Page 43 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 99

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THREE DAYS GRACE / BAD WOLVES – BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE, 04.10.18
Three Days Grace released their sixth studio album in March on RCA Records, and shortly afterwards broke the record for the most No. 1 Billboard
mainstream rock songs ever. We’re not surprised as ‘Outsider’ is packed with killer tunes – so we were very happy when they announced an extensive
European tour that saw the band trek everywhere from Ukraine to Belarus, Lithuania to Russia. Birmingham was one of the first UK and European
shows and saw Bad Wolves as the sole support act.
Unfortunately, when getting to the venue, we discovered a notice stating that due to medical issues Tommy Vext would not be performing with Bad
Wolves. The frontman was diagnosed with a severe bronchial infection and still in Nottingham (where the bands performed the night before) in hospital.
Kudos to Bad Wolves for not pulling out of the show, but instead enlisting the help of Austin Dickinson of As Lions and Stars of Bang Bang Romeo to
fill in on vocals. Austin sings for the first part of the set, which kicks off with the hard-hitting ‘Learn To Live’, with Stars taking over towards the end.
Everyone does a great job under the circumstances with the final song (of a short six numbers) being the band’s cover of ‘Zombie’. With an encouraging
‘let’s do it for Dolores’, the song gives us chills and was a fine tribute to the late singer.
Kicking off their set with ‘Mountain’, tonight’s show was no hard task for Three Days Grace. The driving song sets the pace for what’s to come. Al-
though Neil Sanderson on drums almost has his own mini mountain – his drum kit is on the highest riser we’ve probably ever seen at the Institute. Neil
does a fine job contributing with backing vocals at the same time as drumming. With two mics, frontman Matt Walst can give his vocals an extra boost.
‘The Good Life’ is a foot-stomping delight, while ‘Pain’ sees Matt jump off the stage and along the front row. ‘Infra-Red’ is another favourite from the
latest release with a chorus to crave for. There are chants for ‘Three Days Grace’ between songs, often urged by Matt. The band include a small
acoustic part of the set, where they all sit in a row with Neil taking on keyboard duties for the mellow and morose ‘Love Me Or Leave Me’ and ‘Get Out
Alive’. It switches the set up nicely.
The encore includes more of the
band’s hits, including a stirring rendi-
tion of ‘Never Too Late’ before ending
with the rousing call-to-arms that is
‘Riot’ with its pulsating ‘let’s start a
riot’ chorus.
With a show this good, we may
have to start a riot if the band don’t re-
turn again soon.
YYYY
Shari Black Velvet

Matt Walst (Three Days Grace)
Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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