Budderside - MORC online live review

BUDDERSIDE - Monsters of Rock Cruise

Live online review by: Jazmin L’Amy

The lights go down, apocalyptic visuals flicker across the screen, and the illuminated band name of ‘Budderside’ appears behind five leather clad musicians. That night, the Monsters of Rock Cruise treated its viewers to a live set from the Los Angeles natives, broadcast via Facebook Live.

It mustn’t be an easy feat playing to a room devoid of fanatical spectators, but that did not phase vocalist Patrick Stone, guitarists Sam Koltun and Logan Nikolic, bassist Gabe Maska, and drummer Jeff Dewbray, as the energy from the get-go promised to break a sweat within seconds.

With nothing but a few meagre cameras replacing the usual hyped up buzz of a rockin’ audience, Stone still delivered an engaging performance with eye contact and pointing finger guns as he sang “…pull the trigger, take my leap of faith.” The shows opener comes to a close and the excitement of performing once again is palpable, steam practically visible as it radiates off of unused plastic, metal, and skin.

The blackened stage shudders with the physical force of pounding feet as the band stomp along with the rough riffs and epic power vocals, the perfect blend of NWOBHM with a modern, alternative exciting edge.

The bands vigorous touring years since releasing their debut album in 2016 have created a tight knit and brotherly relationship onstage that is second to none, encapsulating a live sound to match. A close up of Koltun’s guitar soloing drowns out all distractions, enhancing the mesmerising glide of fingers across a fretboard.

A techno electronic sampled beat signals the aggressive charge of ‘Open Relationship,’ a tune that requires more concentration from the band as their initial onslaught of energy becomes more reserved. The break is short lived though as during ‘Genocide’, the musicians methodically meander between each other, with Koltun and Nikolic taking their shot at the infamous Hendrix-inspired move of playing the guitar behind their heads, almost comically, without introducing a cover song is an opportunity for the band to take a breather in the form of cracking saucy jokes about being in your bedrooms, and humbly thanking the event organisers.

Slipping into the Johnny Cash tune ‘Folsom Prison Blues’, slows the pace down with an intro that shows off Stone’s vocals, and a swift bass and drum solo from Maska and Dewbray.

We’re treated to the new track ‘Things We Do’ with a poignant anecdote on Stone’s history struggling with addiction, a narrative sadly all too familiar within the rock and metal community.

The show comes to a close with ‘Pardon Me,’ a tribute to Motörhead legend Lemmy, who signed Budderside to Motörhead Music and played a significant part in giving the band a platform for their music. The band ends where they began with their first single ‘Pain,’ and it’s a bittersweet the livestream as we’re reminded of just how much live music contributes to our much-needed escapism. It may have just been through a screen in our households, but Budderside successfully shut off the impending doom of the outside world for a joyous, precious hour.

Budderside are due to release their follow-up album end of August, and the anticipation of seeing the new tracks in a live setting in all their glory is a titillating prospect.

You can watch the online live event here;