[kj] Killing Joke at The LCR - 14/11/2018 (Live Wire)

[Paul]

https://www.livewire1350.com/single-post/2018/11/15/Killing-Joke-at-The-LCR---141118

*Killing Joke at The LCR - 14/11/2018*
November 15, 2018 | Aled Vernon-Rees

Yesterday I took another risk (fans of my previous work *Husky Loops at The
Waterfront Studio* know what I mean) in going to see *Killing Joke*, a band
that in all honesty I hadn't heard of until deciding to go the gig. By the
look of the demographic for the gig it's unsurprising that I'd never heard
of them as the Norwich middle aged punks were out in force and I was one a
very limited number of younger people in the room.

[image: 1.jpg]

Unfortunately, upon my arrival it became apparent that *Phobophobes* had
pulled out of the gig as their name didn't appear on the gig times. This is
a real shame because it was them  being announced as support that made me
decide to go the gig.

As this was a last minute change there was no replacement so the first band
to the stage were Bristol rock group *Turbowolf*. I will admit before this
that there was a time where I was quite a big fan of the band - a key part
of my musical rota in when I was a fresh faced year 11. However, I didn't
get the sense of glorious nostalgia I was expecting and instead it was more
of an uncomfortable and disappointing experience. Lead singer Chris
Georgiadis, came across as a Russell Brand-eque showman who kept attempting
to get a reaction from a crowd who just wanted to quietly wait for the main
event. This lead to many attempts to get the crowd closer to the front, and
shout the bands name which but these kept awkwardly falling flat. The music
was equally uneventful with predicable riffs and drum beats that seemed to
blend into one treble heavy (as the lack of bassist really showed) song. I
could see this band doing well if they returned to a smaller venue in
Norwich playing to their fans however this was not the right gig for them.

[image: 2.jpg]

Following that light crushing of year 11 Aled's music taste came the main
show: *Killing Joke*. As the walk on music started people seemed to appear
out of no where and what previously was a reasonably empty venue suddenly
filled up. The band slowly meandered on to the stage to a very welcoming
crowd, most of whom dedicated fans who had seen them multiple times. Lead
singer Jaz Coleman came on donning face make up (which made him look like a
mix between Gene Simmons and Robert Smith) and they got started with the
set of about 20 songs. Listening to all these songs for the first time I
was slightly unimpressed. There was nothing obviously wrong with the music
and they delivered a much better performance than the previous act. The
vocal delivery and performance from Jaz Coleman really captivated the
crowd, along with the hypnotic and constantly strong delivery from the
rhythm section. However, there was nothing in that which appealed to me.

What was clear from their performance as this was a gig for the fans. The
band having been around for 40 years had worked to built a strong almost
cult following and this show gave them exactly what they wanted. A strong
delivery of the back catalogue and putting their all into it. This gig will
never be a memorable event for me, having been disappointed by the support
and mildly uninterested in the main act. However, what I can say for
certain is that for the majority of people in the room that will have been
a special moment that will stay with them forever.

It just wasn't for me.
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