Back at the end of January, Terrorvision actually got themselves noticed
on a large scale with their release of Tequila. It saw the appearance of
rock coming back into the mainstream music charts that had since been dominated
with the lesser talented bands with singers who class their music as 'pop'
nowadays. It also provided Terrorvision with their biggest chart hit to
date, making its debut at a very respectable number two. It increased their
popularity and spread into all age groups ranging from those still playing
with their Lego, to old men and women singing the tune on the way back
from the bingo. Well, maybe not but I'm sure you see my point.Possibly,
the most unique thing about Terrorvision is the fact that they love to
tour. It's the only reason they're in a band and are always either on the
road, or planning to be. Less than two months since they toured last,
Terrorvision hit the road once again.
Their gigs are famed for the madness and hyperactivity forced into
the audience by the equally mad and hyperactive band members (but usually
just the lead singer). Ask any Terrorvision-gig-goer what they think of
the gigs and they will usually reply with the word, "Mad". Just one little
word used to describe a thing that is so much more.
Last time they were on the Scottish roads, they were provided with
support by Fungus, a Swedish band that were nothing like Terrorvision.
This was a bit of a shame really, because they had no chance of warming
up the crowd in the way that Terrorvision do. This time, the support was
provided by Leafeater who were much more like Terrorvision on two counts.
They are from Bradford and they rocked almost as much. In fact, they proved
to be the Bradford version of Green Day and ended up being f***ing excellent.
They had the crowd moshing right from the beginning of their set and didn't
bore them by the end unlike a certain Swedish band, who shall remain nameless.
Leafeater have supported Terrorvision only once before and it's not
a big surprise that they have joined them to do it all again. Consisting
of only three band members, they made an amazing amount of noise for a
support band.
Each equally talented in their own right, they jumped around the stage,
and rocked like any typical rock and roll band would. And the fact that
two thirds of the band had no hair only added to their likeability. The
crowd loved them and they quickly became everything that a support band
is supposed to be. Let's just hope they'll do more support slots with them
in future,
because it will be a sad shame for more people to miss out.
However, Terrorvision have always been contenders for the best live
band, and still are. But after the sudden and completely unexpected success
of Tequila, will they still live up to their name? In a word, yes. And
nothing could
surprise me less.
Beginning with their most famed opener, Alice, What's the matter? they
are exactly what the crowd have been waiting for. With Tony Wright jumping
about the stage like a maniac, the crowd contracts a serious case of
Lets-copy-Mr-Wright-because-he-knows-better-itis, and have their own little
energetic party by themselves. Even from hearing just the first song, it's
obvious that Terrorvision still have the ability to get a crowd of normally
wary Scots and turn them into the mad, hyperactive people they are so widely
known as.
This particular gig has it's highlights, the loud American TV, the
slow and touching When I Die, the vigorous Babyface and the 'artistic'
III Wishes which sees Tony proudly strapping on an acoustic guitar, as
well as the beautiful Middleman which all add to their ability to keep
the audience. They preview their Friends theme tune rip-off, TV on TV,
and have the crowd join in with the little clappy bits at the beginning
and end. Also, Too Stoned To Dance, a huge favourite among the big Terrorvision
fans, makes its appearance with the crowd enjoying it just as much as the
others. Unsurprisingly, Tequila is the song that everyone knows and loves.
The whole crowd dance their own individual Tequila dance and helped with
4 girls picked out from the audience, they play the song that most of the
new fans want to hear so much. Their last song is the wonderful Perseverance,
always a good song for the encore, and proves that their crowd still has
the energy to mosh like
they did to all the others.
The absence of one of their most moving songs, Bad Actress, is probably
the only disappointing fact of this gig, or even the fact that Tony chose
to wear clothes that were completely normal and didn't decide to wear any
peculiar
outfits for this tour was also a bit unexpected. Oh well, there's always
next time.
