LoGOz - Foxcover - Ashington review & upcoming Solo/ Band Gig updates

Saturday May 21st saw LoGOz back in our hometown of Ashington playing a headline gig for the first time since August 2015. That kicked off the first day of the Premier League Football season, and now this one being FA Cup Final day, kinda traditionally signals the end of the English football season! This has no relevance whatsoever to the gig haha but being a Footy fan I do like to crowbar these useless bits of trivia in here when (un)necessary :)

So as previously mentioned in my last blog, I'm no stranger to the Fox Cover as a consuming punter, but as a gig venue this is a new one on me! 

With things running a little behind schedule, due to the nature of the place, afternoon drinkers and Cup Final day etc we managed to set up our gear and sound check as a very healthy crowd was already starting to gather! Sound was supplied by Steve Leyland, who actually was on board at the Conchie last August too, so we knew we were in safe hands!

Kicking off around 9:10pm this was gonna be a 2 set night so its cool to be playing some older stuff from the PSYCHO RADIO album that doesn't get much airing unless we're playing these double sets. Opening up with (non album track) INTERGALACTIC GIRL and then straight into ALIENATION giving us a fresh breezy start to the night! Our original 9 track album is still littered with mainstays of our current set including JUBILEEZER, UNEASY STREET, DEAD OR LIVING IN AMERICA and MEXICOLA. So these were nicely interspersed with old favourites like POISONADE and the ska influenced title track itself. I also broke up the set half way though with an acoustic/clean guitar solo version of my very own BALLAD OF THE DISENCHANTED. This went down very well and added variety to the first half of the night! 

After a short interval, drinks were ordered and necked as we mingled with the bustling enthusiastic hometown crowd! We smashed back into the second set with LONG TIME DEAD and straight into WHY AM I A LIAR. Everything was going smoothly until a technical problem involving my  usually trustee reliable Marshall started to cut out my guitar sound! This happens during S.O.S, a song we hadn't played Live for a long long time! Haha typical! So a decision to cut the song short yet still with its usual crescendo, I think we did well as it almost went unnoticed! After a short inspection to see whether it was guitar, cab or head was the problem, Steve with his technical wizardry and armed with Gaffer tape in place, the show rolled and rocked on! Always a nervy gig for me these hometown ones. Don't get me wrong, I always enjoy them. I think it's just the sea of very familiar friends and family faces lighting up the room that adds that extra bit of pressure to these big local shows. Or maybe it's just me :) As the set drew to a close and folk danced and sang the night away there was even time for a second helping of MEXICOLA as the cries for more were granted after a rousing PRETTY VACANT!!! A cracking gig once again for the band and an amazing turn out, we truly appreciate the support. Thanks to Ross the Boss and everyone at the Fox Cover, and also to Steve Leyland for a great job with the sound. 

Next up here's a few upcoming gigs to tell you about. This Sunday May 29th I'm back in the solo saddle with a slot for Acoustic Magic at The Travellers Rest, Witton Gilbert, Durham. I'll be projecting on the unsuspecting around 6:15pm. Sweet.

Then on Bank Holiday Monday May 30th I'll be performing another solo set (and possibly a mini LoGOz acoustic spot) at Druridge Bay Family picnic between 1-3pm. This is for the Save Druridge Bay campaign. So get yourselves down to help save one of our great beaches we've all enjoyed over the years as part of our great local heritage. Also appearing will be local musicians Steve Leyland and Brian English. So let's make this a huge success folks! Bring the kids along! Hey You could even bring ya granny! Bill Oddie is special guest too. It's gonna be goodie goodie yum yum :) 

Finally another LoGOz gig to stick in ya diaries! Saturday June 4th will see us make our first appearance at The Borough in Sunderland. This is FREE entry and support comes from the excellent Temple Avenue. It's gonna be a cracker!

Phew I think that's it for now. 

Thanks for reading!

Cheerz

Peesh X 

LoGOz - Blyth Tavern gig review 15/05/16

Sunday May 15th saw LoGOz back at The Tavern in Blyth for

a double headed early evening dose of modern day punk rock n roll! As we hit the venue just after 5:30pm we were met by support band The Relitics, and after a bit of friendly crack we edged inside to prepare for soundcheck. This was the first time we were playing on the spanking new stage The Tavern have recently installed. It really is an impressive foundation and a reminder of how serious the guys are here of establishing this place as a professional music venue. Soundcheck was as swift as ever and sporting a healthily pair of bollocks as we acclimatised ourselves to the new stage. 

First up was The Relitics from Durham. A band we had heard of but never yet seen Live. They describe themselves as new old skool punk, and I couldn't agree more! While taking inspiration from their heroes such as The Clash, The Stranglers and Siouxsie and the Banshees, the band bring their own original sound up to date with their modern twist on their world as they see it! Chief songwriter Mick Hall showcased a few nifty guitar licks throughout their melodic driven 45 minute set. Fronted by the striking presence of Carol Nichol this is a band that was sticking in our heads. Stand out track for me was the reggae esque swagger of 'Broken England'. Good set guys and we look forward to working together again in the near future. 

So just after 8pm and as the Northumberland sun was still shining away outside, we hit the stage as a healthy Sunday crowd had gathered for the band. Plenty of familiar faces littered the place as we blasted through a near perfect 50 minutes of what we do best! Even a slight Floor Tom problem for Carlos on the drums, failed to have any impact on the quality or ferocity of the songs as we ripped it up big style! Banter was flowing too as folk sang words back to us which gave us even more raw power, as we grinned satisfied grins from our sweaty faces. We weren't even running out of Gas as we hit the  fast last double blast of PRETTY VACANT and MEXICOLA! There were cries for an encore but time was literally up and sometimes it's good to leave the people wanting more! Another truly great gig for the band. Big thanks to everyone who came down to support us it's always much appreciated! Cheers, also to The Relitics for a great set, everyone at The Tavern and to Vince for booking us again!

Just to let you all know we have a great gig coming up this weekend at The Fox Cover in Ashington. A fine establishment of which I am no stranger to over the years but have yet to perform in! So this Saturday May 21st will change that, as LoGOz will be playing a double Live set here. It's FREE Entry and kicks off 8:30pm. So the good people of Ashington and surrounding areas do your best to help spread the word please and make this a massive successful gig we all know it can be! Looking forward to it already. See ya there! 

Thanks for reading. 

Cheerz 

Peesh X

LoGOz O2 Newcastle Academy Review 09/05/16

Photo (c) Jill Bee

Here we are Monday May 9th, just over a year ago since our debut here and LoGOz are back at the O2 Academy in Newcastle for the 3rd time in 12 months. Every gig we've played here has been with a difference. Popping our O2 cherry on May 2015 we supported our local metal buddies Ball of Mayhem, then in the September we were back with our very first triumphant headlining show, and now tonight opening up for world touring British rockers The Treatment. Also on the Bill were main support The Amorettes as well as Newcastle's Saints of Arcadia. We rolled into the venue and loaded up the gear around 5:15pm just in time to catch The Amorettes ripping through their soundcheck. Imagine Airbourne fronted by a young Joan Jett, and I think you get the picture! Nice. We were astounded at the amount of gear each of the 4 bands had brought to the table as it almost covered the entire floor of the upstairs venue room, and as many full drum kits as there almost was bands!! After a quick discussion and a stern warning from one of the Road Managers that we could share Amorettes kit but pay on the spot damages if anything was broken on the night! Ok dude. Chill man :)

With an unusual set up, as the three of us were all in direct line with each other because of the congested stage, this was gonna be interesting! But after a quick run through of NO WIN SITUATION we were in no danger. The sound was big and Ballsy and with the sound guy on our side, we were ready to rock! Literally.

Photo (c) Jill Bee

As the doors opened bang on 7pm the Tyneside rock aficionados started streaming in. So it was pleasing to see as we made our way onstage for 7:15pm kick off, that a healthy crowd had gathered to see the boys. We tore into LONG TIME DEAD and then with no time for breath, straight into JUBILEEZER. The beauty of this gig is we knew we'd be playing in front of a brand new crowd. A hard rock/metal audience if you like! This is the kind of diversity I so enjoy with being in LoGOZ. We weave in and out of so many genres without being typically defined or pigeon holed. To me this can only be a good thing. We always want mass appeal and proudly so. And tonight's crowd proves no exception. As they waited for their headline heroes we more than added our fair share of top quality songs, banter, power and sweat to a cracking line up! We managed to squeeze 9 songs into a perfect 30 minute set fit for the occasion. I'm pleased to say we went down just great man! A very satisfying hat trick of gigs now completed at the O2 Academy in 53 weeks! We really must do this again sometime yeah? Thanks to everyone who came down to support us, it never goes unnoticed. Cheers to all the bands, everyone at the venue, and to Phil Beevers for putting us on.

Back to the future. We return to our native Northumberland for a headline gig this Sunday May 15th at The Tavern in Blyth. This really is fast becoming the areas top Live music venue. Now boasting a brand new stage area, the place is really making an effort to be a successful gig establishment. It would be great to help contribute to this by getting a great crowd in this Sunday and end your weekend in style. Support comes from punksters The Relitics. It kicks off 6pm. It's also FREE Entry so let's make it another cracking evening of purely original Live music!

Thanks for reading

Cheerz

Peesh X 

LoGOz - Three Tuns review 5/5/16

Thursday May 5th saw LoGOz back at the Three Tuns for a headline gig following our successful support slot with Loaded 44 in April. Unfortunately first support band Hung Like Jack cancelled late in the day leaving it almost impossible to find a replacement act! Therefore instead of a 3 band bill it was to be left to All Out Attack and our goods selves to stretch the night out with slightly longer sets! No sweat. 

A bright Spring almost summer like evening had drawn a relatively modest crowd in for this one as All Out Attack took to the stage as the sun started to set outside in the Gateshead sky. This being their first gig of 2016 and also as a four piece, after losing their second guitarist earlier in the week. The band seemed tighter than ever and gave them a more edgier punk sound than the previous times I'd seen them as a five piece! Frontman Adam was in fine form leaping about the stage like a man repossessed, barking out their patriotic punk hymns from their old and new testaments! Good work lads.

So onto LoGOz as we returned to the stage of our last gig a full long month ago! Although that was still a great show, it was littered with a few niggling technical issues that took a certain shine off an otherwise storming set! Fortunately there was to be no gremlins in the works or ghosts in the machines tonight! From the opening introduction of LONG TIME DEAD to the final money shot blast of MEXICOLA we were on fine form, even if I do say so myself! After a cracking band rehearsal the previous night we were on fire tonight! Even the annoyance of my head cold and sore throat was swiftly forgotten as smashed out way through almost an hour of our original modern day punk rock n roll! SKELETONS got a rare live outing, especially for the AOA boys who are big fans of the song! 

All in all another brilliant gig for us, and sets up nicely for our support slot at The O2 Academy on Monday May 9th with The Treatment and Saints of Arcadia. Remember we have £6 concession guest list offers for this. So if you fancy a slice then please get in touch ASAP here or on our Facebook page or direct message on Twitter.

See you down the front!

Thanks for reading

Cheerz

Peesh x