Terrorvision / Rock City / Nottingham
So here we are, at Rock City for the last time in 2021, and is there a better band to see out the year with ? Terrorvision are in town with their Rock City Christmas Party ! There’s a decent sized crowd, somewhat down on capacity, but that’s to be expected with lots of people cancelling plans with concerns about Covid-19.
After a great start from Ryan Brooks and Alex Smith, Terrorvision take to the stage, dressed for the occasion, in an eclectic mix of silver trousers, white tight suits and 80’s hair rock, bandana wearing style ! I always find it interesting the sometimes strange choices of music bands come out to, and tonight was no exception, as they ran out to That’s the Way I Like It a smash for KC and Sunshine Band.
No one was going home disappointed tonight as the band launched into a 22 track setlist with 2 encores “ and first up we had Discotheque Wreck. The energy levels are through the roof right from the off with Tony Wright throwing himself about left, right and centre. A Christmas show has to have a Christmas hit, and next up we had Our Christmas Song with the audience singing along loudly. Mark Yates, looking like he’s auditioning for a part in Poison to Aerosmith pulls all the poses for the camera (thanks!) as he blasts out the riffs, as does bassist Leigh Marklew, in his pristine white suit showing us his moves.
My favourite Terrorvision track Alice What’s the Matter is next and we’re in the right place at the right time to capture a fantastic high kick from Tony Wright. The energy levels just don’t drop as the band run through a long list of their greatest hits including Come Home Beanie, American TV and the delightful Pretend Best Friend. A couple more and then the crowd erupt as the first notes of their classic party track Tequila rocks up. The crowd are really bouncing now, and singing along with gusto. This is followed by Urban Space Crime (Formaldehyde 1993) and the excellent All the Girls Wanna Dance (Super Delux 2011). We get a great section from Milton Evans on keyboards in From Out of Nothing as the keys briefly rise head and toe above the guitar riffs.
Other highlights of the performance were Celebrity Hit List and a late, handwritten addition to the set list, the wonderful The Night that Lemmy Died, a homage to the metal legend. As it turns out, today, the 28th December, is the sixth anniversary of the legends passing, and this one is received with applause from the gathered crowd. A touching moment.
As the main set comes to an end, we have Josephine and the drum beat in this one is thumping and amazingly, the energy levels are still right up there and the Rock City crown are buzzing. Tony’s voice is in great form tonight. The iconic guitar riffs start and the crowd erupt as the classic Oblivion bangs out from their brilliant 1994 album “How to make Friends and Influence People” which reached #18 in the album charts. The lights are flashing, the riffs loud and thundering out at us like a barrage, the audience eagerly joining in the chorus and the “Doo Wap, be do wap” sections.
The band exit stage right to a wall of applause and shouts. But soon enough the band are back on for the encore, and we get two tracks. Why one Christmas song, when you can have too eh ?! First up is their 2021 Christmas single Santa Never Came with that real Slade Christmas feel ! One to sway along to. Finally the crowd get what they’ve eagerly waited for, and a brilliant rendition of Perseverance from the 1996 album “Regular Urban Survivors” with its American punk style akin to The Offspring (but better lol !) The lyrics are fired out like a machinegun and the crowd are bouncing, phones in the air, singing along.
Phew ! What a night ! I’ve enjoyed Terrorvision since the 90’s but I’ve never seen them live before tonight. I’ve seen Tony Wright perform a solo acoustic set in support of The Wildhearts before, but not the full band and wow…….. what a show ! Simply amazing from start to finish. Truly Bradford’s finest, they did just two Christmas shows, one in their hometown at the Nighttrain last night, and tonight at one of their favourite venues here in Nottingham. How lucky we were. For those in attendance, this is a show that will live long in the memory.
Set List
Disco Wreck
Our Christmas Song
Alice What’s the Matter
Come Home Beanie
American TV
Pretend Best Friend
If I Was You
Didn’t Bleed Red
Tequila
Urban Space Crime
All the Girls Wanna Dance
From Out of Nothing
My House
Celebrity Hit List
Go Jerry
The Night that Lemmy Died
Middleman
Babylon
Some People Say
D’ya Wanna Go Faster
Josephine
Oblivion
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Santa Never Came
Perseverance
In support we were due to see The Lottery Winners, however at the 11th hour Terrorvision had to announce that The Lottery Winners had regretfully had to withdraw, following a positive Covid test earlier that day. A real shame as I was looking forward to seeing them live for the first time, but step forward Ryan Brooks (acoustic guitar) and Alex Smith (Cajun Box Drum) from Nottingham local legends Ferocious Dog who gallantly stepped in at the last moment, to provide us with an excellent acoustic set.
A short six track set, mainly from Ryan’s 2019 album “Vice (Is Where the Devil Finds His Darlings)” which has a country/bluegrass/blues style, which would go down well with Nick13 fans, or local fans of Stuart Landon. With Alex tapping out the Cajun rhythm, and Ryan providing the smooth vocals, they started with Arlene, a tale of lost love, followed by the whiskey drinking track Old No7. The guys were smiling throughout, and clearly loved the chance to end the year at Rock City, with their friends Terrorvision, as they and Ferocious Dog have supported each other regularly over the years.
City Lights was next with it’s bright toe tappin’ The Dead South style and then we hit Find a Way with a thumping drum throughout, followed by The Other Side before we come to the final track Own Sweet Way, the opening track from “Vice”.
I needn’t have been disappointed by the support change. Ryan and Alex were outstanding and thoroughly entertaining, and judging by the reaction of everyone around me, it wasn’t just me.
Set List
Arlene
Old No7
City Lights
Find a Way
The Other Side
Own Sweet Way
