Cancer Bats/Grove Street Families/Lonley Waters

The Anvil, Bournemouth

It’s awesome to have Cancer Bats play Bournemouth again, the last time the Canadians played was at the sound circus but this time it at the Old Firestation. The first band up on the night are Bournemouth’s own Lonely Waters, admittedly the crowd is sparse, but that doesn’t faze them. Fronted by the legend that is James Choff Iaciofano, they deliver a powerhouse of furious riffs. Very loud, very heavy and very good!

Lonely Waters 1–2–3–4

Grove Street Families, are a different kettle of fish, mixing hardcore elements with metal and pinches of hip-hop, they try and get the crowd going with a modicum of success but Wednesday night Bournemouth is a notoriously difficult crowd. But give them their due they make a decent fist of it. And by the end of the set, they have won over the growing crowd that is entering the venue to see the headliners.

Grove Street Families 1–2–3–4–5–6

Party, party, party, is the order of the evening as the Cancer Bats launch into “Gatekeeper” and the pit kicks of with a mass of bodies smashing into each other. Touring the excellent “The Spark That Moves” album, we were treated to an extended set of full on Punk inspired Hardcore Metal. Bludgeoning riffs and rampaging drums overlaid with hash vocals are the order of the day. Songs come thick and fast, each one proceeded but a hysterical anecdote from lead singer and exceptional frontman Liam Cormier. As much as I enjoy the Bats recorded output, live, they are a completely different entity and judging by the crowd’s reaction I’m not alone in feeling that way, as entertainers in their field they have no equals. The cover of the Beastie Boys “Sabotage” is a set highlight as is the excellent “Hail Destroyer”. Will they be back in Bournemouth? I think that’s a definite, and I for one, will be there, first in line.

Cancer Bats 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8

Setlist
Gatekeeper
Trust No One
Arsenic In The Year Of The Snake
R.A.T.S
Hail Destroyer
Sorceress
Pray For Darkness
Lucifer’s Rocking Chair
Scared To Death
Space And Time
Road Sick
Pneumonia Hawk
Bed Of Nails
Brightest Day
Sabotage (Beastie Boys cover)
Bricks & Morter

Links
https://www.facebook.com/cancerbats/
https://www.facebook.com/grovestreetfamilies1992/
https://www.facebook.com/lonelywatersband/

Words & Pictures by Dan O’Gara