"Rock & Roll is not dead"

"Someone recently said we're like an everyman's rock and roll band - there's something there for everybody" grins Anthony Wright, lead vocalist and guitarist of Wolverhampton's own The Whiskey Syndicate.

The statement couldn't be more true. With their hard-hitting beats and stripped-down rock sound, the band produce a little something for everybody to get into.

The band are Wolverhampton's answer to Guns 'N' Roses and Motley Crue; a true rock and roll band that never fail to get an audience moving.

In June the band will at long-last release their début album, 'The Right Side Of Crazy'. But last night they were at the Slade Rooms for their launch show, previewing the album in its entirety before taking to the stage for the biggest performance of their lives.

The show proved that the band were up to the challenge as they showed why they've become renowned for their live shows. The band powered through a set of songs old and new as the audience danced and sang along to the band, with songs 'Rise For Me' and 'Break The Chain' showing the band on top form.

The band end the show by taking a bow and diving into the arms of their adoring audience - a fitting finish to a phenomenal hometown performance.

Yet despite all the momentum the band have, they're making sure that they don't get swept up in the moment and are remaining realistic about their hopes for the album.

"World domination would be a bit delusional. We want to make a statement; we want to make an impact. Rock and roll is not dead."

To listen to the interview, click here.

Gig Review 16/12/11: Kerrang Xmas Party 2011

Birmingham has always been the home of metal, but last night it was the home to the Kerrang! christmas party.

The line up was a mix of rock genres that would attract a very mixed audience, with indie-punk headliners The Subways making strange bedfellows with fresh-faced pop-punk band Canterbury and post-hardcore outfit Funeral For A Friend.

Canterbury began the night with a commendable display of stage presence and musicianship, providing an energetic spectacle for the audience. While playing song after song of pop-punk energy, the band continually try to get the audience as involved as possible - all to little avail. The band started to capture the audience however by playing old favourite 'Gloria', which even singer/guitarist Mike Sparks commented would be the "poppiest song they'll play all night". However it was not until they performed latest single 'More Than Know' that the band managed to gain full control of the audience, with the whole venue bouncing along to every beat of the song.

Although this band is still a bit rough around the edges and possibly a bit out of their depth in a show like this, their potential and their enthusiasm are undeniable and worthy of note. Fans of pop-punk bands such as Youmeatsix will find this band a worthwhile listen. 

Funeral For A Friend are possibly the biggest name on the line-up, so it immediately raises questions as to why the band aren't the headline act. However, their set shows a clear indication as to why the band aren't the headliners tonight. Their energetic stage show and powerful vocals don't cover the fact that the audience just aren't responding well to their new songs. Despite the fact that the audience is jumping and even creating moshpits for the newer songs, it is on old songs 'Streetcar' and, in particular, the emotional rendition 'Roses For The Dead' that the audience truly comes alive and the air truly becomes electric.

They may be the biggest band on the line-up but their lacklustre performance shows why they are not the headliners.

The event really starts when The Subways take the stage. As soon as the first few notes of 'Oh Yeah' echo throughout the ballroom, the audience belongs to the band. Billy Lunn expertly keeps control of the audience through a set comprised of songs from all three of the band's albums, with only a handful of songs actually coming from the band's most recent album 'Money & Celebrity' - something perfectly suited to an event like this. Mid-set songs 'With You' and 'We Don't Need Money To Have A Good Time' show why the band are the headliners tonight: because they have energetic, crowd-pleasing songs reinforced by phenomenal stage presence that makes for an amazing spectacle.

The band end with an extended and very energetic rendition of 'It's A Party!', with Lunn crowdsurfing for several minutes before returning to the stage to bring the song, the performance and the night to a spectacular close.

The Clockwork Owls, The Black Apples & The Control Gig Review 17/11/11

From Lemmy of Motorhead to Slash of Guns 'N' Roses, Stoke-On-Trent is renowned for producing high quality rock performers.

If the gig at Staffordshire University's The Verve on Leek Road on Thursday 17th November is anything to go by some new bands are set to be added to that list.

The first band of the night were Clockwork Owls and rarely do you see an unsigned band that can unleash song after song of indie rock with such conviction.

After a shaky start the band get progressively better, with notable songs 'Balanced By No Means' and 'Been A Long Time' taking mid-set slots and captivating the audience with ease. By the time the band are halfway through their set, the audience are starting to lose themselves in the music. However it is not until their final song (a song which is still unnamed) that the audience fully surrenders to the band, singing along despite not knowing the words.

Although the band lack a little in terms of stagecraft and the vocalist doesn't have the most refined voice, they are still a young band and there is no denying that the band have the potential to go far on the indie rock circuit.

Soon The Black Apples take the stage and with every thunderous drumbeat another member of the audience finds themselves contaminated with the infectious sound of a true rock and roll band.

The band's sound consists of intricate bass lines, captivating drumbeats and solid guitar riffs, all of which come together perfectly to entrance the audience.

It really is hard to fault them. As they play through an energetic set of absolute rock and roll brilliance (notably a gem called 'Don't Fool Me Now' and a phenomenal cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh Well') the audience finds it impossible not to lose themselves in the spectacle.

The band have the energy, the stage presence and the songs to be massive. It is really surprising that they are not better known. Fans of traditional rock and roll, Wolfmother, Led Zeppelin and The Who will not be disappointed in the slightest by this band.

Finally the headliners of the night, The Control, take the stage and they will have to deliver a really powerful performance in order to top The Black Apples.

From the very first song, it is clear that The Control definitely have the potential. The band have a definite indie sound, characterised by a guitar that is poppy but also with a raw edge that appealed to many people in the audience. This guitar, along with the driving rhythm section, provides the perfect backdrop to the loose social-commentary lyrics of vocalist Joe Brennan-Hulme and his Ian Curtis influenced vocal style (coincidentally he featured as an extra in Control - the 2007 biopic about the Joy Division singer).

As they blast their way through their set, the crowd response is amazing. The audience almost immediately surrender to the catchy rhythms of the band, notably on 'Best Gags', 'Another Cal Banda' and 'Rag & Bone'. The band provide a good live spectacle too, with Brennan-Hulme doing odd dances on the stage during instrumental sections and even coming off the stage at one point.

When they finish with their set, they don't even have time to get off the stage before the audience move in on the stage and demand the band to do an encore. So they do. The band returns to the stage with 'Playground Punks', a song which they refer to as their "anthem" - a bold statement but one that cannot be denied. With a catchy refrain which gets the whole venue singing along and a rhythm that gets everybody moving and even starts a small mosh-pit in front of the stage, it is the perfect end to their set and to the night.

The band have the sound, the songs and the stage presence to go far in the indie music scene. It could only be a matter of time until the band make a substantial impact on the Staffordshire music scene. A definite recommendation for fans of The Courteeners and Joy Division.

The début EP by The Clockwork Owls is due 23rd December 2011. To listen to them, visit their Facebook page here.

To listen to The Black Apples, visit their Myspace page here.

To listen to The Control, visit their Facebook page here.

To listen to my interview with Joe Brennan-Hulme (Vocals) & Mike Davies (Drums) from The Control, click here.