Hundred Reasons / O2 Academy / Bristol

Mar 7

Mar 7 Hundred Reasons / O2 Academy / Bristol

A trip to old Bristol town tonight to see alt-rockers Hundred Reasons, as they hit the road with their new album “Glorious Sunset”, there first LP for 15 years, since the release of 2007’s “Quick The Word, Sharp The Action”.

With three bands, it’s not long after door open when the first band, My Vitriol hit the stage. Formed in London in 1999 My Vitriol currently comprises singer and guitarist Som Wardner, drummer Ravi Kesavaram, guitarist Seth Taylor and bassist Tatia Starkey.

This was a band that I knew of but had somehow passed me by, so this was a welcome new experience for me. And what a great set it was. Singer Wardner gave a commanding vocal performance. The stage lighting set up was a little different, and although maybe good visually for the fans, hard to photograph. Both guitarist Seth and bass player Tatia were frequewntly bathed in bright white spots, singer Som was somehow in shadow, dressed in black, and carrying a black guitar. The only light falling on him, from the Christmas tree lights wrapped round the mic stand. Strangely he was right next to Seth, but the lighting difference was quite stark. But, the visuals didn’t detract from the sound. I loved the heavier tracks such as Grounded and Cemented Shoes but maybe the track of the set for me was Under the Wheels. Of course, the final number could only be, perhaps their best known track Always: Your Way which was delivered flawlessly and got the Bristol crowd moving along to it.

A thoroughly enjoyable performance, which set the mood perfectly.

Set List (My Vitriol)

Losing Touch

Moodswings

Kohlstream

Cemented Shoes

Grounded

It's So Damn Easy

Infantile

Ode to the Red Queen

The Gentle Art of Choking

Under the Wheels

Alpha Waves

Always: Your Way

A quick change round on stage, and a drink from the bar, and we were ready for Hell Is For Heroes. Formed in London in 2001 HIFH are Justin Schlosberg (vocals), William McGonagle (guitar), Tom O'Donoghue (guitar), James Findlay (bass) and Joe Birch (drums).

Arriving on stage to huge applause from the crowd, they launched straight into Folded Paper Figures from 2006’s album “Transmit Disrupt”. Right from the off they are full of energy with singer Schlosberg, clad in a dark pink suit, whirling round the stage, swinging his mic as he belts out the lyrics. The energy levels don’t drop once as they race through Out of Sight, Stranger In You (from 2007’s “Hell Is For Heroes”) and the recent 2022 single I Should Have Never Been Here in the First Place, I already had the feeling that this was the headline act, the band were assured and confident and delivered track after track flawlessly.

The set was littered with classic numbers such as You Drove Me To It and I Can Climb Mountains both from 2003’s “The Neon Handshake”. For me, the highlight track was To Die For, the opening track from 2007’s “Hell Is For Heroes”. It starts with a simple guitar piece and builds as first the bass joins in creating depth before the drums join. It retains this haunting feel to the half way point, when it explodes into life, the lyrics not joining until almost a minute form the end. A powerful track that works so so well live.

Schlsberg is going strong and walks off towards the back of the stage before turning and running and vaulting over the pit and launching himself into the crowd. Carried right back to the mixing desk, before being carried back to climb onto the stage.

Next up was their latest single from earlier in 2023 Together in Pieces which along with 2022’s single have a new sonic feel to them, but fit in so well alongside the older material.

As the set comes to an end, the toms bash out the fast familiar sounds as Night Vision starts with the effect of ramping up the audience even more. The crowd are bouncing now to this classic. The set closes with Slow Song. This one is a slow burner and from a simple start build and builds into an anthemic track. Everything at full pelt and at full blast, a wall of sound pounding out into the crowd, who are loving every second of it.

What a performance, Hell Is For Heroes were on blistering form tonight and I’d have gone home happy after that !

Set List

Folded Paper Figures

Out of Sight

Stranger in You

I Should Never Have Been Here in the First Place

I Can Climb Mountains

To Die For

You Drove Me to It

Together in Pieces

Five Kids Go

Night Vision

Slow Song

Another drink while the crew set up the stage, and chat with security who I haven’t seen for a while before the lights dimmed and out strolled Hundred Reasons. Formed in Aldershot back in 1999 they consist of Colin Doran (vocals), Larry Hibbitt (guitar), Andy Gilmour (bass) and Andy Bews (drums).

It’s been 15 years since Hundred Reasons released “Quick The Word, Sharp The Action” in 2007 and I’ve been recently listening to the new album “Glorious Sunset” lots, and been really enjoying it. I was looking forward to hearing the new material live for the first time. I didn’t have to wait long as they opened the show with the album’s title track Glorious Sunset which was brilliant. Like a 2000’s nu-metal anthem it delivered a powerful punch in the chorus sections and straight away had the crowd up and jumping.

With such a great back catalogue to call upon, they pulled together an excellent set as we ran through What You Get, Stories With Unhappy Ending (both from 2004’s “Shatterproof Is Not A Challenge”) and Answers from 2002’s “Ideas Above Our Station”. With each number the crowd energy was rising level by level. 2006’s “Kill Your Own” was represented by the tracks The Perfect Gift and No Pretending. For me, the standout was I’ll Find You the opening track from “Ideas Above Our Station” a right powerhouse of a track that had large parts of the crowd jumping in unison.

Splashed around the set were a few tracks from the new album, notably The Old School Way, a live anthem track if ever I heard one, and It Suits You which is an absolute belter live with a powerful chorus. It was kind of nice that the tour wasn’t all about the new album. It was a really good mix of some of their older hits, and the tracks selected from “Glorious Sunset” worked so so well alongside them. The new album does have a different vibe to it, (which I love) but live, they add a new dimension to the set, and they got a great reaction from the Bristolian crowd.

The mains et ends with the title track Kill You Own from 2006 a fuzzy guitar intro and pounding drums creating a wall of sound and Doran’s vocals are spot on tonight.

Returning to the stage we get a three song encore and first up is another new track from the latest album Replicate. A slower one and one that puts all the emphasis on the vocals, which stand proud. You can almost feel the audience breathe as they relax just for a while from the otherwise intense set. This is followed by No Way Back from 2007’s “Quick the Word Sharp the Action” before we end with their chart topping single from 2002 If I Could which the crowd lap up, the guitars screaming atop the heavy bass and rhythm section with everyone present singing along in unison to the chorus.

After so long without recording an album, many would be tempted to say the band were ‘over the hill’ and I wonder if there is some irony in the album’s name “Glorious Sunset”. Whereas other bands just fade away into the sunset…. Hundred Reasons are back, and clearly on tonight’s performance loving what they do, and making this latter part of their career a truly GLORIOUS sunset ! I sincerely hope this sunset lasts for a long time…..

Walking back through the cool night air in Bristol I reflected on the evening. All three bands were on fire tonight. The energy and raw energy from Hell Is For Heroes was brilliant, and Hundred Reasons didn’t disappoint at all. A brilliant night of alt-rock, from first note…… to last.

Set List

Glorious Sunset

What You Get

Answers

Stories With Unhappy Endings

The Perfect Gift

I'll Find You

Remmus

It Suits You

Silver

This Mess

Makeshift