MASSIVE WAGONS BRING THEIR “EARTH TO GRACE TOUR” TO SOUTHAMPTON’S ENGINE ROOMS

★★★★☆ (4/5)

**MASSIVE WAGONS PERFORMING AT SOUTHAMPTON’S ENGINE ROOMS**
**PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI**

Storm Bert may be in full force in the UK at the moment, but that did not stop the crowd from packing the Engine Rooms in Southampton to get a triple dose of rock madness. If you weren’t there, you’d probably want to slap yourself with a drum stick because… it was THAT good.

The night kicked off with Cam Cole, a one-man band that brought a massive sound. Armed with a homemade guitar, a kick drum and a lot of pedals, the busker-turned-stage-star delivered an energetic set with gritty, raw and primal sounds that distilled rock into its purest form. The crowd cheered along the rhythm, while the multi-instrumental spectacle was further enhanced by the dramatic lighting and the memorable stage outfits.

Second band on the bill was Florence Black, bringing back the heavy. All the way from Wales, the band is the perfect blend of Metallica-meets-Alter Bridge. Performing songs such as ‘Start Again’ and ‘Look Up’, the crowd was warmed up for good as everyone cheered along to the gritty vocals and the growls, while a few rows back there was a small headbanging contest in the audience. Their most powerful son ‘Zulu’, was like a tank rolling through the venue, making their set a great way to keep the crowd warm before the headliners came on stage.

Lastly, Massive Wagons – aka the band of the moment – electrified the room as they hit the stage. Baz Mills, a frontman with enough charisma to sell ice to penguins, burst into the stage with wild energy and his swagger Rick and Morty socks. The setlist was a hit parade for Southampton’s rockers, comprising of the band’s most popular songs that had everyone singing along. With bangers such as ‘Tokyo’, ‘Asshole’, ‘Fun While it Lasted’, ‘The Good Die Young’, ‘Bang it in your Stereo’ and ‘Ratio’, the band’s contagious energy filled the venue. It is safe to say that the whole band are some of the smiliest people I have ever seen, and their joy of performing in front of such a responsive audience was evident. The crowd was absolute chaos as the night went on, especially during songs such as ‘Free and Easy’ and ‘House of Noise’. It was a great set to watch in a local venue and definitely a testament that Massive Wagons is a dessert – you don’t always need it, but you devour it anyway.