Terrorvision

Have you ever had that feeling when you see a band and love everything about them so much that you HAVE to see them again as soon as you possibly can?

I do, and the last time was this summer at the Breeze Festival in Leeds. The line up was good for a free festival, including the Utah Saints, The Jellys and Cay but, the band to watch was Terrorvisiion, the Bradford boys were kicking ass then, singing old classics and new songs alike. The moment it finished, I knew I would have to see them again, and when the tour dates were announced and Colchester came up, I nearly fainted....

The venue was packed, waiting to see Terrorvision in such an intimate venue (the Arts Centre is a converted church) and the atmosphere is one of joy... everybody is here for a sing-song.... everyone knows the words, and everyone is ready.... lets just hope the band are on form.

Support band CO_DOT (formerly CO.UK) have improved beyond comparison to the last time I saw them. The band were tight and in fine form and, above all else, they were LOUD!!! I remember Kerrang calling them the 'Irish Greenday' once... they are not. They are an Irish Janus Stark if anything else, and with songs like their past singles 'Not Today' and 'Freakazoid' (which they interspursed with a bit of Limp Bizkit's 'Take A Look Around') then maybe, JUST maybe, they will get some recognition.

Then came the headliners, and boy, were they up for it. Tony grinning insanely at the crowd and the crowd grin insanely back... it is like summer all over again. The hits come thick and fast all night, from 'Perseverance' to 'My House' to 'Oblivion' and all in between. New single 'D'Ya Wanna Go Faster' is a hit, and everyone knows it. New song 'Friends & Family' is the new sing-a-long for all time. I heard it in the summer and it has stayed firmly wedged in my mind ever since. It has the happy , feel good, bouncy tune of 'Perseverance' and the lyrics of 'There's A Party Over Here, Fuck You Over There'. Tony is obviously having a ball on stage with Mark, Shutty, Leigh and the new 5th member, keyboardist Josephine, all getting in to the party atmosphere as well.

In between songs we hear about Terrovision's being dropped from EMI, signing to a new label, their plans for getting on Radio 1 and Tony spraying everyone with a water rifle (pistol doesn't do this beast of a weapon justice) during 'Tequila'. Their encore set includes their cover of 5ive's 'Get On Up' which I am PRAYING they will release as a B-side because it is soooo good and I don't just want to hear it live. During the encore, Tony's voice is dying... BADLY, but we just don't care, we know the words.... we fill in for him. It sounds like his throat is in agony, but he keeps battling, and we love him for it... in fact, we love the band... and always will.

And then, it is all over. We are all left battered, bruised and insanely happy and we know that this band haven't taken a new direction with the new album, they still do what we love... they make us happy. In a time when the musical world depends on Coldplay, Travis and Stereophonics to keep 'rock' going, this is a REAL breath of fresh air. Pretenders, stan aside... the kings are back.... and boy, are we grateful!!!