Setlist
A Day To Remember Rock Birmingham On Valentines Day!
It’s Friday evening and millions of people all over the UK are preparing for their Valentine’s evenings with their special someone. A Day To Remember are doing the same, except tonight they are spending it with their beloved fans on the Birmingham date of their European tour! Tonight at the O2 Academy Birmingham, the US band from Ocala, Florida will play the show with support from Mallory Knox, Every time I Die and The Story So Far.
This particular show of the tour in the UK is one of the smallest venues they are playing considering they are packing out venues such as the Alexandra Palace in London. Hence why this Birmingham date is a sell out! A Day To Remember last played Birmingham in 2011, but now they are back with a new record Common Courtesy, an album full of highly entertaining tunes, of which will surely be part of the band’s set lists for years to come!
The first two bands came and went with great crowd reception. A great start to the evening from two up and coming bands within their respected genre’s of music. Both bands were warmly welcomed and sure to have left fans eagerly anticipating their return.
Before the US headliners, is Mallory Knox. A band from Cambridge that had quite a successful 2013 with the release of their debut album ‘Signals’. The album included hits such as ‘Lighthouse’ and ‘Wake Up’. The album was so well received that it was rereleased as a deluxe addition towards the end of last year. To support a band like A Day To Remember so early on in their career shows what a promising future this bunch have. They even managed to open the main stage of Reading 2013 on the Saturday.
Some people argued the placement of Mallory Knox on the bill saying they were not suited to such a heavy bill as this. Thankfully they proved the doubters wrong. Mallory Knox ripped through a sublime set whilst treating fans to new material from their in production second album. The crowd was as lively, if not more than the 1st two bands! Lead vocalist Mikey Chapman had the crowd in mass sing-a-longs for most of the songs they played. The crowd was hanging on every note played. The band managed to make you feel as if they were the headline act without you realising. In between songs the band showed their gratitude to the crowd proving how much it meant to be standing where they were. Mallory Knox are a band to watch out for, a band that continue to show what bright futures they have in the music industry. A perfect set up for the headline act.
Rating: 7/10
The time has come for A Day To Remember to wow their fans. Jeremy, Neil, Kevin, Josh and Alex all take their positions and look raring to cause pandemonium in the venue. The fans are going wild, it’s as if they’ve waited forever to see the metalcore band’s return. Before the 1st note to intro song ‘All I Want’ has dropped, the pits have opened up. The place is bouncing with excitement and here begins the next hour and a half of partying, moshing and all types of crazy shit you should expect when seeing a band like this. The band give it their all as do the fans in return. This is not a gig… This is a party! Hosted by 5 of the most sincere, hardworking and deserving guys in the world. The fans chant along with lead singer Jeremy Mckinnon to each word that leaves his lips. To expect a reaction like this would have been insane. When a Birmingham crowd turns up you really have to impress.
A few songs in and the crowd have got more and more wild. Each and every person in the standing area has turned almost feral-like! The pits have become extreme (yet fun) and the crowdsurfing looks as if it’s never going to end. The venue’s ceiling has already begun to drip condensated sweat. The reason? ‘2nd Sucks’ of course!
To keep in touch with the feeling of love and romance, A Day To Remember take the chance to wish their adoring fans a Happy Valentine’s Day. It’s at this point the crowd is treated to two acoustic performances, the 1st being ‘You Had Me At Hello’ and the 2nd ‘If It Means A Lot To You’. Queue mass sing-a-longs. This moment is a true gift to see. Men holding girls up on their shoulders whilst the venue is light up by lighters and camera phone lights. And people say metal couldn’t make love songs. Ha.
Further into the set Jeremy takes the chance to get more up close and personal with his fans. Literally. Now the main room of the academy isn’t that big, but the lead singer gets into a inflatable zorb ball and run out into the audience on top of the fans whilst they push him around the venue. Whilst this is going on Jeremy is still managing to sing along to parts of the song ‘It’s Complicated’ whilst the rest of the band rock out on stage. Something cool and different that not many bands have done before.
Now like any A Day To Remember gig, the tunes are coming out thick and fast. When you have 5 albums worth of fantastic material it’s only right that you cram in as many songs as possible. This set has had everything. Songs from their very 1st album, all the way up to the most their recent ‘Common Courtesy’ which was released last year. It’s worth noting that set included quite a lot of songs from fan favourite album ‘Homesick’. The album where people finally stood up and took notice of what a fantastic band A Day To Remember are.
Towards the end of the set in between songs Jeremy took the chance to thank the crowd for how mental they had been this evening. He also told the crowd how this was the 1st show of the UK dates where his voice had actually felt back to normal. This must have been a real boost for both the fans and the band. Jeremy and co. had recently had to cancel the Cardiff date of the UK schedule after suffering a throat infection. The date is due to be rescheduled however no date has yet been announced. Read the link for the news of the bands cancellation
The encore rolls round and the band leave the stage. The fans shout out for more as per usual, as expected the band return 2 or 3 minutes later. The band begin to rip into a 3 song encore including songs ‘Violence (Enough Is Enough)’, ‘All Signs Point To The Lauderdale’ and finish on ‘The Downfall Of Us All.’ As the first few notes of the final song are played confetti and streamer cannons fire off into the audience. The perfect way to celebrate the end of what has been a very entreating night. A Day To Remember has done their fans proud as always. The band leaves the stage to the applause, screams and chants of the extremely pleased crowd. Lets hope the US 5-piece doesn’t leave it as long next time to play in the UK again. A Day To Remember are most definitely a band who are dreadfully missed when away from the UK.
Rating: 8/10
It’s safe to say it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable night by all. The worn-out fans head towards the exits and filter out towards the nearest bars. However for A Day To Remember, they are preparing to set off for Manchester. Manchester will be the last date of their UK and European winter tour. However, as for Birmingham and A Day To Remember… Valentine’s Day 2014… Mission Accomplished.
Bury Tomorrow Release ‘Man On Fire’!
Bury Tomorrow have teased fans with the release of their first single, from album number three, ‘Runes’. If ‘Man Of Fire’ doesn’t get you excited for their new album, then god knows what will!
Fans were lucky enough to get an early release of the single after the band decided to treat their fans for getting ‘Runes’ to number 1 the iTunes Metal & AmazonUK pre-order charts. The song had its 1st play on Daniel P Carter’s Radio 1 rock show (25th Feb) which resulted in a twitter frenzy of fans singing the bands praises for their efforts. Whilst the song had it’s 1st official play, the band uploaded the music video via Youtube. You can watch the video below.
The metalcore band from Southampton have put out a strong, brutal and captivating 1st song to what will hopefully be the bands game changing album. A record which will hopefully make them frontrunner’s in their genre alongside bands like Parkway Drive, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. With 2014 shaping up for some interesting releases from the metal world, you have to believe that with a single like this to represent ‘Runes’, Bury Tomorrow must surely have much more in the tank.
Lead singer Daniel Winter-Bates has commented that the record is much heavier and faster than anything they’ve done before. He also commented that with the addition Kristan Dawson (lead guitar), the band was able to include much more technical guitar riffs into their style. This is clear from soon to be hit ‘Man On Fire’ as it holds a much more throughly produced sound. The single has quite a large Killswitch Engage feel to it. A band that are a clear influence on Bury Tomorrow.
The vocals variety between Daniel Winter-Bates and clean vocalist/guitarist James Cameron is still present in ‘Man On Fire’ and allows the song to flow well. The heaviness you hear comes in like a torpedo whilst Dan puts his feel on the single. James also manages to keep the song at a high tempo with catchy choruses and well structured rhythm guitar sectioned riffs.
Fans alike will be on the edge of their seats waiting for May to roll round when album ‘Runes’ is released. But if that’s too far away, then the 1st single is already available for download via iTunes.
Bury Tomorrow will also head out on tour in May, kicking things off in Belfast on May 17th. They will also feature at this year’s Slam Dunk festivals as well as playing at Download Festival later on in the summer. Expect to hear big riffs, raw screams and great choruses from the album which will surely be ever-present in their future set lists. You won’t regret seeing them!
To wrap this up, it is clear the band are making a name for themselves, due to the fantastic production and end product with regards to filming for new single ‘Man On Fire’.
Kerrang Tour 2014 Hits Birmingham!
It’s a cold, wet and miserable Thursday evening in Birmingham for most, but for a lucky few thousand it’s an evening that is soon to be full of Riffs, Moshpits, sweat and sing-a-longs! Why? Limp Bizkit have landed in the second city!
The Kerrang Tour headlined by Jacksonville’s finest, is in town for the night, in the main room of the O2 Academy Birmingham, a room usually for bands of a smaller fan base that aren’t quite arena fillers yet. To have a band as big as Limp Bizkit headline the room can only suggest one thing. Mayhem!
The bill that is touring the UK is made up of four bands. Gig openers Baby Godzilla, followed by Nekrogoblikon and then Japanese rockers Crossfaith who tear up the venue before Limp Bizkit finish the night off with raps, riffs and obscene amounts of Rollin’ gestures!
Not long after doors, Baby Godzilla take to the stage. The band from Nottingham comes out on stage with a purpose. What this purpose is I’m not quite sure of. Within seconds of starting the stage is an utter bombsite. Amps knocked over and stood on, mic stands in the crowd, and even half the band is missing from the stage. Now, usually an opening band gets the crowd going and some of the most brutal pits take place at the start of a gig, however, this isn’t happening tonight. The crowd is having none of it. No matter what the band does the half filled room looks on as if there is nobody onstage. There are maybe one or two people nodding their head (most likely just being polite). Within the 1st song the lead singer is running through the crowd to the back of the crowd with his mic trying to act like a great front man but still nothing in return from the crowd. In fact fans are walking past him throwing his mic-lead left right and centre to just get past. This is something I’ve never seen in all the gigs I’ve attended.
It becomes quite clear throughout the set that the band are almost posers by spending most of their time climbing the barriers in front of the crowd for the pro-photographers to snap them. No matter what the pictures look like, the crowd interaction is not there… You can’t edit that in or out of a picture! Sadly Baby Godzilla did not have the support or intrigue any opening band should have. It must feel to the fans like time wasted that could have been filled by bands higher up the bill!
Rating 3/10.
Next up is Nekrogoblikon from California. Before the band has even took to the stage a man dressed as a goblin takes his place in front of the crowd. The green figure known as ‘John Goblikon’ introduces the crowd to the band and within seconds those lifeless faces from during Baby Godzilla have disappeared. They’ve been replaced with faces of laughter and excitement. The band come to the stage and rips into their setlist at full speed. The band that started out in 2006 has an almost pirate feel to it with group sing-alongs about rum, mixed with copious amount of organ-like keyboard playing in the background of monstrous guitar riffs. The crowd are lapping it up whilst the goblin runs round the stage swigging beer and mimicking the lead singer and co. Once again I have never seen a live act like this, but this time it is for the right reasons. The crowd is starting to grow in numbers and the pits begin to flow throughout the venue! A set highlight for sure must be the song ‘Giraffe’; it’s at this moment where the sing-alongs, fist pumping and genuine feel of fan satisfaction reach full swing! This continues over into their final song of the set ‘No One Survives’. It’s safe to say that Nekrogoblikon have definitely made some new fans tonight. A real perk of attending live music events. Birmingham will be eagerly awaiting the US Metallers return to English soil!
Rating: 6.5/10
Setlist:
- Bells & Whistles
- Friends (In Space)
- Powercore
- Nothing but Crickets
- Giraffe
- No One Survives
As the latecomers flood into the main room of the O2 Acadamy, the stage is being set for the arrival of Japanese rockers Crossfaith. Crossfaith who hail all the way from Osaka are a band on everyone’s lips as of late. After a successful 2013 with the release of debut album ‘Apocalyze’, and successful gigs including Reading Festival, you get the feeling that when they hit the stage they will blow everyone away. Time will stop still as pits erupt throughout the room and standing-ticketed fans become part of a every man for themselves battle royal.
As expected Koie Kenta and co. hit the stage armed with their weapons of choice; Guitars, Bass, Mixing decks, Drums, oh and JAGERMEISTER! Yes that’s right! The Japanese crew party and party hard! Seconds into the drop of their first song, the crowd has been torn wide apart. Mayhem has broken out! Fans are jumping up and down, moshing, hardcore dancing etc. You name it, its happening at this moment of time! The chugs of Takemura Kazuki’s guitar mixed in with the electronica/Dubstep beats of Tamano Terufumi, intertwined with the roar screams of Koie Kenta create a real party tempo! Something that is perfect considering Jacksonville badboys Limp Bizkit are up next. Throughout the whole of Crossfaith’s 30 minute set, there is not a single body froze in sight. Everyone is truly in party spirits. Crossfaith’s music was intended for times like these. Live music is most definitely for the win! In between songs vocalist Koie Kenta interacts with the crowd rearing them up for headliners Limp Bizkit, whilst the following band members take a well-earned break and down the Jager onstage! The metalcore band also treat the crowd to a cover of The Prodigy’s hit ‘Omen’. This song is a perfect cover for a band like this! The crowd breakout into a raving atmosphere, belting out every word at the top of their voices back to Koie Kenta onstage! This will sure be a highlight to look back on come the end of the night! Crossfaith most definitely bought the WOW factor. Top songs of the set included ‘Jagerbomb’ and ‘Eclipse’. If you’re attending this year’s Download Festival, make sure you see Crossfaith! A must see band for anybody attending!
Rating: 9/10
Setlist:
- We Are The Future
- Jägerbomb
- Countdown To Hell
- Eclipse
- Omen (The Prodigy Cover)
- Leviathan
The time has come. Crossfaith has left the stage; the crowd catches their breath and recovers for what is to be another hour and a half of pure madness. After a 20 minute break it is finally time for nu metal legends Limp Bizkit to embrace their fans! Guitarist Wes Borderland takes to the stage oddly dressed as always playing the ukulele. Wes is met by an outrageous amount of cheers. It’s as if every man and woman in the crowd have turned into lovesick fangirls! The extragavent Wes is dressed to the nines. Painted up as per usual for the live shows but this time wearing a white suite and holiday-esque trilby! His mic stand is covered in Hawiian flower leis. This all makes sense later on in the set when Fred Durst announces Wes is still in ‘holiday mode’, hence why at this point he loses his trouses revealing his pants but still wearing his blazer and various different hats. Typical Wes.
Anyway, back to Wes and his ukulele, this goes on for a good minute and a half before he flings it off stage and begins to rock his guitar as the rest of Limp Bizkit roll up on stage. The 1st few chords of 9 teen 90 nine kick in and a roar from the audience grows louder and louder. Whilst Fred spits his bars the fans go mental screaming and rapping every word at the top of their voices. The fans are so loud at points during the song you really do struggle to hear Fred. This evidently blows him away.
A few songs in, Fred and co. decide to drop their most successful song to date. The song of a generation, Rollin’. The crowd is in awe, as it should be. For the next four or five minutes, from the front to the back, all you can see are mimics of Fred Durst doing the famous dance moves from the music video. A truly great moment to witness live. The set also includes three fantastic covers. One of ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ by Gun N’ Roses and then two covers they have released on their LP’s throughout the years. The 1st being ‘Faith’ by George Michael (dedicated to all the women in the audience) and then ‘Behind Blue eyes’ by The Who. Like every song in the set, they all had a special moment for the crowd which was entertaining regardless of if you’ve seen Limp Bizkit thousands of times or for the first time.
Other set highlights included ‘Hot Dog’, ‘Nookie’ and ‘Break Stuff’, all in which sparked numerous wild moshpits, an excessive amount of crowdsurfing and mass sing-a-longs, everything and more of what you’d expect when seeing Jacksonville’s finest tear the place apart.
Seeing Fred Durst and co. live for the second time also made me realise how skilled the band are at what they do. For a band to start out in 1994 and still be at the top of their game in 2014 is something to be truly proud of! Not many bands can say that in this day and age. You have to respect that about this band, rocking it on the big time for 20 years! Tonight’s gig alone shows they’ve still got it and for more years to come!
Limp Bizkit will be playing Sonisphere Festival this year. If you are attending be ready to get blown away by the red capped warrior Fred Durst, painted up Wes, Drum magician John Otto and the rest of the Matthew’s Bridge crew. They will eat you alive!
Rating: 9.5/10
Setlist:
- 9 Teen 90 Nine
- Full Nelson
- Welcome to the Jungle (Guns N’ Roses cover)
- Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)
- Gold Cobra
- Hot Dog
- Faith (George Michael cover)
- My Generation
- Livin’ It Up
- Behind Blue Eyes (The Who cover) (aborted halfway through)
- My Way
- Nookie
- Break Stuff
All in all, Kerrang Tour 2014 has been a major success. Let’s hope when it roles around in a year’s time, it’s lineup is just as exciting and sells out like this one. Full credit to the bands involved.
Mallen Official 