Scotland Rocks Radio 5th Birthday Bash - 31st May 2024

I'm back again for another Scotland Rocks Radio Live And Louder Sessions, this one is a bit more special than previous gigs, as the radio station is celebrating their fifth birthday. It was also different as this gig was FREE ENTRY.

Everyone who came to the gig received a free fourteen track CD (physical media rules ok) and a badge. If you are lucky enough, you also get a station branded fairy cake. You also get to see three fantastic bands, initially, Shaded Silence were meant to open, but due to vocalist Andy having a virus, the band had to pull out two days before the gig. At the last moment Dundee formed band, Alabama Crow stepped in to take opening spot! So a HUGE thanks goes out to them. As you read this, Alabama Crow have joined the Rockfiend family.

I have never heard the openers before, but going by their name, I had a rough idea what their style was going to be, they didn't disappoint! Alabama Crow got together at the beginning of 2024. Billy (guitar, vocals) Craig (drums), Danny (bass), Gary (keys) and Paul (lead guitar). Listening to the band, you would think they had been playing for years, not just a few months. It took a few moments to come to terms that these guys are Scottish, not American! If you are a fan of the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd or classic Black Crows, then you're going to love the Southern Blues Rock N Roll by Scottish Alabama Crow.

The second band to hit The Banshee stage, are no strangers to Scotland Rocks Radios Live And Louder Sessions, they are of course Medusa Touch. Having reviewed their performance at the Radio Station’s end of year bash just a few months ago, plus their last outing at Bannerman's (also Edinburgh), nothing much has changed, we get another classic 1980's inspired NWOBHM performance. The only real difference between the last couple of gigs and this performance, is the temperature inside the venue, it was a lot more sweaty this time around. Frontman Gogsy, is a man of a thousand facial expressions! He really does put everything into his performance.

Having previously described Medusa Touch frontman Gogsy as sounding similar to Saxons Biff Byford we now have our headliners, Iron Maiden/Helloween inspired Tantrum. Again a band that are also no strangers to Scotland Rocks Radios Live And Louder Sessions. As station owner Rob took to the stage to introduce Tantrum, there were hardly anyone in front of the stage, However, before a note was struck, the venue was crammed. There had been a mass exodus after Medusa Touch, people heading out for some cooler air and refreshments!

As with Medusa Touch, Tantrums set was full of boot stomping, fist pumping 1980's influenced Heavy Metal anthems, until they got to song four on the setlist, frontman Mark announced that we were about to get a brand new song. As being part of the Radio Station crew, I was privileged to hear the song during the bands soundcheck, I can assure you that "The Judge" is just as anthemic as the rest of the bands set. After the band played song nine on the setlist "Nevermore" the bands "official" time was up, as there is a "club night" after the gig but the band were coerced into playing on, not just by the crowd, but also got the go ahead from the station owners, so whatever was next on the setlist for the encore, was duly abandoned and a couple of songs were played before we got to the actual encore! It's fair to say that Tantrum have had a few line-up changes since the band formed, I also think that there are now no original members still in the band, however, I think this current line-up could now last for the duration,

As with every gig I go to, it was all over far too quickly, fortunately, I have another gig tomorrow, so more photos and another review could be up for your viewing very soon.

See you at the barrier!

Jai