Murderdolls In Glasgow (02 ABC), February 10th 2011

I love music and I love nothing more than going to live concerts. Recently I'd travelled to Glasgow to see Murderdolls, Black Veil Brides and The Defiled. Nearly two weeks on and I'm already looking forward to hopefully seeing them again. I got right down close (well nine people from the front, but it was as close as I was ever going to get!) and I must admit, it has to be one of the best gigs I've ever been to. So how come weekly rock magazine Kerrang! thought otherwise? The review (Tom Byrant who normally gives out crap reviews for good bands and who perhaps just needs a hug from a giant teddy bear) slagged off opening act The Defiled and headliners Murderdolls. Yet he pretty much drooled over Black Veil Brides (who also happened to be on the cover of that issue) Well, I didn't agree with him and although I wasn't at the reviewed gig, I was at one of their shows. So here's my "review"...

So I left Fife round about fourish. My dad was with me (because no-one else can stand my music taste) and we spent 2 hours driving, expecting to arrive with plenty of time. That didn't happen because when I'm around nothing goes according to plan. We ended up stuck in a hours long traffic jam thanks to the genius who crashed and closed a lane of traffic so his mess could be cleaned off the road. Sauchiehill Street, which is a one way street (where the venue was) was also shut due to a fire on the Tuesday night. So after a slight detour, which gave our Sat Nav a breakdown, we arrived at 7.15, halfway through The Defiled's set. Slight disappointment 'cause I was really looking forward to seeing them after hearing their album "Grave Times".

I only got two pictures of The Defiled as at the time I was stuck behind a human giraffe. But I must say from what I saw of their set it was pretty damn good. "Call To Arms" was blaring as we wandered in, so as we walked through the venue I was singing along. Their set ended not long after with their monster song "The Resurrectionists" I noticed the crowd during their set. At the front, there was crowd surfers and in the middle there was a wide open space for the crazy moshers.

People seemed to be enjoying The Defiled and I know I certainly was. Yet Tom Byrant said this:
"A band no-one are here to see, though, are The Defiled, who don’t know one of music’s fundamental rules: you can’t rock a keyboard. It’s something the band’s keyboardist/vocalist – named, erm, The A.v.D – further proves tonight."

You can't rock a keyboard? Don't Slipknot use a keyboard? They gain positive reviews worldwide and earned themselves a 5 K review from Kerrang! for their 2009 set at Download!!

Anyway. The Defiled finish up and people move so I sneak to the front. On come the Black Veil Brides!

Cue ear piercing screams from a bunch of thirteen year old girls. I won't lie, Andy Sixx is a decent looking guy, and he spent his time running around the stage with his trousers almost at his ankles. He has a good voice too. Their set consists of their big hits such as "The Perfect Weapon", "Knives And Pens", "Sweet Blasphemy" and "We Stitch These Wounds". Their enjoyable to watch, although the screaming girlies are slightly irritating.

Then Andy Sixx makes a serious error. He slagged off the crowd. One rule - NEVER slag off a Glasgow crowd. Or throw a bottle at them. They will throw it back and chant... well obscenities back at you.

Other than that kudos to the BVB guys. Unfortunately, Kerrang! magazine is determind to turn them into the next Paramore, so they are becoming slightly annoying. Which is a shame.

Finally! Murderdolls take to the stage when intro "The World According To Revenge" finishes and they instantly launch into "Chapel Of Blood" (sligh technincal hitch here when no-one can hear singer Wednesday 13 as the microphone refuses to work) To put it short the crowd went nuts, and holding a camera became difficult. They then plow through tracks from their recent album "Women And Children Last"(which was released in August 2010) such as "Deathvalley Superstars", "Homicide Drive", "Summertime Suicide", "Drug Me To Hell", "Pieces Of You", "Bloodstained Valentine" and their two released singles "My Dark Place Alone" and "Nowhere."



The roar of the crowd got louder with each song. Girls screamed whenever they were pointed, waved or smiled at by guitarist Joey Jordison and the left side of the room is a mosh pit.

Now we're taking back in time to 2002 when Murderdolls debut album "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls" was released. The line-up (except Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison) may have changed since then with the additions of Roman Surmon (guitar), Jack Tankersley (bass) and Racci Shay (above) but they are still as brutal as ever as they blast through "Slit My Wrists", "Twist My Sister" "197666", "Die My Bride", "She Was A Teenage Zombie" and "People Hate Me", both of which gain the biggest cheer from the crowd.

Then there is a somber moment as the dedicate "Welcome To The Strange" to Slipknot bass player (and Slipknot bandmate of Joey Jordison) Paul Gray who passed away in May 2010. The entire room explodes with chants of "Paul Gray! Paul Gray!" and when the song begins the crowd sings along to every word.

"Dawn Of The Dead" becomes the intro to the bands encore and they return to the stage to play through "Motherfucker I Don't Care". This is when security pulled the plug for five minutes. The left hand side of the room were a bit too insane and some poor fellow ended up hurt.

Wednesday 13 asks if we're all okay and we give him a thumbs up. "Motherfucker I Don't Care" begins again. Murderdolls set is drawing to a close and only two songs remain; "I Take Drugs" and the set closer "Dead In Hollywood" (which also gains a huge sing along).

And then it's all over. Time to trek back to the car in the freezing cold Glasgow night and make the 2 hour journey back home. We're not even out of Glasgow and I want more. In my opinion Murderdolls know how to put on a damn good fun rock show. It's no wonder than fans describe them as Motley Cure meets The Misfits. And if you have never heard of them before, then I advise that you check them out. And if you get the chance go and see them live becuase, with Murderdolls, if its a rock concert you want, then it's a rock concert you shall get.

And here Mister Tom Bryant, Kerrang! gig "reviewer", just for you. Because they do NOT lack spark!!