Live Review: Monster Truck - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
30th September 2022
Support: Those Damn Crows
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
Friday night is gig night! We head to the Midlands premier music venue, KK’s Steel Mill, for a night of balls to the wall rock and roll as Monster Truck are in town along with the UK’s hottest property, Those Damn Crows.
As the weekend kicks off in style, the huge room at KK’s Steel Mill fills, there is a buzz about the place, the atmosphere electric as the crowd await the Crows appearance on stage. Having just appeared at Stonedead Festival as special guests to Michael Schenker, the band could well be headlining this venue in their own right, and the venue is flooded in TDC merch.
As the clock ticks over to 8pm, the Bridgend five-piece take to the stage, Shane Greenhall’s distinctive Welsh accent greeting the Wolverhampton faithful. Launching themselves into ‘Who Did It’ the band’s enthusiasm it plain for all to see. With smiles from ear to ear their euphoria is infectious and the crowd feed off it. Shane Greenhall stands tall and proud upon his podium, towering over the adoring masses.
The set spans the bands two current albums, ‘Murder and Motive’ and ‘Point of No Return’. With the likes of ‘Long Time Dead’, ‘Don’t Give A Damn’ and ‘Send the Reaper’ all featuring. Over the summer months the band have introduced ‘Wake Up’ to their set, taken from the bands forthcoming album ‘Inhale/Exhale’ due out next February. The Wolverhampton airing was only the fifth time the band have played it live and it picks up where their last work left off, melding perfectly into the live show.
The Crows short time on stage comes to a close all too quickly with the trio of ‘Sin on Skin’, ‘Go Get It’ and ‘Rock and Roll Ain’t Dead’. This won’t be the last time any of us see the band, they will be back in this venue next year I am sure!
After a quick change over it’s time for Monster Truck to take to the stage, and they have a job to follow that show. Luckily they have a trick up their sleeve and as they kick into ‘Don’t Tell Me How To Live’ the pyro ignites cooking the front row of the audience like marshmallows round a campfire.
Their set of raucous rock tunes fit’s their personalities perfectly ad guitarist Jeremy Widerman pirouetted round the stage like the Tazmanian Devil. ‘Old Train’, ‘She’s A Witch’, ‘Fuzz Mountain’ and ‘WARRIORS’ all feature in this high octane set. The bands unique style lapped up by the Black Country crowd.
As the main set is closed out by ‘Sweet Mountain River’ it’s over to drummer Theo McKibbon to bring on the encore with a drum solo introduction to ‘Why Are You Not Rocking?’. A good question to ask anyway not enjoying the best of rock and roll shows tonight! The evening then finishes with ‘The Lion’ as the band take their bows. As ever KK’s Steel Mill has delivered another noteworthy rock show. Roll on the next one!
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
