Bullet For My Valentine/Bleeding Through/Cancer Bats Live At Hampton Beach Casino
Driving to Hampton Beach, NH is just like driving through Myrtle Beach. It has a cute town atmosphere, a whole lot of people doing the tourist thing and along with the beach, quaint shops, tons of restaurants it’s like a vacation wonderland. But today something was standing out that usually doesn’t reside in this vacation spot and that was the rock show that was going to be happening at sunset. Yes, all the way from Wales the boys in BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE were here and they brought along Orange County’s very own BLEEDING THROUGH and Canada’s CANCER BATS.
The CANCER BATS opened up the night and the crowd response was immense for them. I had truthfully never heard of them so I was hoping from the response I was going to be in for a good set. The guys did come out with a lot of energy and their singer was lethal and in your face. His jumps and leaps made the music come more alive. I did like the way the band formulated senses of rock, hardcore and punk roots (thanks to their drummers drumming technique.) Even though overall I was not really enthralled with the guys set they did put the punch, and revved up the rest of the evening for the crowd.
BLEEDING THROUGH was smack dab in the middle and from their formation I have never seen them live and haven’t listened to them much but tonight I was really excited to see what I was missing. So before I actually get into what I saw when they jumped onstage all I have to say is BLEEDING THROUGH just brings up one phrase to my lips now every time I heard there name “HOLY SHIT”!!!! Yes these guys and girls’ set was incredible. They put on a great live performance and the music is just insane. First off to have a girl in a band like this is getting a little more familiar but still not totally an everyday thing, but Marta is someone you have to check out. She has been voted “hottest” metal chic but look beyond the physical traits and you will see a girl that demands attention onstage and her style of performance gets it hands down. The rest of the band (yes the guys) are defiantly a good amount of eye candy for the girls in the crowd also but are as fierce, powerful and solid to their music and performance. Their sound brings metal with a dark mystic sense thanks to the keyboards. Vocally the sound is brutal but those singing voices are top notch and how they are placed in certain areas really brings the live show to another level. The band is releasing a new CD in Sept. and they actually gave us a taste in the song ORANGE COUNTY BLONDE AND BLUE. Its hard pounding metal and the drumming is off the charts. The set consisted of old n new and they ended with the biggest circle pit ever.
Now to what the huge crowd was waiting for all night. 15 minutes before BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE took the stage a chant of exciting crowd members started and was so loud and didn’t stop for a few minutes. While this all was happening I reflected on my last show with the Wales men and how I barely got to see the show cause I was actually helping the band do merch so tonight I was going to be able to really see what I was listening to that night. Finally the lights dimmed and the classic AC/DC YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG came on and I guess the crowd was still amped on their chanting BULLET’S name they just continued to sing along with this song. So the boys take the stage and blast right into SCREAM, AIM, FIRE, Got to love the energy of this song to open up the night. They guys were on target tonight lots of energy and just from the crowds reaction you could see the guys were feeding off of that. Next up they played EYE OF THE STORM. I thought it was cool that the first few songs they were playing off the new disc instead of just trying to cram the old stuff that the kids were digging for years already down there throats at a live show once again. After a little talk time from Mr. Matt Tuck the boys did venture back to THE POISON album and this is when the night became inspirational. It was crazy hearing how loud the crowd sang back the songs to the band as they whisked through songs like 4 WORDS and TEARS DON’T FALL. If you’re a fan of the band and have the DVD they released the live show they showed in England was crazy right?, well tonight in NH this crowd was getting as frantic as them there in jolly Ol’ England. When you say you got what you paid for these kids sure did. To slow the night down a bit the guys did the slower song from the new album SAY GOODNIGHT. The guitar solo was fierce on this song and the boys all got up on the riser together to rock out and it just made it like a classic old time rock show and can we just say a few words about Tuck’s vocals sounded amazing!! So when the slow ended the guys got back up on the power and displayed the fun filled song ALL THESE THINGS I HATE.
Giving Tuck a little rest he gave vocal duties over to Jay and well they finally played my favorite song and since they played this one I forgave them for not ending the evening with THE END. So what is my favorite song well it has to be from THE POSION. SPIT YOU OUT got me dancing singing and just having a good time. What surprised me tonight was all the small kids yes from ages 10 to 14 there it was great they were head banging and just singing every single word. I guess its true music speaks to all ages and that is why I am addicted to it. From this song on is when the singing for me didn’t stop cause the guys I think really wrote up the last part of the set list just for me (HAHAHA) DISSAPPEAR was up next and that song from the new disc grabbed me at first listen on the CD and live its just in your face guitar, catchy enough for everyone to still pit it out and have a minute to stop and sing along. The cool thing the guys did tonight was dead set in the middle they just stopped complete silence and got the crowd pumped up and chanting and then just rocked back into it. After that fun Matt informed us it was time for the heavy and did the old song HAND OF BLOOD. As the song got into high gear and Matt was on the verge to sing the first line a blast of firecrackers went off I thought it was the bands doing but as the band stopped playing and Matt looked like he was going to kill someone and the crowd started chanting “kick his ass” I realized it was some punk ass trying to be cool. As security rushed the pit to grab him the only thing that Matt even muffled out was “You Fuckin asshole” For a minute I thought that would be the end of the show cause fuck it was pretty shocking. But after they kicked the kid out Matt looked at his band members and said take it from the first chorus and blasted back into it. After that song all that was said was “that was a first”. The band made their waves goodbye and left the stage but as all bands do they came back to finish the crowd off. HEARTS BURST INTO FIRE was the start of the encore and yet another favorite live song for me. I love how the song has a pop feel to it and they kept it in that vein for the show too. Everything doesn’t always have to be fast paced and heavy. But to end the night the guys made it a heavy ass ending with WAKING THE DEMON.
When the time to sing “I am what I am” from the song SPIT IT OUT that night of the show I just thought that quote was so right for this band cause they don’t put on a show their music does that for them and they are just there being adored and admired and although I wasn’t overly enthralled with the bands newest CD this live show this night totally made me take a retake of the album and yea BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE has to be a cool ass live band and if you miss them when they come to your town, well all I have to say is you’re missing out on a fun filled night.
BLEEDING THROUGH LIVE PHOTOS:
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BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE LIVE PHOTOS:
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