MASSIVE WAGONS // LA BELLE ANEGLE, EDINBURGH
Massive Wagons (support from Virginmarys) at La Belle Angele, Edinburgh on the 25th of April 2023.
★★★★★ (5/5)
MASSIVE WAGONS PERFORMING AT EDINBURGH’S LA BELLE ANEGELE
PHOTOCREDIT: STUART STOTT
I’d never been to a gig at La Belle Angele before and didn’t know what to expect of it as a venue. It is down a lane in the old town and I had vague memories of it as a nightclub but no experience of what seeing a band there would be like. It was therefore with some trepidation that I approached this gig, what if the venue didn’t work or the acoustics were poor? What if it turned out to be a dive?
I shouldn’t have been nervous, it’s a great little venue, there isn’t unrestricted viewing for all due to a couple of columns near the stage but a great band knows how to work with what they have. It’s the prefect kind of venue for this gig as Massive Wagons are a great live band.
The support act, Virginmarys, a two piece, created enough noise in their opening few songs for a ten piece band. If I’m honest I didn’t instantly warm to them as I found it just too full on to start, I soon realised I was very wrong though. They have the attitude, the ability, the songs and the talent to go far. The lead singer, when they calmed down a little bit (they were never less than frenetic), proved he has a magnificent voice, capable of range and control. As a band they showed they are capable of delivering a brilliant set which whipped the, already highly enthusiastic crowd, up into a frenzy. They finished their set thanking Massive Wagons for the opportunity and saying how sad they were the tour was coming to an end, you can understand why when they were clearly enjoying themselves a lot. This is a band who have a huge amount of potential, it will be interesting to see what they do next.
Massive Wagons strolled out on to stage about 8.30 like they owned Edinburgh never mind the stage and the crowd. A rapturous welcome awaited them and they didn’t disappoint. They are a band who are getting better and better, they bring a raw energy to the stage that many, so called, bigger bands should be jealous of. They are truly an awesome proposition live, they are tight, they are incredibly skilful, they have a brilliant rock vocalist and they are not afraid to mix it up and try things. I know there has been some music press commentary about they are not really sure what Massive Wagons are or whether it’s clear what type of music they play. It doesn’t matter, the music press needs to get over themselves, Massive Wagons are a brilliant live band playing great rock music and even managing a rendition of Ricky Martin’s Livin the Vida Loca which was blistering. They are maturing over the years like a fine red wine, here’s hoping they never go sour!
The band were very impressed with the audience’s ability to spell, claiming (although there was clearly a degree of working the crowd going on) that Edinburgh were the first audience on the tour to correctly spell A.S.S.H.O.L.E in what was one of the many, many highlight songs of the night.
There is nothing Avant Garde about this band, they are not some art house group who want to test out strange new sounds and create unusual soundscapes, they are however a truly great rock band who are not afraid to play around with the conventions of the genre and test its limits. There is a tremendous interplay between all of the members of the band, what comes across loud and clear is they really enjoy what they do, the music they play and the way they make an audience feel (fantastic in case you were wondering). Everyone from the roadies to the very persuasive guy selling merchandise clearly loved being part of this tour and loved what they were seeing and hearing the band produce.
Northern Boy was the highlight of the show for me, the band truly showcased their musical ability, their range, their vocal ability and their ability to work an audience, all in one song which blew the last of anyone’s cobwebs away and cemented the relationship between Massive Wagons and their fans. This is no on trick band, they can rock with the best of them but it’s clear they can play anything they want and that, when the mood takes them, they will!
There is talk from time to time of how rock music is on its knees, it’s true that many of the greats of the past have started leaving us far too soon but while there are still bands like this one then rock will never die.
This is band how have a fantastic connection with their audience, it’s an overwhelming feeling that they just get each other. If you’re looking for a good time and want to rock there is currently no better choice on the UK circuit than Massive Wagons, my biggest regret of the night was the gig had to stop and I wandered off into the night with my hearing barely functioning, my arms and legs exhausted from all the dancing and clapping along and my voice hoarse from singing along. If that’s not a great night out I don’t know what is? If you go to a Massive Wagons gig and don’t enjoy it check your pulse, you may already be dead.
