Machine Head // Waterfront

There’s always something extra special about seeing a band that are too big for the venue they are playing in. So it was when the mighty Machine Head rolled into Norwich recently, the gig having sold out in less than twenty four hours. They had specifically chosen to play smaller cities and venues on this run of dates and the sense of excitement was palpable. Machine Head are a band who provides a link between the thrash era of the 80’s right through nu-metal up to the modern era’s more extreme end of the spectrum. As the lights went down, the roar went up and the familiar MACHINEFUCKINGHEAD chant started up. The Waterfront was rammed and the crowd was as animated as I have ever seen it; great stuff. The set was a mix of songs from their twenty year recording history, beginning with tracks from their last couple of albums. My own personal highlight was probably ‘The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears’ from third album ‘The Burning Red’, a high energy number with a huge sing-along chorus. The crowd was a constant, moving mass of hair, fists & horns. It’s not often you get to see a full on circle pit at the Waterfront, but main-man Rob Flynn simply had to order one and so it was formed. Guitarist Phil Demmel was a brilliant foil to Rob, peeling off riffs and solos with a perma-grin plastered across his face. The band obviously loved playing such a small venue. The main set ended with ‘Davidian’ probably their best known song and one for the headbangers in the crowd. By now sweat was literally dripping from the ceiling and I for one was soaked to the skin – hell yes! The three song encore ended with the epic ‘Halo’ and after just over ninety minutes that was it. Everyone seemed shell-shocked by what they had just witnessed as we stumbled out into the blissfully cool night. What a treat to see a big metal band touring just for kicks with their new album still months away from release. Rob pointed out it’s been seventeen years since they last visited Norwich and promised it wouldn’t be that long before they return. I’m going to hold you to that Mr. Flynn, because we need more nights like this in our lives.