Hullabaloo return with Muse-ic, with IAMWARFACE

Hullabaloo: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Pure Bliss! Hullabaloo were back with a live Muse-ic set. Superb performance. Top support from IAMWARFACE. Great night of live performances!

Hullabaloo with IAMWARFACE at Concorde 2 25/02/2023

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Hullabaloo is formed of three musicians from the depths of West Wales who are passionate about accurately recreating the incredible music of MUSE and bringing it to the forefront of venues near you. Travelling up and down the UK and beyond to perform in clubs, theatres and festivals playing all of MUSE’s repertoire from the albums Showbiz and Origin of Symmetry up to Simulation Theory and everything in between. Hullabaloo has become a mainstay amongst the best tribute acts on offer and prides themselves on mastering the sound of MUSE and putting on unforgettable live shows.

Hullabaloo: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex: Samuel

And tonight was their third visit to Brighton. The event was put on by the team at Black Rabbit Productions at Concorde 2, with support from IAMWARFACE.

Hullabaloo took the stage at Concorde 2 about 8.30pm, February 25th and they would spend almost an hour and a half delivering a pure rock ‘n’ roll set, filled with amazing songs, with their recognised dynamic performance. They fired up some nineteen solid Muse songs kicking off the set with Will Of The People, Pressure (Drill Sergeant) and the huge Pyscho.

These guys were kicking out a decent sound which just got better and louder better as the set progressed. The Concorde 2 sound guy did an amazing job on the sound mix and also the lighting was superb. Every light colour switch matched the sounds and from time to time lasers would fire out into the crowd.

Hullabaloo: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

They, I can confirm, still sound damn authentic. This was the third time of seeing these guys, and I still can’t get enough! Citizen Erased, Pressure and Bliss were up next. I am not a huge muse fan, but have got to know their music through Hullabaloo, Which is “job done” I guess. These guys are bristling with pure skill and energy.

The top bass smacking from Josh and the top notch stick action from the back came together with Samuels soaring guitar playing and his vocal work is off the chart. His strength and power and pure range is astonishing This was close, real close.

Not quite a sold out show but it was pretty busy and filled importantly with Muse and Hullabaloo fans. A great age range and everyone seemed to know the words! Hands and mobile cameras held aloft for much of the performance. The crowd were well up for a bit of Muse-ic!  As for the band themselves, they were absolutely on-point, as always.

Hullabaloo: Samuel – Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The band nailed it tonight with a wide selection and with an interesting diverse range of songs played. It must’ve been hard to work out what to play and then squeeze them all in. Samuel led the guys and from time to time they focused on the hits, such as Supermassive Black Hole and Starlight. These guys need a guitar tech or an extra guitar, understandably as the professional outfit they are, they want it to sound just right. Everything seemed to stop as Samuel retuned his guitar. They tore into more Muse classics such as Survival, Panic Station, Plug In Baby and Knights Of Cydonia. All delivered on point. At times Samuel was pouring his very being into his guitar, a masterclass performance.

Hullabaloo: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The crowd stopped and we waited for the next song to kick in. A bit of chat or banter or a drum / bass fill would work to keep things rolling.

Hullabaloo gave Concorde 2 an audio-visual experience that really was an off the chart spectacle. The sound rocked, the visuals including the metallic masks and Samuel at the Keys or Guitar in his LED glasses. Mix in the smoke, huge balloons and lasers it all came together to provide a most memorable night of live performance.

The crowd go bananas, and we’re off. The wonderful Uprising started up towards the end of the set. Damn this was good. If you closed your eyes I can confirm you would think you were in front of the real deal. They really are that good! The trio gelled together as a well-oiled outfit. Samuel, delivers some powerful, truly epic moments as he smashed his guitar and hit his pedal board. He relentlessly delivered roaring riffs and solos topped with some of the best vocal work you will hear. Add in Josh powering out his stunning unrelenting, gut wrenchingly additive basslines.

Hullabaloo: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex: Samuel dispatches a balloon!

Lets not forget the latest addition to the line up, a new drummer, Jamie, and his superb acoustic barrage of drumbeats and fills that he brings. Welcome, you are a great addition! Uprising had the crowd up! I think everyone in the venue was joining in and dancing for this song. Great job Hullabaloo!

Hullabaloo: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The set closed with the massive Stockholm Syndrome. For those of you that have seen Muse, or not, going to see Hullabaloo is as close to “being there”. Go see them, you are in for a real musical thrill and treat!

Hullabaloo are on the WWW here!

IAMWARFACE

Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

If you ask us, support acts, or indeed headliners, don’t come much better than IAMWARFACE. A band which already has a well-earned reputation for anarchic unrestrained live performances and tonight was going to be no different. Matt performed with great intensity and his passion felt real. He enagages with a glare, or a smile or a spray of water. You just don’t know what’s gonna happen next with these guys. They will pull you in, and they will not let you go until they are ready to do so! Its a brilliant experience!

IAMWARFACE: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Nino and Eric quickly got things going. A new member of the outfit is Nino, an astonishingly good guitarist and with Eric on bass the set takes off like a runaway train. We had the fabulous Matt on vocals, Eric: Bass, Henning: Drums and recent recruit Nino: Guitar.

I found myself always pleasantly surprised by their set. It was bloody lively, catchy and uplifting, the perfect combination to get the crowd in the mood for the rest of the evening. The set opened up with an opening salvo of  Dark Blue, and what should have been the Bond song To Die For. Perfect start.

This is an outfit you need to see! IAMWARFACE will serve you up an interesting mix up of musical combinations. The sense of angst from Matt is sewn together with some wickedly dirty guitar riffs and a heart stopping bass and percussion. The songs are catchy, damn catchy. The superb vocals on top produce a unique sound and experience.

The quite superb Take The Shot and Say My Name are in the set. IAMWARFACE have these songs nailed. It’s a slice of live perfection. The mega Severance heralds the beginning of the end of the set.

IAMWARFACE: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

I’d describe their sound as Indie, but with some darker undertones to the music. At times it has an almost a unique Berlin sound with dark disco funk underscored with a slash of punk! This mix and sound is a very good thing!

IAMWARFACE: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Trigons was the last song of the set and Matt appears in the crowd. Once he is in the crowd the persona changed. He is wrapped in his faux fur coat, he glares – he smiles. He intimidates the crowd, he strokes and hugs his crowd. A master showman was at work. He really is one of the most enigmatic and engaging front men around at the moment and he loves his crowd.

IAMWARFACE: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

After their thoroughly energetic show, we were ready to go with Hullabaloo. It was a job well done guys.  They appear to have been gaining a lot of momentum and well deserved interest recently, and from my experience with IAMWARFACE, this is well deserved.

IAMWARFACE: Photos by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

As the set reached its end, after a few years in the business, tonight Matt simply didn’t want ‘the theatre’ of leaving the stage only to come back on. So IAMWARFACE decided to cut the BS and play straight through to the end instead. Yeah, I love this band. Keep an eye out for a re-issue of their first vinyl release of “Year Of The Dragon”. 2023 = The year of IAMWARFACE!!! They have just been signed with Product 42 and a new album is on the way!

IAMWARFACE are on the WWW here.

And Finally…

Thanks to: Hullabaloo and IAMWARFACE. Also mega thanks to Black Rabbit Productions and the fab team at Concorde2.

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

Black Rabbit Productions hosted the evening. They work hard promoting live music on the south coast. They are a promotion company with years of experience putting on music shows. Tonight was superb. They have some great gigs lined up! You can find Black Rabbit Productions on the WWW 

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