Tragedy / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

Apr 11

Apr 11 Tragedy / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

I’d seen this show advertised, but hadn’t planned on going, but my good friend told me, this is a night you won’t want to miss ! Now I’m a sucker for something different, theatrical and above all else fun. Many a good night has been had with bands such as Mushroomhead, Evil Scarecrow and Elvana (the Elvis fronted-Nirvana tribute band). He said ‘well meet Tragedy, the US metal tribute to the Bee Gees and disco’…. WTF ?! ….. I was in !

A short trip into Nottingham, and one of my absolute favourite venues, the Rescue Rooms, we met up and headed to the front ready to be entertained.

The stage is packed with ‘stuff’ ready for tonights support Ward XVI. A toy box, and a great vertical prop bed, with curtains and props all around. Very stark in black and white with stripes, it had that creepy Beetlejuice feel.

Ward XVI head out onto the stage with a very unique horror rock visual look, Psychoberrie starting the show in pyjamas with Doktor Von Stottenstein (guitar) and Wolfy Huntsman (bass) wearing the freaky ringmaster vibe well. Bam Bam Bedlam blasts out dishes out some heavy beats as they launch into Babadook, Psychoberry standing (lying in bed if you see what I mean) as a stark white demon (Rico Rameres) reaches out from under the mattress.

Rico plays a central part in the theatrics, with frequent costume changes as he reappears as a black ‘shape’ (in body suit), goat skull wearing demonic master of ceremonies or as knife wielding maniac.

But this isn’t just theatre, there is some seriously good musicianship on display too as Doktor Von Stottenstein blasts out some outrageous riffs supported by some delicious hear beats from the bass in Wolfy Huntsman’s hands. Doktor Von Stottenstein (guitar) and Wolfy Huntsman (bass) and highlights of the all too short set were Burn the Witch, Adrenochromania, and final track Toy Box.

The performance is smooth, each scene flows well. Mother is brought out and strung up, and then disembowelled by Rico and Psychoberry who proceed to chew on the entrails, Psychoberry, wearing a pig mask wields a real (working, but chain removed) chainsaw in the air and demons and evils spirits abound.

What works so well, is Ward XVI walk a really clever line delivering horror rock, in a fun almost pantomime like way.

With a big fan base of their own, there’s a decent crowd in and they are loving every second of the performance, especially when Rico and Psychoberrie join them in the pit.

What can I say ? A brilliantly fun and entertaining performance, and well worth the ticket price in their own right. I think I’ve found a new favourite horror rock band

Setlist

Mister Babadook

Imago

Burn the Witch

Shadows

The Flight

Adrenochromania

The Cry of the Siren

Toy Box

As you can imagine, there’s a fair bit to clear from the stage and prepare it for tonight’s headlines, US rockers Tragedy. The band describe themselves as being born out of the impenetrable divide between Disco and Metal, from which this group of New York City brothers fearlessly obliterated the truce line that had been set in the great Disco/Metal Peace accord of 1977 when they seamlessly blended the two genres with the release of their debut album.

Bee Gees and disco classics redone in a heavy metal style reminiscent of Judas Priest, Motley Crue and Guns N Roses……

But this is no one hit wonder. Tragedy have released 10 albums (including a Christmas album !) from 2011’s “Humbled by Our Greatness” to their latest release “I Am Woman” from 2023.

They stride out onto the stage in a wonderful mix of 80’s spandex big hair & metal style, mixed with pure disco, with sweat headbands, tassels and glittery knee and panache ! Tragedy are Disco Mountain Man (vocals and keys), Mo’Royce Peterson (vocals and guitar), Andy Gibbous Waning (bass), Gobbin Ass Freehly (guitar) and The Infernal Demigibb (drums). And not to forget Lance….. the towl boy, dressed in disco sailor suit.

Indeed Lance leads them out with a chainmail balaclava with flashing light on top, and starts us off with a plastic whistle as the band look on in horror, before he is moved to the side and they launch into their title song Tragedy. The set is littered with absolute singalong classics with the likes of I’m So Excited, Islands in the Stream, Summer Nights, Country Roads, Sweet Caroline, It’s Raining Men, You’re the One That I Want, Stayin’ Alive and Dancing Queen.

And that’s what makes Tragedy so special, the musical skill and metal interpretations are fantastic, but every single song is a classic that the audience know every word to. The end result is the band don’t play a single song themselves, each and every one is sung along to by the totally engrossed crowd. Add to that the sense of fun, the costumes and the theatrics of Lance who performs his role of the unloved annoyance so well and somehow stays in character the whole time – The result is a magical combination.

Tragedy have an ability to make the audience feel part of the experience, not just there to watch.

Its different…. And brilliant, looking round the hall, all you could see were broad grins and arms in the air as lyrics are shouted back at the band. I remember watching an interview with Davbe Grohl where he said many of the drums beats in Nirvana were ripped straight from disco and the likes of the Gap Band. The ‘gap’ between the genres is smaller than you think and Tragedy stamp their glittery stamp all over it !

Ward XVI and Tragedy are very very different, and yet, at the same time, very similar. Both theatrical and just great fun, and that’s what live music should all be about ….. making you smile.

Setlist

Intro

Tragedy

Lay All Your Love

I’m So Excited

Islands in the Stream

Grease/Summer Nights

Country Roads

She Bop

Sweet Caroline

Gimme

Without You