When it comes to my Mount Rushmore of rock and roll heroes, Michael Monroe would be second only to Alice Cooper, such is my love for him. This love was kindled when I saw the video for 'Dead, Jail Or Rock And Roll' all those years ago on late night TV rock show 'The Power Hour' which then led me to discover the wonderful Hanoi Rocks. He released his latest album 'Outerstellar' on Friday and he is here supporting the release with a full UK tour co-headlining with new wave sleazesters Buckcherry (who have been going themselves for over twenty five years).
Michael opens his set this evening with the aforementioned 'Dead, Jail Or Rock And Roll'. It's a high octane start and yes, the vocals and harmonica could be higher in the mix but it hardly matters. The punky and anthemic 'Motorvatin' follows, the first of six Hanoi Rocks' songs (if you count their cover of 'Up Around The Bend', which I do). 'Old King's Road' is catchy cockernee punk but few do that style better. New track 'Rockin' Horse' is full of energy and is surprisingly heavy. The new tracks sound surprisingly vital. 'Last Train To Tokyo' is a cracking slice of contagious pop punk. Monroe is one of rock and roll's great survivors and has proved himself very adaptable over the years, covering a number of different styles whilst always sounding like only he can. The dense groove of 'Underwater World' slows it down a bit but it is still intense and Michael's little sax breaks add extra layers. The ramshackle punk of 'Hammersmith Palais' manages to conjure a sweaty dive bar atmosphere in a 1500 capacity venue, which is no mean feat. He is still the coolest motherfucker going and he covers the stage with the energy of a man half his age. The Hanoi classic 'Don't Ever Leave Me' still pairs a classic rock shuffle with heartbreak. The current band have been playing together since 2014 so it isn't a surprise that they are such a tight unit. The trashy punk of 'Tragedy' is amazing, and Sami Yaffa's bassline still sounds as fresh as when he first played it in the early eighties. The loose yet anthemic 'Ballad Of The Lower East Side' is awesome. The intensity ramps up for the last couple of numbers, an insane 'Malibu Beach Nightmare' and a killer 'Up Around The Bend'. Michael Monroe never disappoints live.
Buckcherry's opening number 'Lit Up' rides a throbbing AC/DC riff to good effect. Guitarist Stevie D looks seriously cool in his baseball cap and funky, fleecy coat. The double kick fuelled passages which precede the verse of 'Roar Like Thunder' are driving and powerful, it's just a shame the verse is rock and roll by numbers. The chorus is insistent but the band seem a little too eager with their 'yeah's. The slinky groove of 'So Hott' is pretty cool and is reminiscent of 'Pornograffitti' era Extreme. 'Ridin' is another track with a pedestrian verse but the pumping DC chorus is great. 'Let It Burn' sees frontman Josh Todd's shirt come off, showing off his trademark wiry, tattooed body. 'Come On' is another decent slice of AC/DC boogie. It's not original but it's powerful and fun. They turn Icona Pop and Charli xcx's 'I Love It' into 'Say Fuck It', a fun slice of boogie rock. It takes me a moment to recognise it but the crowd have a great time with it. The crowd seems to have thinned out a little since Michael Monroe's set but it is still about three quarters full downstairs (upstairs is completely closed off). The ballad 'Sorry' is a bit of an anti-climax, sounding like a rejected Aerosmith tearjerker. Josh is obviously the focal point for the band but he often comes across as a less energetic Gary Cherone. His voice is much stronger though. The bluesy funk groove of 'Blackout' is great and sees the band coming on like a sleazy Black Crowes. The closing 'Crazy Bitch' is potent and sees the band members pull off some cool choreographed moves whilst the various individual members take their solo slots. The extended jam towards the end of the song sees them add a snippet of Creedance Clearwater Revival's 'Proud Mary' which is merely ok. It's a short but fun set, nothing groundbreaking but a hour of AC/DC riffs will always provide a pretty good time.
Buckcherry ***
Michael Monroe ****
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