Anvil – Live – Bannerman’s

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Review By Darren McIntyre Photos By Scott Anderson

Anvil are a 3 piece rock n roll juggernaut from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who originally formed way back in 1973 by high school buddies Steve ‘ Lips ‘ Kudlow & Robb ‘ Robbo ‘ Reiner. The band really took shape around 1978 with the addition of Dave ‘ Squirrely ‘ Allison & Ian ‘ Dix ‘ Dickson and this really cemented them as a true force of nature that inspired the likes of Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer & Metallica. These boys are true road warriors who pound the pavements every year to bring us the very best in rock n roll, they were the subject of a 2008 documentary Anvil – The Story Of Anvil that showcased their commitment, depth and attitude towards the music industry, the boys like most have had some changes in personnel but have kept the music their focus and to that point they have given us 20 studio albums which includes their latest offering One & Only.

The boys have been on the road for 50 days, taken a week off and tonight they undertake another 47 shows taking in the UK & Europe and beyond. I am lucky enough to call these boys friends and tonight we sat down for a chat before they shook Bannerman’s Bar to it’s very foundations, please join me as I take us on a rollercoaster ride through 50 years of hits,The place is rammed and the anticipation is building as the boys make their entrance to the world famous bar as we await the first riffs from these Canadian legends, as the intro of an introduction from Dave Grohl(Foo Fighters) blares through the in house PA- Steve wanders into the crowd as he lets rip with a colossal solo that gets us all hot under the collar as we feel the energy oozing from this icon as we are led into the epic –

March Of The Crabs – This is an instrumental beast that showcases the intensity of Steve ‘ Lips ‘ Kudlow as he shreds amongst the crowd to really get us ready for tonight’s entertainment. Chris is moving from side to side like a crab and rocking out on the bass as Robb ‘ Robbo ‘ Reiner is pounding away on the drums as the place heats up to these 3 legends from Toronto. As we feel the boys bring the heat Steve steps back on stage to finish off the track in style and really get the show on the road, the crowd are going nuts as jump around, fist pump and holler at the top of our voices as the boys just lay out their plan for tonight. The place erupts in a hail of sound as Steve tells us that it’s great to be back in Edinborough which brings a huge cheer from the swelling crowd, we stroll into the classic –

666 – Lips steps forward and gives us the horns up as he strums heavily on his guitar before roaring off at 100mph as this blistering beast comes to life. Robb is commanding the room as his monster kit brings the groove and lets us feel the sound filling Bannerman’s tonight, the full on bassline is dropping powering grooves all over this monster track that just takes us back to all those years before. The boys have never sounded better as we feel the crisp licks and full on bassline tones as they shake this place to it’s very foundations. The crowd are singing along as Steve bellows out the 666 lyrics that are just awesome as we watch the stage and really get the jist of these boys as they bring us a kick – ass rock n roll show that is on the money, we step back in time as we get hit with –

OOh Baby – Steve steps up and gets us underway with a real shredding riff that has a full on bassline that wraps itself around this thundering motherfucker track. The rhythm section is coming at us with a deep, meaty funk groove as Robb pounds away and really gives this gig some depth, the epic bassline is hitting us with a real mellow, dark beat that just allows this track to shape tonight’s entertainment and boy if you missed tonight’s show shame on you. This track is a short, sharp poke in the eye with a sharp stick as it reminds us just how good these boys are, coming at us is a real crowd favourite in the form of –

Legal At Last – Kick ass guitar riffs join a pounding rhythm section that roars off at lightening speed as Steve brings his gravelly vocals to this killer track as the place shifts into full on rock n roll mode. The cool backing vocals of Chris really bring this track to our attention as he adds a little fun and depth to tonight’s proceedings, Steve is ploughing away on his axe as the place just gets into the party mood as the trio are moving through the gears and really giving us what we came for. The rhythm section is giving the track depth as Robb is just driving the Anvil juggernaut right through the heart of Auld Reekie tonight, the place erupts with loud hollering that leads us onto –

Truth Is Dying – A dark, brooding guitar riff oozes from the stage as the boys bring us a real heavy ended rock n roll track that just grabs your attention. The full on funky bassline drops in and brings us a heavy pulsing beat that works well with Robb as he commands our attention as this melodic rock n roll monster leaves it’s mark, the place is getting into party mood as the boys are grinning from ear to ear as they look like they are really enjoying themselves. The killer bass tones are just giving this track a slick edgy feel that leads into a smooth, clean solo that just delivers the message that Anvil are here and here to stay, we are ripping through tonight’s setlist at a rate of noughts as we hit –

Badass Rock n Roll – This is a real crowd favourite as the place starts bouncing as the boys bring out the big guns with this killer classic. Steve brings his oozing vocals that let this beast rear it’s head as we are rocking out to this anthem track that is just a real feel good monster track that allows these boys the room to rip up the playbook and bring us a solid rocking piece that lets us know that is what Anvil are all about. Steve steps forward and hits us with a classy, slick, crisp solo that really gets the juices flowing as Robb comes in with a pounding bass kick that lets the place feel the depth of the kit. The tempo changes pace as Steve gets us to sing along to the chorus as the cymbal snaps fill the air as this foot stomping beast leads us into –

Winged Assassins – Steve chats to us about this track as he tells us that it is really about war and the devastating effect that these monsterous planes have on society. As the track sparks into life Steve tells us that it is Chris’s 10th year anniversary with Anvil and this lets Chris hit us with colossal bass tones that mix well with the shredding prowess of Lips as the pounding rhythm section brings up the rear as the boys come at us with all they have. The soaring melodic vocals of Lips echo all around us as the place is fixed on the stage as the boys go all out and let us have it big time, we stroll easily into this monster track –

Free As The Wind – This track is about the time Steve met Lemmy from Motorhead and he introduced him to the world of heavy drinking and drugs, this gets the crowd all excited as he tells us a few ditty’s from his initial meeting as they were about to play a festival but it ended badly as Steve & Lemmy had been on the sauce for 24 hrs, this led Steve to write a song a bout his encounter and it goes like this – Steve steps up and lets rip with a slick sweet solo that allows this monster to come at us as the pounding rhythm section brings us snare drum beats that are filling the place and then some. The full on bassline is handing us a real dark, brooding tone that just gives this track an energy that is what this band is all about for sure, coming at us next is the awesome –

On Fire – Kicking off with a furious rhythm section as the cymbal crashes rain down on us as this pumping monster kicks in the doors and lets us have it. The shredding guitar riffs are grabbing our attention as the boys give us a real rock n roll show that is what we craved tonight, the place is bouncing as the boys set out their stall and reall bring the heat to an excited Edinburgh tonight. The bass is dropping sweet, mellow tones that really give this track a funky, edgy tone that lets Steve offload with his unmistakeable vocals as they tear through the place tonight and just give us that feel good factor right here, right now, Steve changes things up a little and swaps the setlist and brings us –

Forged In Fire – A dark brooding melodic guitar riff fills the air as the boys take us on a journey through the archives as we feel the raw killer grooves take us with them. The trio are just in synch as we feel the chemistry do it’s thing as this foot stomping beast leaves it’s mark, the rhythm section is delivering a real deep punchy tone that is what Robb is known for. Steve’s killer vocals are just flowing effortlessly through this melodic beast as he shreds away and really captures what Anvil are all about. This has been a real rock n roll masterclass from the boys as they have done exactly what what is on the tin, came in kicked ass, shredded our faces off and given us a night to remember, Steve again chats with us and thanks us for coming out to supprt him and his bandmates as they could not do it without our support, next in line is the awesome –

Mothra – This is an anthem that really needs no introduction as the pulsing bassline drops killer grooves that really let this track come to life. The thundering rhythm section is wrapping itself around this absolute classic that has us all fixed on the stage as Steve lets rip with his fabulous vocals that just elevates this fantastic arrangement to aonther level as we bop along and really get into the spirit of these 3 amigos as they give it their all tonight. The boys look right at home up there on the stage as Steve shreds out and makes the place his own, Steve turns to the crowd for a little participation in getting us all fired up and it works. As Steve hits us with his solo he produces a large black sexual impliment that really gets our attention for sure, the place is going nuts as the boys dig deep and give us all they have and then some as Steve looks like he is really enjoying himself as he struts around the stage with his big black impliment that is wrapped in clingfilm lol, as we rip through the night we are fast approaching the business end of the night and this bad boy will help us get there –

Bitch In The Box – Steve chats to us about this track and tells us what the track is all about, funnily enough it’s not about a wummin lol. The track comes at us with a punchy snare drum beat that brings bass kicks and cymbal crashes that really get us moving as the funky bassline drops killer tones all over this toe tapping beast. Steve brings his mellow vocals that are abely backed by Chris who lets his dulcit tones wander freely through this classy rock n roll monster as Robb pounds away and really gives it all he has as they just grind out hit after hit from their impressive back catalogue which could have us here all night, up next it is the classy –

Swing Thing – Robb comes in with a killer drum intro that really catches our attention as he brings us snare drum punches and bass kicks as the cymbal crashes rain down on us as we really catch his drift. The boys come in with a sizzling guitar and bass combo that lets this track breathe as we just watch Robb do his thing as the place just erupts and feels the groove, Chris is hitting us with funky, fresh basslines that just give this track some depth before Robb cuts loose and brings in the big guns with an epic solo that is just incredible as he pounds awai and brings all kinds of awesome tones to Bannerman’s tonight. This is one of the best drum solos I have seen in all my time in the music industry as it really captures Robb the musician as he commands the room with his precision tones that are getting us all hot under the collar, next up is the awesome –

Jackhammer – Robb comes in with a thundering snare drum intro that lets Steve hit us with a sizzling guitar riff that just brings the heat to this venue tonight. The bassline is dropping in with deep awesome grooves that just allow the track to breathe as we get a punchy full on beat that is just bubbling under the surface as we feel the snazzy attitude hit us from all sides as the boys take us to the business end of tonight’s proceedings. This is a real slick, rumbling piece that lets Steve break free and hit us with crisp tones that are matched by Chris as he pounds away in the background bringing the groove to this awesome outfit, as the boys thank us for coming out and letting them do their thing we roll into tonight’s last offering in the form of –

Metal On Metal – A real anthem from the boys lets this last track leave it’s mark as Steve comes towards us with his killer vocals that let the night end with a colossal piece. Robb is bringing the noise with a punchy bass kick that is wrapped in a killer snare drum beat that comes with cymbal crashes that really let the crowd join in and make this a real night to remember for sure, many thanks to Christian for his hospitality as always and for Anvil for bringing the noise and having me upstairs for a chat. The boys paid tribute to their original member Dave ‘Squirrly ‘ Allison who sadly passed away on Monday.

Anvil –

Steve ‘ Lips ‘ Kudlow – Vocals / Guitar

Chris Robertson – Bass / Backing Vocals

Robb ‘ Robbo ‘ Reiner – Drums

Setlist –

March Of The Crabs

666

Ooh Baby

Legal At Last

Truth Is Dying

Badass Rock n Roll

Winged Assassins