Faster Pussycat - 11 November 2015, Camden Underworld, London

Faster Pussycat are back in London on a short tour of UK.They are one of my favourite bands and on a previous blog I gave them a good review 2 years ago when they played the Underworld. Again the venue wasn't packed, they deserve to play to a bigger audience. I always enjoy seeing them however on the last few tours they don't seem to change their setlist. Lead singer Taime Downe explained that they have just flown in from LA that day but they could have added an extra song ('Poison Ivy') into their 13 song set which lasted approx 75 minutes. Like I said you know what you are getting when they play, such as Taime sitting down on the front of stage monitors for 'House of Pain', and a couple of punk songs sung by Danny and Ace. It was good to see them open their set with 'Jack the Bastard' .Of course we had the favourites of 'Cathouse', 'Bathroom Wall' and closing the set with 'Babylon'. Even the newer songs of 'No1 with a Bullet' and 'Sex,Drugs & Rock n Roll' fit nicely in the setlist. Being the only original member left in the band, Taime is Faster Pussycat and deservedly the main attraction. Maybe next time they come over they can be part of a package playing larger venues. Here's hoping.

Rating: 9/10

Setlist: 'Jack the Bastard', 'Cathouse', 'Slip of the Tongue', 'No1 with a Bullet', 'Sex,Drugs & Rock n Roll', 'Don't Change that Song', 'House of Pain', 'You're so Vain', 'Bathroom Wall', 'New Rose', 'Pretty F*cked up', 'Shut up and F*ck' and 'Babylon'.

Taime Downe - Faster Pussycat

Jizzy Pearl - Sunday 8 November 2015, Camden Underworld, London

To celebrate 25 years of  Love/Hate's debut album, 'Blackout in the Red Room', Jizzy Pearl is touring the UK to play it in its entirety. Despite this not being a Love/Hate concert, the Underworld was busy for a Sunday night. The voice of Love/Hate is doing this as a solo artist albeit backed up by the support band The King Lot. To be fair this 3 piece band from Scotland do a pretty damn good job, playing each song as a perfect rendition of the originals. Jizzy reliability informed us that he hadn't rehearsed, let alone played with these guys until he flew into the UK to do this tour! Rather than start off with Blackout, they finish the set with this song! Instead 'Cream' is the strange choice of first song. However not only do we got all the songs from Blackout we are also treated to the singles from 'Wasted in America', namely 'Evil Twin' and the aforementioned title track. As Jizzy does not do encores, the final song is a great cover of AC/DC - 'Highway to Hell'. Smiles all round especially from Jizzy who always enjoys touring the UK.Here's to another 25 years!

Rating: 7/10

Setlist: 'Cream', 'Rock Queen', 'Tumbleweed', 'Why do you think they call it Dope', 'Fuel to Run', 'One more Round', 'She's an Angel', 'Mary Jane', 'Straightjacket', 'Slutsy Tipsy', 'Slave Girl', 'Hell CA Pop 4', Don't F*ck with me', 'Miss America', 'Spinning Wheel', 'Evil Twin', 'Wasted in America', 'Blackout in the Red Room' and 'Highway to Hell' - AC/DC cover.

Tom Keifer - Thursday 22 October 2015, O2 Academy Islington, London

A roadie at the concert was wearing a T-shirt stating - "Who the hell is Tom Keifer?" Clearly everybody here is aware that he is (and still is?) the lead singer of Cinderella. With the band currently on a hiatus, this is Tom's first solo outing in the UK. Performing to a packed Academy, the majority wanted to hear the Cinderella classics (me included). This he didn't fail, playing a total of 9 of their songs from a 16 song setlist. Starting off with a recorded version of 'Bad Seamstress Blues', the band kicked in with 'Failin' Apart at the Seams'. He looked fit and healthy and remarkable similar in appearance as in the early days. Backed by a more than capable band not only did he preceded to play a mixture of classic Cinderella songs, but also songs from his debut solo album, 'The Way life Goes' and a couple of covers's. Naturally halfway through the set we got some acoustic numbers, 'Heartbreak Station' and 'Don't Know what you got (Till its gone)'. The later he normally duets with his wife (but was at home recuperating), so instead he phoned her up and the crowd sang it to her. Of course we got the rockier numbers of 'Shake Me' and 'Gypsy Road'. We were even treated to a couple of (unexpected) cover versions, 'It's only Rock N Roll' and 'With a Little Help from my Friends'. A great show and he's still a great front man. How about coming back next time with the guys from Cinderella?

Rating: 8/10

Setlist:  'Bad Seamstress Blues', 'Failin' Apart at the Seams', 'It's Not Enough', 'A Different Light', 'Somebody Save Me', 'Shake Me', 'Heartbreak Station', 'The Flower Song', 'Don't Know what you got (Till its gone)', 'Nobody's Fool', 'Solid Ground', 'Cold Day in Hell', 'Coming Home', 'Shelter Me', 'It's only Rock N Roll, but I like it (Rolling Stones), 'With a Little Help from my Friends' (The Beatles), 'Gypsy Road'.

Gunzo - Friday 11 September 2015, Camden Underworld, London

Decisions, Decisions. Also playing in London tonight are W.A.S.P. Do I go and see Blackie and his mob at a larger venue or Tracii Guns (of LA Guns) latest side project at a much smaller venue? As a big LA Guns fan I had already made my mind up, but to make the decision even more easier he has invited along bass legend Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake/Ozzy/Quiet Riot) for this tour. However on entering the Underworld it seems that the majority have decided to see W.A.S.P. Despite the small crowd where else would you get to see 2 major players from the 1980's up close on such a tiny stage and able to shake their hands? To complete the band line up, Keith St John is on vocals and Shane Fitzgibbons is on drums. As expected we get a mixture of songs from each of Tracii and Rudy's bands -  LA Guns, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot , Dio and Montrose. 6 in total for LA Guns, starting off  with 'Over the Edge' and finishing with 'Rip & Tear'. All the songs sounded great, not just the LA Guns ones but also versions of 'Crazy Train', 'Rainbow in the Dark' and 'Fool for your Loving' were my particular favourites. We get an extended solo/jam from Tracii & Rudy on Montrose's 'Rock Candy' which slightly went on for too long in my opinion. But I guess they still wanted to show the crowd how they were still on top of their game! Don't worry guys you still are. Did I make the right choice? Yes I did. I'm afraid W.A.S.P will have to wait until another day for me to see them again.

Rating: 7/10

Setlist: 'Over the Edge' (LA Guns), 'I Don't Know' (Ozzy), 'Sex Action' (LA Guns), 'Fool for your Loving' (Whitesnake), 'Slick Black Cadillac' (Quiet Riot), 'The Ballad of Jayne' (LA Guns), 'Electric Gypsy' (LA Guns), 'Rock Candy' (Montrose), 'Rainbow in the Dark' (Dio), 'Never Enough' (LA Guns), 'Crazy Train' (Ozzy) and Rip and Tear (LA Guns).

Rudy Sarzo & Keith St John

Tracii Guns

Enuff Z Nuff - Wednesday 13 May 2015, Camden Underworld, London

Since I started this blog, Enuff Z Nuff have the honour of the most reviewed band. This is the fourth time now, twice with original singer Donnie Vie and now a second time with Johnny Monaco. It was less than 18 months since they played here so I was surprised to see them come back to the UK so soon. Maybe because of this, the Underworld was less than half full, which was a shame. I'm not sure what the attendance is like at other venues but I guess the tour is still financial viable (£20 for a T-shirt!) for Chip & co to keep on returning to the UK.To be honest I was expecting the set list to be virtually similar to previous tours. However I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was totally revamped. Of course we still get the staple songs, "Fly High", "New Thing" and "Baby Loves You" but now we have some new and old additions to the set. Although they have a new covers album out 'Covered In Gold', sadly they didn't play anything from it. They did however play "Jet" by Wings which was a good choice. A good mixture of songs were taken from their debut, 'Strength', and 'Animals with Intelligence'.It was good to see a welcome return to 'Indian Angel' I still find it odd that we get a guitar solo from Monoco. I know what a good guitar player he is, however I much rather have an extra song (i.e. 'We're Alright'). Aside from that, an enjoyable concert. I will never get enough of Z Nuff.

Rating: 8/10

Set list: Kiss The Clown, One Step Closer, There Goes My Heart, In Crowd, The World is a Gutter, For Now, Superstitious, Indian Angel, I've Fallen in Love Again, Day by Day, Holiday, Good Times Are Hard To Find, Baby Loves You, Long Way to Go, Jet, Fly High Michelle and New Thing.

Chip Z' Nuff

Johnny Monoco

Enuff Z Nuff - Camden Underworld 13 May 2015