Alien Ant Farm / Rock City / Nottingham

Back in the 2000’s my TV was constantly tuned in to Kerrang and I lived on a diet of nu metal and rock from the likes of Papa Roach, Linkin Park, POD, and Alien Ant Farm, and I was excited to finally see them live for the first time.

First up on the Rock City main stage are The Nocturnal Affair. Formed by singer Brenda Shane in Las Vegas, they released their first single Down in 2021 through Earache Records. They play a hard hitting melancholic and cite influences ranging from Type O Negative, HIM, David Bowie to Gary Numan, and Nine Inch Nails. This range and blend is perhaps what gives their sound it’s unique style with its dark and haunting edge.

I have to say they didn’t disappoint, kicking their set off with a great version of It’s No Good, the Depeche Mode track. It felt true to the original, but with a new grittier edge. Brandons vocal are on point, backs by some great fuzzy riffs from Lappin and Ingram slithered and snarled, wrapping around Brandon’s deep, almost sinister vocals that dripped with sorrow and defiance.

The highlight is that first single Down, with its melancholic melodies and intense chorus sections, which gets huge cheers from the early doors crowd, They end the set with another cover, in the form of What Is Love which goes down a storm.

I have to say, the performance was outstanding. Tight, entertaining and powerful.

Setlist

It's No Good (Depeche Mode cover)

A Thousand Ways to Die

Down

Cross Me Out

Interlude

Unwound

Backbiter

What Is Love (Haddaway cover)

Next up are InMe. A late addition to the tour, following CKY being kicked off. Formed in 1996 in Essex, InMe are Dave McPherson (vocals), Gazz Marlow and John O’Keeffe (guitar), Tom Dalton (drums) and Mike Garrett (bass). They have released seven studio albums and eight singles in the UK Top 100 Chart.

Having been given the chance to join the tour, its clear InMe have grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The energy levels are high and they are on top form. Musically they are tight and the energy spills out over the barrier into the crowd. Kicking off with Underdose from their 2003 albm “Overgrown Eden” its powerful chorus and intense riffs has the crowd jumping right from the off.

The pace continues through Firefly which highlights Dave’s impressive vocals. The pace changes with Safe in a Roomwhich is a quieter more reflective and intricate track from the “White Butterfly”. There’s a new track given an outing too in the form of Confession which goes down a storm with the crowd. Closing the set with Faster the Chase InMe show they are still a force to be reckoned with, delivering an emotionally charged and powerful set that leaves us all wanting more.

Setlist

Main Title (Terminator 2 Theme)

Underdose

Firefly

Cracking the Whip

Safe in a Room

7 Weeks

Confession (New song)

All Terrain Vehicle

Reverie Shores

So You Know

Faster the Chase

Alien Ant Farm were formed in Riverside, California in 1996. They have released six studio albums and sold over 5 million units worldwide., but are perhaps best known for their iconic cover of the Michael Jackson hit Smooth Criminalwhich topped the Billboard Alternative songs charts in 2001, and featured in the cult film American Pie 2. Their second album “ANThology” released in 2001 went platinum selling over a million copies. After a break from recording for 9 years, the band released their sixth album “Mantras” earlier this year.

Alien Ant Farm are Dryden Mitchell (vocals), Mike Cosgrove (drums), Terry Corso (guitar), and Tim Peugh (bass).

Bouncing out in to the limelight to huge cheers they dive right into Courage taken from their 2001 album “ANThology”. Right from the off, Dryden is pacing the stage, full of pent up energy and the crowd are equally pumped. Having been together almost 30 years AAF are tight and precise and clearly are loving their time in Nottingham. The crowd are up for it too, with guys dressed in costumes as the aliens from “Monsters Inc.” and there is a sense of fun in the air.

Its great to see some of the more recent material live too, and Wrong Thing from 2024’s “Mantras” is a great example. Tim’s bass rumbled deep at the heart of the track, and this one is slower and more reflective. Dryden takes the slower pace as an opportunity to engage with the crowd reaching out to fist-bump anyone that wants one. The connection is obvious.

AAF’s other big hit was Movies and we don’t have to wait long for it to burst into life in the set. I’m amazed at the change in atmosphere, as the energy levels are turned all the way to 11 ! Alost as one, arms are raised and the chorus is sung with gusto. Its an impressive sight and that flow of energy between band and crowd, and back to band is almost visible, its so intense.

AAF have built an ability to mix styles and sounds so well, jumping from fast and furious riotous tracks like Attitude to softer more emotional material like Stranded with ease. The real skill is to take the audience with you on that journey, and AAF do it with ease as we hang on every note and word.

I particularly loved Storms Over from the latest album, which is a great mix of musical emotions, slow and simmering and building to a crushing wall of noise led by the Mike’s powerful drumming.

They return for a three song encore, and we enjoy What I Feel Is Mine and (fittingly) Goodbye and then that bassline rings out, the unmistakable intro to Smooth Criminal. The place goes absolutely nuts and the crowd take over. Every word is sung and the massed crowd are bouncing as one. The band are just grinning from ear to ear and clearly loving every minute of the experience. By the time the track finally ends the noise levels are off the scale with shouts, cries for more and cheers.

I was looking forward to this one, but I came away amazed. The atmosphere was simply incredible as AAF held the Nottingham crowd in the palm of their hands milking every ounce of emotion from the experience. They were ably supported in this by both InMe and The Nocturnal Affair who did their part in building the energy levels.

Alien Ant Farm delivered, and then some. A night of great music, energy and fun – in bucketloads !

Setlist

Courage

Wish

Flesh and Bone

The Wrong Things

Movies

These Days

Last dAntz

Attitude

Stranded

What Am I Doing