Beercart Arms – 25.04.13 – Crashgate – Jukebox Monkey – After The Enclave – Let The Dust Settle

Posted on April 28, 2013 by gigglepics13

Crashgate
Jukebox Monkey
After The Enclave
Let The Dust Settle

Thursday 25th April 2013 another night at the Beer Cart Arms in Canterbury brought another really great line up of bands. This venue always seems to bring the bands flooding in, eager to play and has built a great reputation in the local scene all round.

Let The Dust Settle are a heavy rock band from Tunbridge Wells in Kent who I have seen and reviewed once before. Rather than cover old ground I will post the link here to the previous review (RokanRolla gig 28/02/13) and just give an updated opinion of this performance. The previous review is well worth a read so head over and give it a quick browse. If you’ve read it, you already know my thoughts on this band and a good idea of what they are about. My previous observations still stand, they still have the heavy riffs and punchy vocals and I feel they have improved somewhat, which is always a bonus. The guys are currently in the recording studio getting their debut EP down to bring to you all shortly. The only thing I would say is that Lee’s vocals were a little softer off the back of hours and hours of singing, but I only noticed that due to having a gig to reference them against. Visually the band didn’t really seem to relax until about half way through their set, this could be due to being first up which can be tough. Once they got going though they seemed to have a lot of fun. A few more gigs under their belts and I think they will really start to come into their own.

Let The Dust Settle

After The Enclave a hard rock band from Sittingbourne are a band I’ve photographed on a number of occasions now and reviewed once before fairly recently. Again I will post the link to the previous review (RokanRolla gig 22/03/13) and say that this review is still entirely accurate. The thing about After The Enclave is they are a very established band, gigging very regularly and their performance standards never drop. They also never seem to get bored and enjoy every single gig they do. Front man Micheal always puts on a show that will capture your attention with never a slip in the vocal delivery. Adam has to be among the hardest rocking bassists I have seen, headbanging his way through a set which always provides amazing photo’s. A great blend of hard rock and metal cascades from the stage and I dare you not to even nod your head!

Jukebox Monkey another hard rock band from Kent and I have reviewed these guys once before also (RokanRolla gig 22/03/13) and wow what a review. These guys play a particular brand of kick ass rock that really appeals. Their visual performance smacks of a band that parties and rocks out hard. There is not a band member that does not draw your focus at some point and this night was no exception. Drummer Peter even climbed on board his kit at one point, living up to his nickname ‘Animal’ that I dubbed him last time. Hard headbanging heavy riffs galore meant I came away with neck ache, quite happily. Unusually I find these guys sound better live than recorded which isn’t a bad thing, not many bands are able to sound better live! These guys are definitely going to be seen and heard of more and more on the circuit for sure! Smashed it!

Jukebox Monkey

Crashgate are an established rock band from Deal and although I’ve photographed them once before I have never reviewed them live. This was a set I was looking forward to, due to knowing that they would be performing some new material from their recently released debut album. I’d heard the album from the comfort of my own home but there is nothing like seeing material like this live, the way its meant to be in my opinion! It was evident from the start that these guys have been together sometime and they know what they are doing. This maybe new material but the band played it tight with so much energy and vigor, they are proud of this stuff and they should be. Clever lyrics, some great blood curdling ‘screaming’ bringing in a slightly metal element and the clear and extremely tuneful vocals of Craig make this a band more than pleasurable to watch and listen to. Interaction with the audience makes the band even more alluring, drawing them in and making them step forward. They gained new fans at this gig, I’m pretty sure they do at every gig! Get along and see them very soon!

Crashgate

Sarah Quinn – GIGgle Pics & Kent Sessions

Let The Dust Settle – Weapons and War

Find band on Facebook

After The Enclave – Crucified

Find band on Facebook

Jukebox Monkey – Airborne

Find band on Facebook

Crashgate – As One

Find band on Facebook

I seriously can’t say this enough… if you like what you hear, like what you see give these guys Facebook pages a quick like, 10 seconds, links provided and its great for them to know people appreciate what they are doing. You also get to keep up to date with what they are doing, new music etc.

Here follows an extremely small amount of the photography taken from the night. For the full gigs photography please head over to Facebook, this gig only!

Photo’s by Sarah Quinn – GIGgle Pics & Kent Sessions

Crashgate

Jukebox Monkey

Let The Dust Settle

After The Enclave

Let The Dust Settle

Crashgate

RokanRolla – 28.02.13 – Jukebox Monkey – Let The Dust Settle – All That We Know – Ian Day (Tank Trap)

Posted on March 1, 2013 by gigglepics13

Jukebox Monkey
Let The Dust Settle
All That We Know
Ian Day (Tank Trap)

New Music Thursday at the RokanRolla, Folkestone’s only dedicated music venue provided something more than a little bit special on this night. Firstly it was going to be an exciting night because 3 of the acts playing I had never seen before and its always great to see new acts, secondly Ian Day from the mighty Tank Trap was performing an acoustic set!

So we start with Ian Day. Now I’ve been fortunate enough to see Tank Trap live and photograph them at a small gig in Ashford at Platform 5 and that is a gig I will not forget in a hurry. Therefore it was with slight trepidation that I prepared for Ian’s acoustic set. I knew deep down that it would be good, with a voice like that it could be nothing else. However, there was an edge of nerves as to whether his performance could be as great as when with his band. I really needn’t have worried. Ian played an acoustic set of rock/bluesy covers including an amazing version of Hey Maggie, REM covers and a jaw dropping performance of Hallelujah. Ian finished his set with a rendition of MMMBop by Hanson which he assured was for comic value, although knowing the words so well, I’m not entirely convinced! Each song saw an eruption of applause from the audience who sat mesmerized by this stripped back, pure set of vocals and guitar. Ian’s voice simply captivated the audience with a strong but at times slightly gravelly, pure sound that filled the huge venue with ease, such is the power of of his voice. The only difference between an Ian Day acoustic performance and a Tank Trap performance for this lead singer, is an air of vulnerability when on stage performing alone. Gone is the edgy confident persona and in its place something a little more vulnerable and unsure, which in itself is very charming. All in all I have to say this was an incredible set that had the rock/heavy rock bands that were to follow sitting in total appreciation and they were not afraid to show it. I would most definitely be seeking out an Ian Day acoustic gig to watch again on a personal level.

Next up saw a young covers band called All That They Know, who have recently performed on Academy FM. Still relatively new, having formed in August 2011 this trio feature covers ranging from Tiao Cruz through to John Lennon. They are stepping into the studio in a couple of weeks on March the 12th to begin recording their debut EP. This evening however saw rock covers of the likes of Kings of Leon, Artic Monkeys and Blink 182 to name few, although their set only ran for around 20 minutes in total. The lead singer and guitarist Harley Johnson, if I’m honest, looked the most confident and comfortable in the band, settling in well to his performance. I’m not entirely sure how many gigs this band have played together but they did at times appear to be nervous and lacking that real confidence and stage presence that draws an audience in. This could also be due to the epic numbers that they chose to perform, as the likes of Sex is on Fire require a certain amount of boldness and exuberance to pull off entirely credibly. Still having said that, this is a band that I feel has potential for growth and with more performances together I feel they will develop a greater confidence that will enhance their stage performance and therefore the audiences appreciation. One to watch!

Headline support act Let The Dust Settle are an originals Heavy Rock/Metal band from Tonbridge Wells, Kent. This band consists of 4 members and I have to say for me had a slight Motorhead feel about them. Now when they first took to the stage I’ll be honest, I did not know what to expect. These guys did not look like your stereotypical heavy rock/metal band apart from the Jack Daniels and Led Zepplin t-shirts on stage, the usual heavy tattoos, piercings or long headbanging hair were not really in sight. I know slap on the wrist for the stereotyping… but well its just what I’m used to seeing. However, what was evident from the very first bar is that looks can be deceiving. The heavy riffs mixed with clear punchy vocals captured my attention from the very start and I soon found it hard to concentrate on photography due to feeling the need to to move! By the time they came to the last song of their set, self titled Let The Dust Settle I did in fact find myself moving my head in a general nodding fashion along with the headbanging being produced on stage. At the end of the set the guitarist simply announced to the audience “I’m a sweaty monkey” and it was quite apt really. This band is full of energy with confidence that belies a real ‘gel’ in the band. This is a band I need to see more of… not because I haven’t made up my mind, the opposite, I need to see them again!

Now on to the headliners Jukebox Monkey. These guys describe themselves as ‘4 Guys playing bad-ass hard-rock’ and well, they are just what they say on the tin. Having come highly recommended by another amazing hard rock/stoner metal band Stone Kings, I was expecting good things… I was not disappointed. In fact I would go as far as to say that I got, amazing things! This band showed what they were all about from the off, flying out of the box, no messing into a hard energetic rock set of pure headbanging and heavy riffs that I would defy anyone to stand still too, with an energy that is rarely seen these days. It is very evident these guys have been together for a considerable amount of time and I am astonished that they have not progressed much further yet, or that I had not heard of them to date. An extremely tight set and interaction on stage between members show how many gigs they have played together and wow, what a show they put on. None of which compromises the amazing sound that come from the stage. The drummer captured my attention from the very start, reminding me of Animal from the Muppet’s with his wild and enthusiastic method of drumming, which included, unusually, a cowbell! I can honestly say that I would pay decent money to go and watch these guys and think they are destined for good/bigger things. If bad-ass hard rock is what you are all about, you must get out there to one of their gigs, you will not be disappointed. I recommend that you check these guys out on Facebook, give them a like and show them some love, after last nights performance, they deserve it!

Judging by the overall quality and standard of last nights gig, if the RokanRolla continue to produce such high standard evenings I can see their venue being packed out to capacity very soon.

Here follows a very small selection of photography from the night. For the full evenings photo’s please go to my Facebook page, this gig only

Hear track Jukebox Monkeys – Airborne
Find them on Facebook

Hear track Let The Dust Settle – Weapons And War
Find them on Facebook

Hear track Tank Trap – Bite The Bullet
Find Ian on Facebook
Find Tank Trap on Facebook

Should be able to bring you tracks and links for Let The Dust Settle and All That We Know later today or in the next couple of days so please check back!

All That We Know

Let The Dust Settle

All That We Know

Let The Dust Settle

Jukebox Monkey

Ian Day (Tank Trap)

ROCK TRACKS

Posted on February 12, 2013 by gigglepics13

Here is a selection of tracks from various ROCK bands. Like what you hear? Check them out on Facebook, find a gig and go and support them!

If you search for a band in the search box in the left column of the blog, you will find their blog posts, with photography, Facebook and in some cases website and YouTube links. Also any featured band articles if relevant. Just click on the links to hear a track: