GIG: New Generation Superstars @ Head Of Steam NCL 10/03/10

[Dangerous Dave]

New Generation SuperStars
With Support From Vanity Ink

Head Of Steam Newcastle
10th Of March 2010

For The Gig Photography By Kirsty Appleby Click Here

Vanity Ink, hailing from Helsinki, hit the stage and the night kicked off with a bang! Literally! As bassist Miki Peltola leapt off the stage and cracked his skull. But injury did not stop the show. Singer Annabella Vi’s is easy on the eye and the ear. She is a tiny powerhouse with a vocal that rivals Doro or Biff Naked. It is clear that this band have been playing for years, they are tight, loud, fun and definitely not shy. I had heard that if you’re in the audience, you are part of the show, and they proved that right on the night with Annabella and guitarist Juha Bandit Anderson making their presence felt in the crowd. Vanity Ink’s talents are best displayed during heavy glam inspired tracks such as “Versus” and the catchy hook of “Living a Dream”. But a high point for me came in the form of the only slow song of their set. “Breathe,” tells the story of a suffocating relationship, Annabella’s vocal got my attention and my admiration. Ending the set with a party “Heaven’s On Fire” had the band and the audience as one. A great show, that set the bar high for New Generation Superstars.

New Generation Superstars would not have been out of place heard in CBGB’s. Touring their latest CD “Raising The Stakes”, they open up with “ I Wont Stop” and you know right then, that these guys are something to behold. They are everything that was great about bands that blew up the New York punk scene with a little Bowie glitter that shines through. While the bass line of “Way Back Home” roars like a dirty Harley, the tight hooks of “Addictive” “Dopefiend” and “Come Over” deliver the influences of Iggy, The Ramones and The New York Dolls all amalgamated with Motley Crue and KISS anthemic riffs and vocals.

Singer AJ and guitarist Davey’s onstage banter is all part of the greatness of these guys. Dedicating “Bleed” to their injured predecessor Miki, the audience share the joke and basked in the intimacy of the gig. New Generation Superstars never fail to deliver the goods, even after a 10 hour drive to the show. AJ is a tattooed to the wrist giant who is ‘in your face’ in his vocal style and stage presence, while Davey’s high octane ADHD guitar, bassist Dirty B and drummer Chris’s heart racing pulse complete a band of brothers sound that offers a brand of pure punk glam rock that is just the ticket to piss off your mother.

By the end of the show the venue is a big rock n’ roll party. We all join the band in a chorus of swearing to the track “Guess What”. I was left feeling that it had been an honour to witness a band that is destined for greatness in such an intimate setting. As the guys left the stage I could only surmise that “ You either got it or you aint…couldn’t have said it better myself boys…. (Do It Cus I Can).

Words By
VIKI