Review by Catherine McCauley for MPM
It was a beautiful warm evening in Belfast as we eagerly approached the Limelight for our nostalgic trip down memory lane to see the effervescent Terrorvision.
Lots of fans were wearing new and old Terrorvision and heavy metal t-shirts. It was great to see a real mix of fans as I think Terrorvision are often confused as a Britpop band which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Terrorvision once known as ‘The Spoilt Bratz’ formed in 1987, originated from Keighley, West Yorkshire, used Bradford as a base from 1991. The current line up consists of the original members Tony Wright- Lead Vocals, Leigh Marklew – Bass Guitar, Mark Yates – Guitar, and newer members Milton Evans – Keyboards, Chris Bussey – Drums, Nick Hughes – Trumpet and the glamourous Liz Mitchell on Saxophone.
The band take to stage from the back door of the Limelight 2 and they immediately launch into DISCOTHEQUE WRECK from their sophomore album How To Make Friends and Influence People. The energy from the band is contagious and from the get go Belfast is bouncing and singing along with glee. The band are dressed in quirky suits and outfits, all but Bussey and Yates, this does not stifle their vivacity.
The groovy yet intense riffs and drums provide a perfect tempo to dance and bounce to. The band are providing backing vocals along with Wright, as are we, “I can mash potato, I can do the twist, tell me baby do you like it like this”. Perfect opener to what turns out to a high octane gig full of grown men and women prepared to bust moves and have an energetic night – who needs the gym?
Next up THE NIGHT THAT LEMMY DIED from their newest offering We Are Not Robots – Wright himself has explained that this track is an ode to the hard rocking in a world of twee. It’s a tale of how bands work hard to earn their station rather than entering TV Talent shows. A tribute to the legendary Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, the band shout they need a Bomber, An Ace of Spades, A Road Crew – the crowd cheer along with glee M-O-T-O-R-H-E-A-D. This banger of a track beautifully evidences the versatility of Terrorvision as they manage to provide pertinent issues to them and society alongside to catchy and dynamic rocking tunes. The Limelight was again bouncing along we were starting to feel the temperature rise on what was an already warm beautiful evening.
The opening guitar riff alerts the fans to ALICE WHATS THE MATTER the second track tonight from How to Make Friends and Influence People. The bands energy is infectious as they jump, bounce, smile and continue to interact with the Limelight. Wright when not standing on an amp continues to bounce about in a suit exuding drive and a super fun intensity which has the crowd eating out of his hands. MY HOUSE the first track of tonight from their debut album Formaldehyde is introduced by Wright as a song Millennium Folk would recognise, and that we did.
The crowd sang along to ‘My House, Who’s House, Your House’ in sync with Wright as we were all transported back to our younger years. We all nearly forgot about those achy joints and dodgy hips and we bopped and jumped about to yet another catchy riff-tastic tune. Terrorvision manage to fuse funk, rock, and a little rap in an infectious pop-metal explosion and love having fun while they’re at it.
NEW POLICY ONE also from Formaldehyde continued on with the groovy vibe. STILL THE RHYTHM of How To Make Friends and influence People saw a return to a raucous crowd singing along in unison with Wright to ‘So you’ve only got ‘till two before they shoot’. ELECTROCUTED from We Are Not Robots is a banger of a tune heavy with a rap style vocal. Bussey is in his element thrashing on the drums then the tempo changes with a Rocky Horroresque sing along. AMERICAN TV – Formaldehyde saw the crowd happily chanting along to the chorus. SHINE ON from We Are Not Robots was documented by Wright who cheekily got a fan on the front rows phone and proceeded to playfully video the rest of the band who were eager to play up for the camera esp. Hughes who pulled his t-shirt down his shoulder in a flirty and fun manner and then filmed himself and the audience before handing the phone back. Richard Clarke proudly shared this video on FB on his way home after the gig. Perfect rock memento of a fun filled night.
Yates instantly recognisable riff introduces WHAT MAKES YOU TICK – How To Make Friends and influence People. The crowd sway and sing along with Wright to the punchy chorus. OPPOSITES ATTRACT from We Are Not Robots is a return to their nod to comics and movies with a mention of King Kong and Fay Wray. Wright introduced this song reflecting on how some people still struggle with this subject all these years later – JOSEPHINE Shaving Peaches. Yet again Terrorvision use their groovy rock style platform to tell a tale, this time of transsexuality. D’YA WANNA GO FASTER? – Good To Go sees a return to rocking riffs and a catchy beat.
BABY BLUE We Are Not Robots – the crowd sang along to the anthemic chorus with the same vigour as with the classic tunes on the setlist. Wright with his hands conducted everyone singing along in Harmony to the ‘You’ as the song concluded with sentimentality. Wright beamed with pride and it felt like we were in a stadium. YOU GOTTA WANT TO BE HAPPY – We Are Not Robots, Mitchell dressed in a stunning Tron style, inspired blue cat suit, joined Wright at the front of the stage and packed a punch on Saxophone. The latest album from the band was popular amongst the fans who knew the words from all the songs introduced by the band. Terrorvision exude happiness and fun and the atmosphere in the Limelight was electric.
SOME PEOPLE SAY, from How To Make Friends and influence People, saw the only really dare I say slow song of the evenings proceedings. The open guitar riff remains as haunting as the first time I heard it. The crowd swayed in unison with the tone of bass and guitar. The tempo kicks up a notch with the Chorus and second verse. MIDDLEMAN – How to Make Friends and influence People raises the bar with the thumping bass of Marklew, who reminded me of Elvis with his curled top lip, glittery blue trousers and moves.
Continuing with their energetic rollercoaster, Terrorvision leapt into PERSERVERANCE from Regular Urban Survivors. Hughes joins Wright at the front of the stage and climbs down into the pit and continues to frantically play trumpet whilst the crowd chant along to ‘I was right about the whales and dolphins, whales and dolphins, whales and dolphins yeah’. TEQUILA, from Shaving Peaches saw a surge of lads rushing to the front eager to jump, as if possessed by the spirit of Jose Cuervo himself. The crowd sprung about singing along with Wright and the band. This song was definitely a highlight for many!!
IF I WAS YOU from Regular Urban Survivors is a punky tune with Yates demonstrating his rocking riff chops!!. CELEBRITY HIT LIST also from Regular Urban Survivors has the crowd continuing to rock out despite the limelight feeling like a sweat box at this stage in the evening. PRETEND BEST FRIEND – How To Make Friends and influence People, has the crowd jumping in unison – how any of us have any energy at this stage is nothing short of a miracle. The crowd shout along with Wright ‘Best Friend I’m all that you’ve got’. Terrorvision then walk off the stage and out the back door. The crowd don’t budge, buzzing and a sweaty mess and begin to shout ‘Ole Ole Ole Ole’ in the hopes for another tune.
The band reappear to tremendous applause and Wright said they were outside singing along with the crowd when a fan walked past and commented aren’t you the lads who sang that doo wop song and launched into OBLIVION from How To Make Friends and influence People. The Limelight was bouncing once more with even more ferocity as we knew this was the last tune. At the end of the song the band upped the antics, and Wright helped Evans lift his keyboard upside down and into the air and Evans continued to play.
Terrorvision did not disappoint, they remain the same cheeky chappies and chapette and certainly helped a middle aged crowd return to a period of happy, fun, nostalgic times, yet rocking and funky tunes. My friend’s daughter and her friend joined us and had an absolute blast – Terrorvision have two new younger fans, under the guidance of a cool parent, shout out to Karen! If you get the opportunity to see Terrorvision on this tour don’t miss it!!
Photography by Darren Mcveigh for MPM
