Backdraft & Five Fifteen
@ Kåren (Studs) in Gothenburg, Sweden
December 7th, 2001
After having heard so much rumors `bout Backdraft’s fantastic liveshows, I had high hopes when I got to the "Studs"-club at Kåren in Gothenburg, Sweden. I’d only been to this club once before, and that was when King’s X played there a couple of years ago. That time it was so crowded that you hardly could move, but since this gig was taking place on a Thursday and at a club seldom used for livegigs there wasn’t that many heads in the audience ("Studs" is a student runned facility, and there was a few other gigs around town this night so I guess the Sweden Rock folks that arranged this gig wasn’t able to find a better place that was available).
The photos from this gig didn’t turn out that good, this club had the worst (and weakest) lightrigg I’ve ever seen... and since I never use the flash on my camera I just had to hope that at least some of the pics turned out good (flash-photography makes for extremely boring live pics in my opinion and it’s annoying to both the bands and the audience if a flash goes of every other second).
Before Backdraft entered the stage we got to see two local bands, Slow Train and Well (this was the first time I heard of either of `em). Slow Train was the first band out and their music were very much based in the 70´s... kinda like a cross between Buffalo and Deep Purple... one of the songs even sounded a little like a Pink Floyd tune (but as played by Deep Purple). But since I didn’t get a copy of their demo or had heard any of their stuff before I can’t really write much more about `em.
Slow Train
Live @ Kåren (Studs)
December 7th, 2001
(Click photos for larger versions)
The next band was made up by four guys that must’ve been in the their teens, I didn’t expect much when I saw `em enter the stage... but to my surprise they started playing some really tasty 70´s based grooves, if I had just heard em and not seen `em I would’ve guessed they were much older`. They must’ve spent a whole lotta time in the rehearsal room to become this good. As for influences, everything that was good in the 70´s like Stray, Bang, Buffalo, Sabbath and so on. Can’t say much more `bout this band either, since they (and Slow Train) didn’t seem to interested in hooking me up with a demo. I was to cheap to pay for the demo, but I don’t think I should’ve either... I put more than enough time and money into all this as it is (I usually shoot at least one roll of film per band at a gig, and film and developing aren’t exactly free) and I won’t pay for the "honor" to review a demo...
Well
Live @ Kåren (Studs)
December 7th, 2001
(Click photos for larger versions)
After a short break it was time for Backdraft to tear up the stage... and tear it up they did. If you are one of the lucky owners of their "Here To Save You All" album, you probably have an idea about how hard these guys can rock. But, they rocked even harder than I expected... and the versatility of these guys became even more evident live on stage. Most of the songs have that southern rock groove, but they also manage to get a great countryrock groove going at times... and as if that wasn’t enough they can also get a pretty strong sludge vibe going. If you need something to compare it to maybe this will help, take a little bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd (incl. killer twin guitar solos), throw in a little Creedence Clearwater Revival and top it of with some Alabama Thunder Pussy (this description is probably far from how you’d perceive them, but it’ll at least give you a hint on how great this band sounds).
Backdraft
Live @ Kåren (Studs)
December 7th, 2001
(Click photos for larger versions)
Half of the audience had left when Five Fifteen entered the stage, a shame on such a great live band. This was the first time I saw `em live so I didn’t have any preconceived notions on how they would sound, but it did surprise me that they were this good live. The combination with both female and male vocals took FiveFifteen to another level, but I guess some would think that they have a little to radiofriendly sound when they slow things down and show of their more pop sounding side of their music. But I guess most of you would like this since it’s all very 70´s influenced... and you can’t be ultra heavy all the time... even though FiveFifteen do get very heavy at times. They must also have one of the wildest (weirdest) frontmen in the genre, he did everything from primal screams to wild excursions out into the audience (I had to jump outta the way to protect the camera at one point).
Five Fifteen
Live @ Kåren (Studs)
December 7th, 2001
(Click photos for larger versions)
All in all a great night with some great music, to bad there wasn’t more people attending this gig... but I guess that’s what happens when you have a gig in the middle of the week in Gothenburg (you have to be extremely well known to get an audience on a week-day in this town... but if you have the gig on Friday or a Saturday, that’s something else)...
