Month: April 2025

Airbag - Live London 2025

Review: Airbag The Dome London – 26 April 2025

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig reviewLeave a comment

I can’t quite remember how I discovered Airbag many moons ago but when I did, early on in their career, I said to myself finally the rightful heirs to the Pink Floyd crown. They create sonic, sometimes barren, soundscapes that suddenly bursts into life with a rollicking riff or a Dave Gilmour inspired solo.  File them under Prog Rock!  To confuse matters it turns out there is another Airbag, an Argentine hard rock band whom seem to come to the for on internet searches – it fooled a few of my friends who checked out the wrong band 😊 until I told them to go to AirbagSound.com.

So a quick history lesson, Airbag were formed in Oslo in 2004 by school friends and their current mainstay line-up is Asle Tostrup (vocals/guitar), Bjørn Riis (lead guitars), and Henrik Bergan Fossum (drums).  Live they also have Jørgen Hagen (keyboards) and Anders Hovdan (bass). They have released the following LPs – check them out all mighty fine listens.

  • 2009      Identity (a compilation of previously released EPs)
  • 2011     All Rights Removed
  • 2013     The Greatest Show On Earth
  • 2016     Disconnected
  • 2020     A Day at the Beach
  • 2024     The Century of the Self

So finally after 20 odd years they made it to the UK and I was so looking forward to this evening.  Dressed all in black Airbag took the stage at 8:50 for an atmospheric 80 minute set interspersed with a splattering of songs from all their albums bar ‘Disconnected’.  They start with the pulsating bass drone of ‘Machines and Men’, and it’s repetitive chord sequence before it explodes into life.  They certainly know how to build a layered musical canvass. Excellent throbbing bass from Anders and guitar work from Bjørn.  Next comes ‘Redemption’ with another slow impressive build-up of bass and layered Korg synths.  Asle took a couple of songs to get the mix of his voice right (but more of that later) given it was lost during the loud parts where all instruments were at full tilt.

‘Never Coming Home’ is one of my personal favourites and is one of those songs that always makes the hairs on the back of my arm stand out! Atmospheric keyboard work from Jørgen, a lovely melody and aching guitar licks – plus great lyrics – what’s not to like.  ‘Dysphoria’ slow burns and showcases Asle’s vocals at their best when not fighting the other instruments and Bjørn’s virtuoso guitar work is excellent.  ‘Erase’ is punching bass lines, thumping drums, guitar licks and gripping vocals.

‘Megalomaniac’ commences with its irresistibly haunting repetitive guitar riff and vocals before busting into life with huge riffs and dynamic guitar solo.  All parts of the band working in total harmony – a joy to behold.

Airbag Set List (click on link to see YouTube videos)

  1. Machines and Men – (A Day at the Beach, 2020)
  2. Redemption – (The Greatest Show On Earth, 2013)
  3. Never Coming Home – (All Rights Removed, 2011)
  4. Dysphoria – (The Century of the Self, 2024)
  5. Erase – (The Century of the Self, 2024)
  6. Megalomaniac – (A Day at the Beach, 2020)

Encore:

  • Colours – (Identity, 2009)
  • Homesick I-III – (All Rights Removed, 2011)

The band leave the stage to rapturous applause from a fixated audience.  They are quickly back for an encore of ‘Colours’ and ‘Homesick’ – wow and both these were just fantastic.  Asle strums away on acoustic guitar before the synths and slow guitar kick in and the whole sound just flows slowly through you like a mist – ‘Colours’ is such a beautiful record. 

Airbag - London 2025

So in the end they only played at 80 minute set ☹ – they have such a wonderful rich back catalogue of work and so many classics not played.  I’m sure they could have snuck a couple more songs in?  The final song ‘Homesick’ is an opus epic a beautiful mix of melodic guitar backed by multiple rolling keyboard layers, deep bass and drum rhythms. A dark moody atmospheric piece with scorching guitar licks and evocative melodies that freely roams into ‘Wish You Were Here’ territory.

A couple of low points for me were the lighting and merchandise.  With the correct lighting and backdrop this would have made the gig even more spectacular.  It didn’t detract from the music but certainly didn’t add to it.  But that’s the trouble when you play in a smallish venue and have to use their rig.   Also, the merchandise (or what there was of it) wasn’t very inspiring and lacked imagination.  I’m sure they can come up with far better designs e.g. the ‘Identity’ cover.

The anticipation of a great evening’s music was certainly fulfilled and more.  I loved every minute of the gig and managed a brief chat with Asle and Bjørn as they were clearing up – top blokes!  An all-encompassing immersive experience from start to finish.

Please come back soon chaps 🙏🏻, else I’ll just have to go to Norway or the Netherlands for an away trip!

Marko [27 April 2025]

Goodbye Mr Mackenzie 100 Club gig review

Review: Goodbye Mr Mackenzie at 100 Club – London 4 April 2025

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig review2 Comments

Surprisingly it’s the 1st time the Mackenzies have played the little 100 Club and given there were seven of them there was precious little room to move about.  Martin was especially restricted but he still maintained his usual charismatic leader role.  Alas the venue was probably only two thirds full so loads of punters missed out on an outstanding evening of GMM early 90’s classics from small but ace back catalogue that have, for me, stood the test of time.

The support band ‘She Made Me Do It’ were a trio from London. A new find for me but they have been around since 2015. An Indie guitar driven sound with thumping base made for an entertaining set which kept people engaged throughout. 

As usual when GMM take the stage guitarist Big John Duncan, an MS sufferer, gets an extra special welcome.  He stays seated throughout the set, only to be expected.  He’s an ominous figure given his size and near totally tattooed torso. Love the ‘Punk’ fanzine lettering tattoo on his neck!  It’s even stevens tonight who has the most charisma, Big John or Martin’s enigmatic ominous presence driving his band forward.  Martin, dressed all in black, is the ideal front man, controlling the stage and audience alike.

GMM are:  Lead singer – Martin Metcalfe; lead guitar – Big John Duncan; drums – Derek Kelly; Fin Wilson – Bass; Rona Scobie – Keyboards; Jim Brady – Guitar; Tippi Hedron – backing vocals/guitar.

Goodbye Mr Mackenzie - 100 Club London 4 April 2025 gig review

Ably supported by the rest of the band who were as tight as possible given the limitations of the equipment and sound at the 100 Club. Derek and Fin kept the rhythm section excellently whilst Big John and Jim Brady regularly switched lead and rhythm guitar licks. Rona, stuck at the back in a small space, layered the keyboards over the top given the band the quintessential GMM sound.

Nearly half the set came from 1994’s ‘Five’ album with the powerful slow burners of ‘Jim’s Killer’ and the simple but haunting chords of ‘Naigara’ being the highlights.  The last three songs are absolute belters ‘Goodwill City’, the singalong ‘The Rattler’ and it had to end with ‘Goodbye Mr Mackenzie’.  Bloody great stuff and my personal highlight ‘Blacker Than Black’ what a song. Plenty of loyal followers were there singing along and applauding loudly after each song. They have a small’ish but loyal following and I’m proud to be one of them!

Big John got his moment in the spotlight singing ‘The Way I Walk’.

Set List (Click on links to view the YouTube videos)

  1. Hands Of The Receiver – (Five, 1994)
  2. Open Your Arms – (Good Deeds and Dirty Rags, 1989)
  3. Hard – (Five, 1994)
  4. Love Child – (Hammer and Tongs, 1991)
  5. Yelloueze – (Five, 1994)
  6. The Grip – (Five, 1994)
  7. Jim’s Killer – (Five, 1994)
  8. Blacker Than Black – (Hammer and Tongs, 1991)
  9. His Master’s Voice – (Good Deeds and Dirty Rags, 1989)
  10. Niagara – (Five, 1994)
  11. The Way I Walk – (The Way I Walk EP, 1994)
  12. Normal Boy – (Five, 1994)
  13. Now We Are Married – (Hammer and Tongs, 1991)
  14. Goodwill City – (Good Deeds and Dirty Rags, 1989)
    Encore:
  15. The Rattler – (Good Deeds and Dirty Rags, 1989)
  16. Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie – (Good Deeds and Dirty Rags, 1989)

Simply, a great gig from Goodbye Mr MacKenzie, go watch them if you can, you won’t be disappointed.

So many great songs were omitted tonight e.g. ‘Candlestick Park’, ‘Carlton Hill’, ‘Bold John Barleycorn’, ‘Knockin’ on Joe’, ‘Face To Face’ they could have gone on for a few more songs in my opinion.  Also the merchandise stand was very bland I’m sure they can design better t-shits etc. given the stuff Martin does with Maria Rud.

BIG QUESTION – will there ever be another GMM album Martin?

Marko [7 April 2025]