Fozzy / Rock City / Nottingham

Feb 28

Feb 28 Fozzy / Rock City / Nottingham

Yet another trip into Nottingham and Rock City for the visit of Fozzy. I seem to have spent most of the day saying to people “Yes, that Chris Jericho….. yes the wrestler Chirs Jericho” lol. Quite frankly I was glad to get here and crack on with some amazing music !

First up though we have some exciting support acts. Firstly US rockewrs Pistols at Dawn from Atlnata hit the stage. Formed back in 2015 they play a high energy, heavy hitting style of hard rock. Pistols at Dawnhave been described as a mix of influences such as the likes of Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and AC/DC.

First out on the stage is guitarist Will James with his stunning black Schekter guitar, with its red LED light edge, and he delivers a stunning solo before the rest of the band join him. The music is full of big riffs and grooves with powerful drum beats powering the tracks on. What tops it off is the vocal performance from singer Jon Sookdew Sing which brings the lyrics to life, with powerful and evocative choruses.

A really enjoyable start to the night.

Next up are British all-female four piece The Hot Damn! with Gill Montgomery (vocals & guitar), Laurie Buchanan (guitar), Liz Hayes (bass) and Josie O’Toole (drums), they play a high energy style of rock, with punchy riffs and powerful harmonies.

They delivered a great set of songs with really catchy lyrics with great guitar riffs. The real highlight is some fantastic and energetic drumming from Josie, who pounds away at her kit, hair flyng !

There’s something about The Hot Damn! Which feels reminiscent of bands such as the Darkness. There’s a light, fun style to their playing and sound and they’re the kind of band made to make you groove !

Another great set.

Finally, it as time for tonights headliners….. Fozzy. An American heavy metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, way back in 1999 by guitarist Rich Ward and drummer Frank Fontsere. Originally the band were called Fozzy Osborne (a play on Ozzie’s name) and their first two albums were mainly covers. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Chris Jericho, Ward, second guitarist Billy Grey, bassist P. J. Farley and drummer Grant Brooks.

Chris once famously said that "If Metallica and Black Sabbath had a bastard child, it would be Fozzy.". To date Fozzy have released eight studio albums, and over time they’re focused more and more on their own original material.

As we wait for the band to arrive, the speakers blast out Living Next Door to Alice by Smokie, and the fans all chant back the line “Alice? Who the fuck is Alice” ! Its brilliant and they cheer loudly as the band step out onto the stage and launch into their latest single Spotlight with some great powerful riffs setting the tone for what’s to come. Chris paces round the stage and jumps onto the platforms so the crowd can see him, with a huge grin across his face, clearly enjoying every second of it all.

As Painless is drawing to an end, Jericho steps up onto the central platform, and is passed a CO2 gun, and sprays huge clouds of smoke around over the crowd to huge cheers, before they launch into Do You Wanna Start a Warwhich starts up with the sound of sirens before the powerful riffs kick in. At the end of the song, Chris sprays more clouds of smoke around to even more cheers.

Fozzy then deliver the first of their covers, with a performance of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s controversial 80s hit Relax which goes down well with the crowd shooting out the lyrics too. The crowd participation continues through tracks like Sane, I Still Burn and Nowhere to Run, which is followed by Burn Me Out, which for me was one of the highlights of the night.

Chris is a very charismatic frontman, and he’s supported well with Rick Ward on guitar. Almost hiding on the edge of the stage he comes out to throw some shapes, and jump around, adding to the dynamism of the set. As the main set comes to a close we end on Purifier and fan favourite Enemy. It’s a highlight of the set, with both Rick and Billy showcasing some incredible guitar techniques and some mountainous riffs.

The cheers and chants ring out, and it doesn’t take long for Fozzy to return to the stage, for a two song encore, starting with Judas. Right from the off the crowd are screaming out the lyrics to the opening verses and the riffs are thumping out at us as the noise levels reach maximum. This is what Fozzy is all about !

Then it’s time for the final number, a wonderful cover of the Ramones classic Blitzkrieg Bop, another crowd pleaser, that we’re all singing along with.

It’s clear that Fozzy have a real affinity with the UK audiences, and in particular ~Rock City a venue they first appeared in all those years ago. A great night, and one we can look forward to again, because the showman Chirs Jericho and Fozzy WILL be back, thats for sure !

Setlist

Living Next Door to Alice (Recoridng - Smokie cover)

Spotlight

Bad Tattoo

Painless

Do You Wanna Start a War

Lights Go Out

Relax (Frankie Goes to Hollywood cover)

Sane

I Still Burn

Nowhere to Run

Burn Me Out