Michael Monroe @ the Waterfront
I've waited years for this and I wasn't disappointed.
I’m watching a 54 year old, X-Factor judge is strutting his stuff. I'd be questioning my sanity but this is (Finnish) X-Factor judge and ex-Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe. I've waited years for this and I wasn't disappointed.
Openers Chase The Ace follow a similar path, without the quality songs. It’s ok but local lads Wreck Age do a similar thing far better. (4/10)
Sweden's Hardcore Superstar have been doing this since '97 but make like it's 1988 and hair metal isn't a guilty pleasure. With a dose of thrash metal power, it's all flailing hair, power chords, stomping rhythm section and squealing solos. Ridiculous, overblown and dated it may be but it's good fun and they have decent songs that lift them above all but the best in the genre. (7/10)
To a half-full Waterfront, Monroe puts on a proper show, high-kicking his way through a set of high energy, kick-ass rock 'n' roll. Playing songs from Hanoi's heyday through to latest album Blackout States, his band are a tight-but-sloppy combination of the Stones, Dolls and Clash. Standing on the monitors, clambering on the barriers, hanging from the ceiling, prancing like Jagger on speed, blowing mean sax and harmonica, Monroe puts many a singer half his age to shame. (10/10)
