Review: SONI; Million $ Reload, Bandwagon, Sky on Fire, Cavehill

Published by BBC ATL http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific299336.shtml
22-11-09

Another SO:NI gig comes around, this time at the Pavilion, dominated by the hard rock fraternity of the local music scene. It’s not often you can say your headliners are fresh off US and UK tours, but Million Dollar Reload tick that box, while Bandwagon are becoming synonymous with these SO:NI events, and rightly so. The bill is completed by Sky on Fire and relative newcomers Cavehill.

It is ‘Cavehill’ who open the show to a reasonably packed Pavilion with a solid but largely timid performance. As can be expected in the early stages of many gigs, backsides were firmly attached to seats and the occasional glance was afforded to the three-piece who did themselves no harm on the night. ‘Open Eyes’ and ‘All Fall Down’ were highlights of this short set that was met with little more than polite applause. Front man, known apparently as ‘Sinco,’ offered very little in the way of audience interaction and there was a distinct feeling of disunity between band and crowd. The set ended without fuss as the crowd suddenly realised the band were leaving the stage and applause was necessary. Did somebody not say ‘It’s a long way to the top…’

Next up, ‘Sky on Fire’ certainly benefited from the extra guitar and, compared to Cavehill, achieved a much fuller sound. More heads were turned as the band gathered momentum in the early stages of the set. This was to be short lived as, amid the breaking of guitar strings and the subsequent delay, the attention of many returned to the bar. ‘Sky on Fire’ resumed with a bang, and highlight of the set ‘Make it Real.’ The Killinchy four-piece offered little beyond the standard hard rock sound but showed promises of strong song writing and a growing confidence that enhanced the well-received set.

In keeping with the tradition of recent SO:NI nights, Bandwagon were included on the bill. And why not? Front man Phil Edgar has been described as a virtuoso and compared with the likes of Rory Gallagher. Indeed, swap his Les Paul for a Strat and you’d swear it was a long haired, checked shirted Gallagher commanding the attention of a by now packed Pavilion. Edgar’s presence on stage, talent with a guitar and strong vocals leave little to be desired and an appreciative crowd lapped up his confidence. Songs from previous gigs that may have sounded as if they were actually written by Lynott or Gallagher, notably ‘Sailin Through It’ have (rightly) been replaced with newer more unique and impressive numbers that show off Edgar’s song writing ability. This, evidently, is an ongoing process as Bandwagon employ covers of ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’ and ‘Shadow Play’ where many on the night might have preferred to hear more of the originals the band had to offer. The most mellow song of the night, ‘Barbara,’ is the pick of the bunch; with a great vocal hook and melody it could propel this band towards label attention.  Set to follow Million Dollar Reload for more gigs in NI and bound to support the next rock act to grace the Emerald Isle, this is a Bandwagon you can’t afford not to be on.

Fresh from a packed agenda of US, UK and festival touring, Million Dollar Reload landed with more of an explosion than a bang. Drawing heavily on influences such as Guns n’ Roses, AC/DC and Aerosmith, our Axle Johnson Tyler for the night got an immovable crowd on their feet, while a few of the more ambitious even ventured towards the stage. The set began with crowd favourites ‘Livin in the City’ and ‘Fire Your Guns’ and continued at a blistering pace towards a ballad Aerosmith would be proud of and an impromptu happy birthday sing along to a fan. Front-man Phil’s wailing vocals accompanied by dual guitars of Bam and Andy drove the songs while drums and bass rattled floorboards and dictated heartbeats throughout the room to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable performance. They did themselves no favours however with a cover of Guns n’ Roses ‘It’s So Easy,’ which did little but illustrate just how similar Million Dollar Reload sound to their influences. There is little overly new or innovative on offer from the band that could well be the next ‘Answer.’ That however begs the question ‘who asked in the first place?’