughing in the Hiding Bush’ from 1994’s ‘Balls to Picasso’. Again, Rock City knows their lines as Dickinson leads them on. The guitars are heavy, the rhythm section’s beats immense, Mistheria comes to the stage edge as he plays a prog-esque solo.
It’s time for something from the new album ‘The Mandrake Project’, ‘Afterglow of Ragnarök’ is tonight’s first offering. The lighting turns red, the screen behind depict The Statue of Liberty and The Eiffel Tower on fire-filled wasteland. Dickinson is punching the air, and conducting the Rock City crowd as Moreno comes crashing in. Declercq’s riff is felt through the floor. Naslund is singing along as Steve Harris does, before bending the strings on his ‘V’ for the solo.
It’s straight into ‘Chemical Wedding’ the title track from 1998’s release. The screen showing live footage of the band. The racing beat has the crowd clapping along. Dickinson’s vocal is measured, before demonstrating that incredible range during the chorus. Dickinson smiles as Rock City sings alone, “You’re singing well, I love you all” he says.
It’s a quick return to the new record with ‘Many Doors to Hell’ a song about a female vampire. Dickinson wants Rock City to clap along, Rock City duly obliges. O’Callaghan is smiling and rocking out as she pounds the strings. Declercq momentarily slows the pace for his solo, normal service resumes as Dickinson’s vocal drives the track on.
Something a little bit different, as William Blake’s poem is used as the base for ‘Jerusalem’ from ‘Chemical Wedding’. Naslund strums the acoustic 12-string as Dickinson narrates the lyrics. Moreno builds the atmosphere as he steadily hits the skins. The pace builds as the other band members join in, leading to a Declercq solo. Naslund has ditched the acoustic, and adds a further solo. Arms are waving in time with Dickinson’s cries.
‘The Mandrake Project’ provides ‘Resurrection Men’, the racing beat has Rock City bouncing, the soaring riffs have the crowd chanting, Dickinson is playing a set of electro-toms, the distorted guitars and O’Callaghan’s vibrating bass are creating an amazing sound, the clever tempo changes choreographed by Dickinson’s vocals add real atmosphere.
Staying with the new album, we have the latest single ‘Rain on the Graves’. Dickinson is chanting the words as his band power up behind. O’Callaghan is giving her strings a thorough work-out. The animated Dickinson is on the monitors gesticulating at the audience, before letting out a series of seismic screams, the band leave the stage to Dave Moreno. He crashes out a powerful drum solo, that’s cheered on by the crowd.
The returning band line-up across the front of the stage for ‘Frankenstein’ an instrumental cover of 1972’s The Edgar Winter Group single, from their ‘They Only Come Out At Night’ album. The screen is a kaleidoscope of psychedelic images and colours. Dickinson is stood by Moreno’s riser playing a linear drum kit, the two give us a drum duet. The band are criss-crossing across the stage, Dickinson now moves forward to play the theremin. The band are enjoying the jam.
‘The Alchemist’ is found on ‘Chemical Wedding’, Naslund starts with a chugging riff, Moreno and O’Callaghan pound out a heavy beat, Dickinson’s sabre sharp vocal slices through the colossal sounds. Declercq gets down the naughty end of the frets for his solo. The constantly moving Dickinson swaggers and sways as he sings. The anthemic sound is cocooning Rock City. It’s brilliant.
Naslund has his 12-string acoustic out and starts strumming the intro to ‘Tears of the Dragon’ from ‘Balls to Picasso’. Declercq joins in, Dickinson starts singing, eyes closed and mic stand in his hands, his power is phenomenal. Rock City is mesmerised. He calls for claps, Declercq launches into his solo. But it’s Dickinson’s vocal that is the conductors baton, controlling the piece perfectly. Heavy Metal at its best.
From ‘Accident of Birth’ the final track is ‘Darkside of Aquarius’, O’Callaghan’s intricate intro begins before everything gets turned up to maximum. The power is ferocious, Dickinson screams out the words as riding a galloping beat. Moreno launches a salvo of drum-beats, accompanied by strobe lights, before the guitars trade solos. O’Callaghan slows things down momentarily; the crowd’s claps instigate a tempo increase. Rock City is jumping.
This is a real Dickinson epic; he has the crowd at his beckon call, the band play out to a big finish. Dickinson comes to the edge of the stage, “Nottingham, thank you and goodnight” he says, then starts laughing, “the stage is too small for us to all leave, and then return, so lets pretend.” Rock City plays their part, cheering, whistling and clapping.
“The band return”, Naslund is strumming the acoustic again as ‘Navigate the Seas of the Sun’ from the 2005 film ‘Scream For Me Sarajevo’ begins. The contrast to the previous track is massive, a heartfelt and passionate track that brings a lump to the throat. The crowd are enthralled, gently swaying like a sea of their own. They join in with the singing at the end as the band stop playing, all are enjoying the experience.
“It’s something else from William Blake’s pen”, Dickinson introduces the ‘Book of Thel’ from ‘Chemical Wedding’. The gentle intro lulls the listener into a false sense of security, Moreno’s drums signals the start of the mayhem as Dickinson prowls the stage belting out the lyrics. Mistheria is at the stage edge with his key-tar. Dickinson leads the ‘Woah’s’, the track tempo ebbs and flows as is comes to a close.
O’Callaghan’s burbling bass starts the final track of a superb set, it’s ‘The Tower’ taken from ‘Chemical Wedding’. Dickinson then introduces the “House Band” members, who each receive a great cheer of appreciation from the Rock City faithful. Dickinson then launches into the lyrics, Rock City is a wall of noise as everyone joins in, the crowd are rocking and punching the air, Dickinson takes his beanie off to throw into the crowd, but when he throws it, it gets hung up on the light rigging above the crowd, he adlibs a few lines about his hat, Naslund plays a solo, Dickinson leads a series of ‘Hey’s’ before bringing the show to a close. Rock City explodes.
Setlist: Accident of Birth; Abduction; Laughing in the Hiding Bush; Afterglow of Ragnarök; Chemical Wedding; Many Doors to Hell; Jerusalem; Resurrection Men; Rain on the Graves; Frankenstein; The Alchemist; Tears of the Dragon; Darkside of Aquarius; Navigate the Seas of the Sun; Book of Thel; The Tower.
Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
