Hard Rock Hell – Saturday’s First Bands
Come inside for early-bird reactions to Pig Iron, The Glitterati, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, Girschool and Marseille.
* Pig Iron - A surprisingly strong attendance for a performance that started at the (relatively) ungody hour of 12 noon. The band sounded intense and plodding, in a good way, with some belting vocals from Johnny Ogle – and some great harmonica playing from him, too. The brooding, southern rock-flavoured Lord, Kill The Pain was a fine ending to a fine set.
* Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts – Made their appearance on the somewhat dubiously named ‘Old Skool NWOBHM Stage’. Dumpy (for it is he) appears to have morphed into Father Christmas – which we suppose is rather apt, given the time of year. Otherwise it was like being in The Marquee on a wet Tuesday night 25 years ago. Unfunny between-song asides from the decrepit and bitter Dumpster, meandering guitar solos from him also, and a set packed full of witless mutilations of old rock’n'roll standards.
* The Glitterati – The singer (Paul Gautry) looked like the son of Gary Holton, and there were certainly some hooligan Heavy Metal Kids-style elements to the band’s trash/punk approach… if you concentrated really hard. But as the set progressed each song – be it Fight Fight Fight or Overnight Superstar – began to sound like The Knack on steroids.
* Girlschool – Overcame some early problems with Enid Williams’ bass to deliver an excellent performance. Highlight was a rollicking version of Take It All Away – a song introduced by Kim McAuliffe as “the first song we recorded all those years ago… but we still remember it – I hope”. This was an ageless display, with Enid in particular looking hot in her uniform of leather or rubber (or possibly both). At the end of Race With The Devil a grubby-looking pair of men’s underpants was thrown on stage. Tom Jones, eat your heart out. Our only criticism? Given Girlschool’s time-honoured gritty approach, Jackie Chambers’ gleaming Flying V-style guitar looked a bit out of place. Still, she could always sell it to Steel Panther.
* Marseille – Back to the ‘Old Skool NWOBHM Stage’. Guitarist Neil Buchanan played up to the adoring hordes in the front row – well four or five people, at any rate – something rotten. But the band’s show was hampered (as it always has been) by a lack of quality material. Be it an old song like Rock You Tonight or a new ‘un like Are You Ready, Marseille’s stuff is trite and average at best. It’s also discomfiting to see them portray themselves as NWOBHM legends, because that’s a claim without foundation.
[...] ClassicRockMagazine.com has reviewed the first few bands of today (Saturday) including Pig Iron, The Glitterati, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, Girlschool and Marseille. Click here to read them. [...]
[...] in Metal Hammer, tags: Girlschool, Glitterati, Hard Rock, Hell, Marseille, Nuts, Pig Iron ClassicRockMagazine.com has reviewed the first few bands of today (Saturday) including Pig Iron, The [...]
Is this the same band I saw bring the house down last night?
Marseille have some great songs and a vibrant attitude.
I’m very disappointed at such a negative review.
sorry should have said in response to the apparently subjective criticism of Marseille
As per usual Mr Barton was at a different gig to everyone else. Dumpy and Marseille lifted Saturday. Dumpy’s are always guaranteed to get things moving and did so in their own tried and tested way, decrepit and bitter?
Marseille were simply superb and had the room in the palm of their hands, four or five people at the front my backside! Is ‘playing up something rotten’ the new way to describe performing and having a blast? From where I was stood that is all I could see as I was stood at the bar and we were all singing along to a fantastic new song called Raise Hell which I can’t get out of my head, let’s hope their new album has more “lack of quality” songs like that. For a bunch of guys who have to be in their 50’s now they looked great and were bouncing around like teenagers. Marseille are not, nor ever were NWOBHM, they are simply a none pretentious good time rock n roll band that could just as easily play on a bill with The Stones or Motorhead and would go down a storm.
regarding the Dumpy’s review… this sounds more like a very bitter personal criticism towards him rather than a band review. Were you actually in the same venue?
The band were rockin’, the Vic was packed to the rafters… I even heard the security say it was the biggest crowd they’d ever had in there. Just because he’s older than most, it goes to show he can certainly rock with the best of them and out-perform most! Listening to and watching the crowd reaction there was a lot of positive feedback.
Ok, there were a couple of re-worked covers, but along with their own material I thought it was the best warm-up slot to stage 2 you could have possibly wished for.
Bring him back next year… anyone agree?
I agree with John, get Dumpy back maybe as a stage 2 opener!! Its one of the best gigs I’ve seen in a while. I wouldn’t have put them in the NWOBHM category though. This is proper boogie blues/rock just as it should be. I see Dumpy has even been compared to being on par with W.A.S.P. as the 2nd best of the day (More Saturday Bands review) in a comment.
Marseille: I haven’t really heard much by but they really had the ‘4 or 5’ at the front giving them much respect. Some very catchy tunes.
Girlschool: I’ve seen them do better if we’re being honest here!!
I see its ‘old & decrepit’ Mr Barton doing the review (thanks for pointing that out Julian) Well all I can say is us hardened rockers have come to take his reviews over the years with a pinch of salt. Each to his own taste I suppose but it seems that he certainly likes to get very personal with artists – more like he holds a grudge against them rather than tell it how it really is. Whats up, didn’t you get recognised by certain artists or something?
Seriously, I personally think it looks bad on the rock music industry. Maybe if you haven’t got anything nice to say, you should say nothing at all!! Could it be time you hung up your jotter & Parker pen Mr B. ?
Typical music journo – blinkered view of things! Neil Buchanan was ‘playing up something rotten’ because there were photographers at the front of the stage and they were enjoying playing you prat Barton!!
They were also very appreciative of the support they did get and actually the crowd they did have was quite a decent size. And from the previous comments I think you’ll find that Marseille actually played a very good gig!
He was obviously at the wrong gig. Or he’s too old….
Dumpy was pure fun. Marseille were simply awesome!! Mr Barton obviously has a grudge – or was not there!! My husband couldn,t get in to the Marseille gig because there was a lock-out due to the Vic being at capacity for Marseille apparently, I was there and they ROCKED, Neil Buchnanan played to the whole crowd and was still signing autographs 2 hours later THATS ENTERTAINMENT!! Great weekend by the way – my first. Rock on guys! Message to Dumpy – you are pure fun. Message to Marseille – welcome back, you are the dogs boll ***cks. Message to Mr Barton – you are out of touch with us all.
What an absolutely disgraceful and possibly slanderous review of Dumpy at HRH3 by Geoff Barton.
Not only was it littered with inaccuracies and untruths,it bordered on being a personal attack on the much loved Dumpy.
He accuses the “hot lover/fat fucker” (maybe Barton just doesn’t get it!!) of being decrepit and bitter!!!
Far from being decrepit,Dumpy’s like a fine wine that gets better with age,and as for bitter!!…..explain yourself Mr Barton.Also he’s accused of meandering guitar solos….whaaaaaaaaaat,are you mad! Dumpy is one of the most accomplished guitarists on these shores,especially when playing the blues,so that comment just has to be a joke,in fact i’m beginning to think the review is just a wind up!
I can confirm,having been to all the HRH gigs that Dumpy did indeed go down better than any other band i’ve seen in the vic and the place was burstin at the the seams.
Dumpy is as valid today as he was 25 years ago,and as such,should be applauded for his longevity not subjected to public vitriol by another bitter and twisted rock star wannabe music hack!
Wow Geoff! Did Dumpy and Neil Buchanan piss in your cornflakes at breakfast or something? lol
I was lucky enough to squeeze in to catch most of both sets and never having seen either before I thought Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts and Marseille were great!
Marseille rocked hard and the review is extremely misleading. They got a full audience and a great reception. Was the reviewer actually there?
Ref: Mr Barton’s comments on Dumpy’s show at HRH 3. Were you in the Queen Vic? It was full and the crowd were right behind the Dumster who may look like Santa but so does Billy Gibbons. I’ve watched Dumpy for the last 15 years and to my knowledge he only did two covers, the rest were DRN originals. Get your facts right or don’t comment. Dumpy has stayed the distance always giving good value. I can’t wait for the next show.
P.S. Nobody else drew as many punters to stage 3 as Dumpy’s.
Glad we pay nearly a Fiver to read what i thought was a good Mag full of shit reviews on gigs on decent bands who deserve a lot more respect then your witless journalist who wrote a wonderfull review on Dumpy…attend the gig next time turd brain!!
Yep, the review of Dumpy is utter crap.
The place was jammed to the rafters with people having a great time and enjoying watching a great band have fun and play some kick-ass toons.
What a croc of sh*t! Were you even there?
Dumpys Rusty Nuts were awesome! Good old fashioned biker rock. The place was packed out, and it was a priviledge to see them again.
My only criticism was they weren’t on stage 2 for more people to have enjoyed the fabulous set.
So Dumpy looked like Santa? So what? It was a great privilege to finally be able to see DRN again and talk to ( and hug) Dumpy afterwards. What a nice man.
Mr Barton, you seriously owe Dumpy a sincere, heartfelt and grovelling apology and then give up your day job. Hang your head in shame.