Gold Blade - Manchester Roadhouse
by Denzil Watson
published: 13 / 1 / 2002
intro
It's a cold December Friday outside and we' re in to Manchester's Roadhouse club for Goldblade's X-Mas party. Several hundred punters are packed into this neat little venue with its low ceiling, low s
It's a cold December Friday outside and we' re in to Manchester's Roadhouse club for Goldblade's X-Mas party. Several hundred punters are packed into this neat little venue with its low ceiling, low stage and band right in yer face - no mean feat when you consider that Goldblade's last vinyl outing was 1998's "Drop the bomb" long player on the now defunct Ultimate imprint. What have the band been up to over the last two years? Well, by the looks of things chiselling down a whole new set on sonic exocets to unleash on the unsuspecting world. They don't so much walk on to stage as much as explode on to it and it's clear from the first guitar chord that they boys mean business. They open up with newie "Do you believe in the power of rock'n'roll?" With its thumping bass drum driving it along this is Goldblade at their sloganeering best. Gone are former rapper/percussionist Wayne Simmonds and brass section. This is the new lean and mean Goldblade for the 21st century. Focal point is frontman and all round renaissance man of rock'n'roll itself John Robb. He commands the stage with the authority and swagger of somebody who has been fronting bands since he formed noise-art rockers The Membranes back in 1977. The physical energy of Robb and his fellow renegades is unrivalled as they immediately energise the crowd into a frenzy of sweaty moshing bodies - something that continues throughout the whole of the band's blistering set and which results (quite literally) in them bring the roof down. Drummer Rob Hayes and bass player (and long time side kick of Robb) Keith Curtis form the bedrock of Goldblade's blueprint for punk'n'roll mayhem - pounding out a perfect rhythm for guitarist Jay Taylor to lay his killer six string riffs over. Their influences from rock'n'roll's Holy Grail itself are there for all to see - the punk and attitude of the Pistols and the Clash, the rock stylings and sharp attire of Elvis Presley and the energy and sonics of Big Black and Iggy Pop. The new material emphasises the harder direction of the band - less soul, more power - more than evident in "Who's the killa?" and the tongue-in-cheek (sorry!) "Kiss my ass". Old favourites keep the faithful happy - "Strictly Hardcore" which momentarily grazed the charts back in 1997 and the wah-wah guitar drenched of their last single "Hairstyle". The decidedly Cramps influenced "What a life" leads to further mosh-pit action and by the time band launch their final salvo in the shape of "Motherfucker" with its skull-pounding bass line the crowd are flagging to keep up. Even then the band manage one final surge, encoring with "Black Elvis" and new song "Little baby satellite". And then they are gone, leaving us to ponder just why the likes of current NME faves At The Drive In and the rest of the trendy US invasion of noise rockers are stealing the headlines. On this showing Goldblade and their new LP should grab a few headlines of their own in 2001. More information about Goldblade can be found at www.goldblade.com
Picture Gallery:-
reviews |
Do You Believe In The Power Of R 'n' R (2002) |
"Muscular return" to style from the Manchester-based punk group, Goldblade, with their first album since 1998's 'Drop the Bomb |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPPrisoners - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Allan Clarke - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Jonny Fluffypunk - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Bluebells - Interview with Ken McCluskey
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart