Page 52 - Black Velvet Issue 87

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 52

MICHAEL MONROE / HARDCORE SUPERSTAR / CHASE THE ACE – BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE LIBRARY,
09.10.15
It’s not every day an Israeli band comes through town, but Chase Call For Alcohol’ which sees the band all take a drink, ‘We Don’t Cele-
The Ace have made it onto the bill of this Michael Monroe and Hardcore brate Sundays’ and finally, ‘Above The Law’. Sundays may not be cele-
Superstar co-headlining tour throughout the UK and Europe. And they brated but Hardcore Superstar definitely are. A storming set that we want
give Israel a good name. With songs like ‘The Cat Is On The Loose’ and to see all over again. Right now.
‘Stalker’, the four-piece is a glam-ish hard rock band. They’re no doubt A few rock fans leave after Hardcore Superstar, but the headliner is
inspired by many ‘80s rock bands but you can tell they know what they’re Michael Monroe. He’s leaving it late as it’s not until 10pm that he comes
doing, as they’re a tight unit that no doubt have been working at this for on. We thought curfew was going to be 10pm but with the doors opening
a while. They ask the crowd to chant ‘Hell Yeah’ before the song of the nearly 45 minutes late, it looks like it’s going to be a late one. Luckily
same name. You can feel the emphasis on partying and having fun and what we do get to see is a legend on stage, even if our time is cut short.
the guys look like they’re enjoying themselves on stage. They bring out Michael Monroe has been a living rock god for the last 3 decades and
two giant red balloons for the final number which the band and audience it’s amazing that he’s still going strong. He’s still prancing with his mic
bat around the room during the song. The band have got a solid set over his shoulders, doing the splits and bounding around like a youthful
which will appeal to hard rock and glam/sleaze fans. Hell yeah! deer. His new album, ‘Blackout States’, was released on the day of the
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Hardcore Superstar and we’d al- show and he performs a number of tracks from it such as ‘This Ain’t No
most forgotten how good they were. In fact, they’re not just good, they’re Love Song’, ‘Old King’s Road’ and the fast and punky ‘R.L.F.’. They’re
blistering! The guys from Gothenburg deliver a non-stop, full-blast rock instantly catchy although it’s still the old Hanoi Rocks classics like ‘Mo-
‘n’ roll eargasm. From opening song ‘Sadistic Girls’ the quartet mean torvatin’’ and ‘Malibu Beach’ that really raise the roof. It’s a nice surprise
business. Vocalist Jocke Berg barely stands still as he stomps around to hear ‘Man With No Eyes’ from Michael’s ‘Not Fakin’ It’ solo album, re-
the stage while Vic Zino, Martin Sandvik and Adde Andreasson whip up leased in 1989. This one really touches the heart like a long lost friend.
the best instrument playing. Vic pulls some funny faces while on his gui- ‘Dead, Jail Or Rock ‘N’ Roll’ ends the main set before an encore that in-
tar. “Be nice to each other,” Jocke says before ‘Bully’, a song with a cludes ‘Oriental Beat’ and ‘I Wanna Be Loved’. With Sami Yaffa (Hanoi
thumping bass and pulse to it. It’s almost like being punched non-stop Rocks), Steve Conte (New York Dolls), Rich Jones (The Black
but in the most delightful way, leaving no marks, just pure pleasure. Vic Halos/Amen) and Karl Rosqvist (Chelsea Smiles,
and Jocke perform ‘Here Comes That Sick Bitch Again’ as an Danzig) in his band, Michael Monroe, the man
acoustic tune, Jocke’s vocals sounding particularly razor-sharp and the band, is definitely still loved.
over the softer acoustic guitar. As it’s a co-headlining tour, YYYY
the band go offstage before returning for a five-song SBV
encore which includes the darker, deeper ‘Hate-
ful’, ‘Moonshine’ – an excellent live number that Michael Monroe Photo By Shari Black Vel-
vet
whisks you off on a journey of its own, ‘Last

CONCERTS