Live Review: Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate – KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhamptonn
8th March 2025
Support: New Generation Superstars, Voodoo Sioux
Words & Photos: Scott Clarke
It’s Saturday night and finally the weather is on the turn, it’s still a bit chilly but the sun actually exists, it’s been shining down all day long and tonight as it shines it’s golden rays onto KK’s Steel Mill, it almost acts as a beacon, beckoning the fans in for tonights hard rock inspired treat as Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate were due their time in the Wolverhampton spotlight this evening.
We are in the main room at KK’s tonight which is always a good thing, with a healthy number of ticket sales and a good few hundred people expected through the doors. As it was getting closer to kick off time (a time that was coincidentally shared this evening with the local football team doing their best just down the road), I was quite amazed at the few people that were occupying the room. A Saturday night, I expected everyone to turn up early for drinks and a good time yet they were leaving it pretty late tonight.
As I took up position in the pit and the lights dimmed to darkness, the four piece of Voodoo Sioux graced the stage first up and, as if by some voodoo of their own, when I looked back towards the once sparse arena, I saw a large crowd had suddenly amassed. Now it could’ve been partly due to being in my own world that I didn’t notice their arrival but the sudden appearance of such a large amount of people made me smile that the band had worked their magic and enticed everyone in. The KK’s faithful give a huge cheer for the almost local lads as they take their spots on the stage. With a superb, hardcore fan base that remembers fondly the heyday of the band in the 90s and their reputation of non stop touring and gigging at that time, even after a long hiatus and a triumphant return the band are back on form and the fans show their appreciation, as dedicated as ever.
With three albums of material under their belt S.K.R.A.P.E (1995), Grotesque Familiares (2013) and Professor Balthazar’s Psychedelic Medicine Show (2020) the band have always leaned into the stylistic and eccentric that comes out in their stage shows and tonight proved no exception. With bright, eye catching garb, the elaborate stage presence was already in place. Although it was only a short set tonight given that there were 3 bands on in total, it was one that certainly warmed up the crowd, full of energy in both the songs and stage presence. It was only Into the Garden, a melodic ballad that was half way into the set that really changed up the pace for something a bit more subdued and slower but it was a great change that showed the diversity and talents of the group.
Jon Blakey’s guitar work throughout was sublime, it was a dirty tone with intricate solos interwoven so skilfully. Nige Halford cut the most subtle figure in appearance yet his drumming was quite the opposite, powerful and dominant throughout. Nick Flaherty being the lead man took the command of the performance with his excellent vocal control and managed 3 outfit changes even in a short set, stripping layers between songs unveiling brash attire that suits the styles and themes of the band so well, it was a little thing, but it was an added dynamic edge to the performance. Finally Mario Ermoyenous should really have a review to himself, his bass work is exceptional, his talent is clear and because of this it gives him added freedom to weave in elaborate ways of playing his instrument, wielding it in ways that seem unnatural, never one to keep still, moving around constantly even if its running rings around on stage while playing with a wide eyed stare and a huge grin on his face, it was an amazing showmanship performance and definitely entertaining. There were some fans in the crowd judging by the t shirts and after tonight I’m sure there were a few more.
Next up tonight are New Generation Superstars, with a bunch of headline tours of their own over the years and also serving as support for several high profile artists such as The Wildhearts, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, LA Guns and Ricky Warwick just to name a few, here they are on tonight’s set with, unapologetically, their own brand of in your face, 100 mph, never let up rock.
Taking their places on stage, it’s the ever so tall lead frontman AJ that draws immediate attention, with the distinct punk like appearance, clad in leather jacket and chains with the low slung alpine white Orville Les Paul, he sets an imposing figure, yet as he speaks to the crowd his laid back demeanour shines through.
Kicking off with King of the World from the album of the same name released back in 2017, it pretty much sets the tone for their time with us. Up beat, melodic songs, they’re definite foot tappers with blistering guitar solos thrown in by the energetic Davey who doesn’t keep still on stage, him and Jonny on bass move freely between sides and the smiles, face pulling and the banter on stage between all of them adds a good time feel to the band who seem to be about letting loose and having a good time doing it. Nick on the drums is unfortunately a distant figure on the stage being behind the drum kit, yet his presence is felt throughout and he makes up for being trapped in the confines of his instrument with his frantic and energetic performances as he wails on the skins.
It was a pleasantly surprising lengthy set tonight, after Voodoo Sioux only had a short time with us, it was nice to see that New Generation Superstars had so much time and freedom to showcase their wares so to speak. With a healthy amount of albums under their belt their had a fair back catalogue of material to delve into and the set list reflected it given that there was representation from earlier in their careers and the Crash Course in Rock N Roll album such as Done Before, Come Over and Overload that were spread throughout the performance, broken up with tracks from newer releases such as Agree to Disagree with See You Fall and Radio and the King of the World album, the latter being the opening number as mentioned. The rest of the set was made up from the 2013 Rock N Roll or Die release including Life of Crime, The Price and Guess What?
The interaction and banter with the crowd, getting them involved in a bit of a sing along all played to the strengths of the performance and elevated the show, whenever I glanced around the room there were people singing along or banging their heads, with fists held high and smiles on many faces. AJ even seemed to have his own private fan club present in the one side of the room and I think that number would very much be increasing after tonights performance.
Everyone shone throughout the set, showcasing their musical talents and tight chemistry on stage. From blistering guitar solos to thundering drum beats, The New Generation Superstars delivered a performance that left the audience wanting more.
As the lights dim for the final time tonight, it’s time to welcome Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate to the stage as the awaiting fans duly obliged with the loudest cheer of the night.
The tour this time around brings us into a celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Love/Hate’s classic record, Blackout in the Red Room which will see the whole album showcased in its entirety, so at least the fans knew beforehand what they had in store in terms of a set list.
Wasting no time, the band immediately launched the high octane show with Slutsy Tipsy. Shooting to fame in the late 80s with their unique blend of hard rock and glam metal. Led by the charismatic frontman Jizzy Pearl, the band has garnered a dedicated fan base over the years with their high energy performances and catchy tunes, and tonight the lead man himself is on a mission to prove that he has lost none of his charm, stage commanding abilities and that his rugged, gritty vocals have aged really well and give even more energy to the already powerful tracks.
Given that it was the 35th Anniversary for Blackout in the Red Room, it was fitting that the first half of the surprisingly lengthy show was taken up with track after track from this release. As the band powered through tracks such as Rock Queen, Tumbleweed, Fuel to Run, One More Round, She’s an Angel, Mary Jane, Straightjacket, Slave Girl and Hell, CA, Pop.4 It was clear that the popularity of the band and of the album itself had not faded with time as the crowd ate it up and loved every second.
From the moment they began playing, it was clear that Jizzy Pearl's Love/Hate was in top form. The band's tight musicianship and infectious energy kept the audience on their feet throughout the night, as they belted out hit after hit with passion and precision. Jizzy Pearl's powerhouse vocals soared above the thunderous riffs and pounding drums, captivating everyone in the venue.
Mid way through and after a majority play through of the album the band were here to celebrate, we had a slight deviation as we went swiftly from the past to the present with the band showcasing a new track in You’re Gonna Burn from the 2025 album Punk Rock Fiesta. The track is a continuation of form, hard hitting and with catchy riffs and blazing guitar work that give the crowd something new yet with the feeling of familiarity that creates excitement for future projects.
During the show, the engaging banter and stories that Jizzy Pearl and the band had with the crowd had them eating out of the palm of his hand yet the band's genuine appreciation for their fans was evident in every interaction, making the concert feel like a truly special experience for all the fans in attendance who have followed and supported the band throughout the years.
The remainder of the show is made up of a few songs from the Wasted in America release from 1992 including the title track itself, Evil Twin, Spit and Yucca Man and in a choice that brings us full circle and back to the reason for the tour, the set is closed out with Why Do You Think They Call it Dope? and finally Blackout in the Red Room. It’s a very well crafted set that brings us from the past, to the future and back again in full circle and with a fitting close that bookends a great performance from the band and one that the crowd seriously enjoyed.
Because it was a complete play through of the Blackout in the Red Room album, there were few surprises in terms of tracks on the night, however what it did present was an opportunity for the crowd to get involved more so than they usually would, singing along to songs that wouldn’t get a spot on a live concert as a rule, in favour of some of the more popular tracks from the bands very hefty back catalogue. It’s always great to witness gigs like these, because it doesn’t matter how popular an album is, there are usually a few stand out tracks that get more airtime than others and it’s nice when lesser played numbers get their time to shine, particularly as some fans may prefer some of the more unknown tracks over the popular ones and this is usually the only way they get to hear them live.
Electrifying energy was a staple of the night, inclusive of both supports who put on great shows in their own right, Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate was the icing on the cake. Along with superb musicianship, it was the stage presence and performance that upped the game along with the banter, it all amalgamated together to provide a great evenings entertainment that went down a storm with the KK’s crowd.
Photo credit: Scott Clarke
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