Trailblazer-Call-of-the-Wild-Live-Bands

Trailblazer

Sheffield Corporation

Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1

Trailblazer’s line-up is so strong that this weekend is a top tier festival in itself. Friday and Saturday’s headliners (A’priori and This House We Built) are already playing at Call of the Wild festival at the Lincolnshire Showground in May. But it’s down to the rest of the bands on the Trailblazer bill (who got their slots here by winning previous polls) to battle it out for their space on the COTW stages. And all 14 bands came to win...

Day 1

Headliners - A’priori

Three reasons this hard rock trio with their own unique twist never disappoint: Tony (lead vocals and guitar), Mouse (drums) and Mark (keys). Yeah, ok, there’s roughly a bazillion more reasons too. Tonight they are loud, they are confident, and this is their crowd. Tony has a little chat here and there but it’s their songs people have come to sing along to, and the boys get stuck in. A’priori do slow – ish (‘Better Man’), sleazy (‘Live Today’), singalong (‘Nah Nah Nah Nah’) and smouldering (‘Shot Gun Blues’). All eyes are on Tony as he smashes the ‘Voodoo Love’ guitar solo. ‘Making Love to the Devil’ is made for dancing and using up any of your remaining voice to. Ah A’priori (*exhales*) … do you ever disappoint?

The Black Vultures

Highway-hitting road trip tunes circle around the Corporation courtesy of South Wales guitar slingers The Black Vultures. Smashing out a set of turbo-charged get-the-beers-in-while-we-listen-to-these-guys anthems including ‘Treat Me Like an Animal’ and ‘Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide’, these boys have the type of sound that was born in the back room of a bar – but burst on through to the main stage at a rapid rate of knots. ‘Can’t Let You Go’ is loaded with meaning and crowd participation, as well as possessing a Pearl Jam vibe. This is a set of harder than hard rock from a band whose riffs are heavy and hearts are definitely in it.

Beggars Bliss

Brace brace for the spiritual awakening that is Beggars Bliss, bringing colour to tonight’s line-up. And that colour, friends, is the contemporary blues. Soulful, fun and here for a good time, Beggars Bliss make the audience feel more like a congregation. The keys are slick and they take this band to another level. Ever been asked to whistle along to a song like a train? That’s a bit of a kink right there, but the Corporation are into it and oblige during ‘Train Song’. You cannot help but move to this band. Heads, feet, whole bodies… no one is standing still. There’s funk, there’s rock and roll, there’s even some psychedelic shenanigans going on. Beggars Bliss are an absolute hightlight. And, erm, spoiler alert… yer girl’s not the only one to think this…

JOANovARC

Comin’ on out in a blaze of glory, the JOANovARC girls didn’t come to battle. They came to wage war. One of the bands that the crowd came for, Sheffield is on their side as soon as they take to the stage. Stirring lead vocals are mellow yet mean business, and range from off the scale both in pitch and power to sweet over sludgy bass (‘Isolation’ we’re looking at you) and sultry. Drum-driven new single ‘Mechanical Overlords’ which dropped on the same day is heavy, harmonious and haunting. And it sounds bloody good live. As does the rest of their set.

Wälker

Feel that floor rattling – Wälker are hitting us hard and bringing the heat this evening. With big old eighties hair metal kinda riffs, a steady groove, sturdy beats and demented shredding these boys sound like they look. Dangerous. Fronted by a lead singer shouting and screaming and everything in between, who smiles and seems genuinely over the moon to be at Trailblazer despite getting static kicks from his microphone, it’s time to feel the force of Wälker.

White Lightning

The thrust-tastic White Lightning get Trailblazer off to a flying start. With serious screaming, a colossal blend of metal combined with melodic and muscle rock, and hooks that stay in yer head much longer than these leather-clad reprobates’ fast and furious set, White Lightning focus on showing the crowd a good time. And it looks like they’re having a party up there too. The fist pumping in the pit seals the deal. White Lightning have struck and left their mark.

A'priori

The Black Vultures

Beggars Bliss

JOANovARC

Wälker

White Lightning

Day 2

Headliners - This House We Built

This House We Built may look like they can handle themselves if it all kicks off, but with a set that feels like a hard rock hug and sounds sweet while being full of swagger, they’re clearly lovers not fighters. As soon as they get on stage the energy shifts. The crowd are ready and waiting to welcome their boys - and on stage is where this band belong. Sorry to sound a bit naff, but it really does feel like This House We Built have built a home for themselves and their fans, where classic and contemporary rock combine and all are welcome on in. There’s something really comforting about ‘Nobody’s Fool’, ‘Fly Me Up to the Moon’ is a touching tribute, and their cover of ‘You’re the Voice’ could easily have the roof off. Frontman Scott’s chats with the crowd are easy and friendly. Mmmmm, we’re kinda making the band out to be kittens in this review aren’t we. Make no mistake – they can bite. They’ve got heavy tunes that’ll have your hand off if you’re not careful. ‘It’s Only Rock n’ Roll’ being one of them. Set closer ‘Coming Home To You’, brings the house down. Everyone – EVERYONE – is singing along. It’s a beautiful moment befitting of this beautiful song, and it brings the Trailblazer weekend to a perfect close.

Dead Reynolds

There’s energy and then there’s Dead Reynolds’ frontman Rossco’s energy. And dear God it’s infectious. Thoughts and prayers for those who haven’t seen this band before. Charging the length and breadth of the stage, jumping onto the barrier and then later into the crowd, amateur gymnastics… it’s what yer man does every single performance – and he doubles down tonight. Their hard rock with an edge and a message explodes like the party cannon this band is. Good fun, good friends with each other and their crowd, and the tunes to back it all up.

Not Now Norman

Feathered femme fetale Taylor Grace has a blistering voice that rings out with rage. And she dedicates it to the best use possible – calling out, speaking out and shouting out. Leading the most important chant of not just the Trailblazer weekend but possibly of all time – ‘Hope Your Abuser Dies’ (the song itself and yelling it) is poignant and cathartic, and it's fucking criminal that pretty much all the women in the crowd (and I’m willing to put money on this) have suffered in some way which comes across in the bile that this battle cry brings out. Commands the stage? Taylor-Grace owns it.

For The Forsaken

The power and passion that these boys put into their music is just off the scale. Lead singer Dan has lived his lyrics. Every painful one. And his gritty vox sings his lacerated heart which he’s healing despite singing his scars. Guitarist Jack is Dan’s son, but For The Forsaken are a band of brothers. Tight on stage and off, their hard rock is a cocktail of heavy and uplifting, frenetic yet feeling, colossal and choreographed (seriously! They're synchronised!). Jack’s requests for a circle pit during bruising doomy anthemic ‘Bring The Fire’ are denied once again, but it’s gonna happen soon boys. This is a band that thrive live and pick up new fans every time the play.

HolyRude Vault

Bringing a taste of the stadium to Sheffield Corporation, Edinburgh-based metal mad men HolyRude Vault treat the stage like a race track. With feet on monitors, maximum volume and a brand of guitar-led rock that’s more contagious than that bloody cough that’s doing the rounds and nobody seems to be able to shake off, HolyRude Vault throw down a Guns n' Roses vibe that gets the crowd moving. ‘Memories’ is a sweet little rock ballad that sees the band get their Slash on for the intro and is reminiscent of those good ole yet hazardous days when lighters would’ve been held aloft much to the peril of those who had used entire cans of hairspray to (literally) cement their style (read: the whole audience). Highly flammable. Which is a pretty good description of these boys to be fair.

No Setting Sun

Powering through their set with rock god prowess, No Setting Sun are not here to mess about. Getting Queens of the Stone Age vibes… bit of Josh Homme from lead singer Michael… And there’s nothing wrong with that. Drums role like thunder in the intro to ‘Under the Sun’ courtesy of the lovely Cédric. This is a track showing the boys can do epic as well as lighter tracks to let go and lose your shit to. No Setting Sun are versatile, classic rockers with a contemporary vibe – and a delicious taste of danger thrown in.

Wailing Banshee

Oooof. This is absolutely pulverising traditional metal which takes on influences from the past, sounds damn good in the present and is gonna keep on smashing it on stages well into the future. Lead singer Dani has an outstanding vox – keeping it caged and controlled when a song requires, before unleashing it to reach its full killer operatic capacity. Wailing Banshee are a band capable of creating utter carnage. Brace those neck muscles and adopt a firm stance Corporation because this band are ripping through you, tearing it up with their twin guitar attack tonight. This kind of power metal does nothing but damage. And we’re here for it.

Dead Zebras

Eighties hair metal with no less glam but much more guts, and a great deal of thrusting, Dead Zebras are a sleazy wrecking ball of filthy riffs, dirty words and an impressive pair of trousers. Leather/zebra/sparkly chains/dangly scarves – they’re like an entire wardrobe in one outfit. And the band’s choice of legwear is on the same level as their music tonight – mind-blowing. The boys’ last song is called ‘All Night Long’. Yeah, this band definitely looks like they’d have a song with that title. After a fast and furious flurry of ‘hey heys’ and ‘na na na nas’ the whole explosive show is over. A set that just about demolishes the stage, hurling Dead Zebras Dollars into the crowd, and declaring, ‘See you all at the bar!’ makes it clear this is not only a band that can go all the way in this competition – they can go all night too. Dead Zebras draw a big crowd – and they’ve only just left them standing.

Damaged Goods

Damaged Goods? Damaged eardrums… Yay!!!! It must be hard going first on an occasion like this, but these guys make it look easy. Is there anything better on a late Saturday afternoon than this sort of straight to the point rock and roll, and a bass player with an absolute beaut of a modern mullet? These guys sound great, look the part and play like they’re headlining. ‘We Don’t Wanna Fight’ is a riot of rattling rhythms, shouty vocals and crowd participation. Oh, and they end on the greatest comment ever – ‘You’re a lovely crowd. I can’t wait to see you at Call of the Wild.’ Legends.

4 Foxsake

I owe this band a massive apology because I’m always late (but worth the wait) and this occasion was no different. So I missed their set. Sad face. I’ll make it up to you 4 Foxsake I promise!!!

And the winners are… Call of the Wild Main Stage openers – Dead Zebras. Second stage openers Beggars Bliss. Playing the Trailblazer Stage – Dead Reynolds, For the Forsaken, White Lightning, HolyRude Vault, JOANovARC and Wailing Banshee.

This House We Built