Killing Joke / Rock City / Nottingham
Killing Joke, the British punk / Industrial Rock legends hit a near sold out Rock City on their first tour for three years on the ‘Honour of Fire’ tour. I’ve loved how after the pandemic, a number of bands with a long history have had a new lease of life, and enjoyed bringing their show out on the road to a new audience. Originally formed in 1979, they released their debut album ‘Killing Joke’ in 1980 but their 1985 single love like blood is what brought them most attention.
Tonight was not the easiest night behind the scenes. On arrival, the PR company seemed to have missed all the photographers off the guestlist and I was almost late for the support act, but we got sorted in the end. What made it a particularly challenging night (apart from the dark blue lighting most of the time) was the bands photographers setting up two tripods in the pit, even during the first three songs for press. I’ve never experienced that, and to be honest, thought it dangerous (how would stewards get to crowd surfers) and to be honest… rude.
But anyway…..
As the band come out, the stage is draped in smoke and awash with the aforementioned blue light.
The set starts with their iconic track Love Like War from the 1985 with growling bass, as Jaz Coleman enters the stage dressed in a boiler suit and moving rigidly, almost robot like. His hair wild and obscuring his face. Whereas guitarist Geordie Walker by comparison appears calm by comparison, as is Martin Glover (Youth) stage right on bass, his Rickenbacker bass pounding out heavy lines underpinning everything.
We then have Wardance from the 1980 album ‘Killing Joke’, followed by the Fall of Because from ‘What’s this For’ released in 1981, as Jaz continues with the dramatic automaton movement.
The track list is impressive and we glide through Honour the Fire, The Pandys Are Coming and We Have Joy. If anything I would say that with the venue say about three quarters full, it felt like the bass was a little too loud. As a result, it had the effect of almost merging the songs into one as it dominated. The guitar riffs and keyboards do their best to compete with the bass as we roll through Money Is Not Our God from 1990’s ‘Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions’. Thankfully the lighting has changed and is now predominantly blue and green, which is a shame as I’m not in the pit anymore ! This is often the case for press photographers. Bands like lighting to create opening atmosphere and energy, not to suit cameras ! It often gets better once we’ve gone lol.
Primitive takes us back to their debut album again and is dominated by heavy bass and drumbeats. Then, we’re into Turn to Red, another really early track with a fantastic keyboard riff running through it.
Mathematics of Chaos from 1994’s has a fantastic loud crash cymbol and poweful guitar riff running over the banging bassline. The Death and Resurrection Show is a wonderful loud brash anthemas the drums pound through you, almost drowning out the bassline.
An old favourite makes a welcome appearance in 1980’s The Wait. As the main set concludes, the band exit the stage, leaving the guitars on a feedback loop before someone turns it off. Although the crowd are cheering loudly, it seems somehow quiet after what we’ve just experienced. The crowd keep going until the guys re-appear for the ubiquitous encore.
First up we get Requiem again from 1980’s ‘Killing Joke’ with an aggressive fuzzy guitar riff and a slow tom. This is followed by Pandemonium which is a great end to the set and a huge fan favourite. The set list showed four tracks, but the two delivered are crackers. And that’s it. A fantastic show.
It could have been a bit better, the bass dialled back a bit would have balanced everything so much better. I guess it was only the second show, and these things will improve. But, overall, a great experience and a night to remember.
In support we had a set from The Imbeciles, a 5-piece Anglo-American alternative indie rock band. We were entertained with a total of 7 tracks from their upcoming new album ‘Imbecelica’ which is out later in the spring. The set was really good, and delivered well. The guitars are edgy with lots of distortion and I have to say, they were really good. Highlight of the set for me was It’s Not About You, although close n it’s heels is the final track I’m Not the One which has a more upbeat feel to it and really sets the set off nicely, getting the crowd ready for the appearance of Killing Joke.
