Nevermore @ Glasgow Barrowlands 30/09/06, ...Glesgae - s'miles better!...

[metal4life]

(Posted Image)

Ah, Glasgow on a Saturday night! Is there anything purtier. Especially on the salubrious side of town where the ever crumbling Barrowlands Ballroom resides. I've been out of the car 30 seconds when the first local comes lumbering offer to politely enquire whether I would like my head kicked in, as I was obviously not a local. I believe his exact words were "youze no fae round here, ya fuckin teuchter bastard, whit the fuck are youze daein here, youze lookin for a kickin". I very politely told him that no, I was not looking for a kicking, I was merely planning on enjoying an evenings musical entertainment, and moved swiftly on. He may have been about 50, but he had fists the size of my head. Twenty yards further on, there was the traditional Glasgow cry of "hey big man". Working on the principle that this was probably addressed to me, due to the diminutive nature of the slope headed local, I ignored it. But, right enough, a young local of the ned variety (white trainers, white tracksuit, shaved head) accosts me. "youze gaun tae the show, big man. Ahm gaun right intae the pit big man, youze gaun intae the pit?" My denials were to no avail as he tried to involve me in a complicated handshake little seen this side of the Crips and Bloods before departing with a cry of "see you in the pit, big man. Gonnae be fuckin radge".

Finally, safely ensconsed in the Barrowlands, it was time for a blast of proper metal, courtesy of Nevermore, still on the road promoting "This Godless Endeavor". It was an interesting start as someone had forgotten to switch on Warrel Danes microphone, a mistake that was remedied a few minutes in (although it dipped in and out all night). Unfortunately, no-one thought to remedy the dreadful mix, which resulted in an interesting drum n' bass metal mix, which would have went down a storm in Sarf London circa 1996. Luckily for all concerned, it was a Saturday night in Glasgow, so few of the gathered hordes noticed or cared. Although, strange to relate, the sound issues vanished' when Dave 'I ate all the pies' Draiman and his Disturbed buddies arrived on stage later that evening.

The band battled on gamely, but with the intricacies so essential to their music, lost somewhere in time, it never really kicked off. The music geeks in attendance were straining their necks to watch the fantastic fretwork fingering, which at times is remarkable, but to the naked ear it was barely discernible at times. Danes worked the crowd well, taking delight in the number of young ladies getting carried from the pit, although as usual the disturbing overtones of young, sweaty boys rubbing up against each other seemed lost on the participants. As always, the few hard core Nevermore fans (recognisable by their receding hairline and stretched T-shirts) who were their bemoaned the lack of material from "Dreaming Neon Black", but I suspect no matter where Nevermore go in the future, that will always be the case. Which is a shame as the new material on display demonstrates an artistry, intelligence and form sorely lacking in many of todays neo progressive metal acts.

A brave effort under trying circumstances which, if nothing else, showed their professionalism. Oh, and on the way out, headfist man was still there challenging all and sundry - Glasgow - s'miles better!

:twisted :twisted :twisted / 3 out of 5

[Ed!]

I'm still vaguely tempted to attend the London version of this gig purely to see Nevermore, but the price is rather steep. True, i'm paying the same to see Emperor, but somehow paying so much to leave before Disturbed come on is grating.

It's a shame that Nevermore had poor sound, they can sound mighty when it's done right. Did they play the Heart Collector, I wonder?

Anyway, I loved the review, mainly for the Scottish talk. I have perhaps read too many Christopher Brookmyre novels.