Massive / Leontas / Hired Guns / Up Shot

Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham - 22/8/19

Review by; DeeDee

My first visit to Cheltenhams FROG AND FIDDLE, what a great atmosphere and it’s really well planned out. Behind the bar area there is plenty of outside seating, with a linked barn that has been converted, with a stage and bar into a rather pleasing venue. You don’t get exposed beams in many places, but this is the Cotswolds. Friendly staff and easy to find in the high street, cracking place. After helping the headliners Massive unload their van, I think we volunteered ? Then interviewing all 4 bands on the bill, it was time to relax and watch the entertainment.

UP SHOT are a local 4 piece and made up of ex members from ‘Welcome Back Delta’ and ‘Inkubus Sukubus’ among others. Having known each other for a number of years, they have now combined their talents to form this grunge/rock/punk project. Needless to say influences are heavily on the Seattle side, ‘Soundgarden’ ‘Alice In Chains’ and Pearl Jam’ with some Maryland of ‘Clutch’ and ‘Lionize’ added for flavour.

I hadn’t seen them before tonight, so all new to me. Joe Kelly vocalist and on guitar is joined by Alex White on Drums, bassist James Hamblett. ‘Jill’ began the set, it is clear from the start that ‘Up Shot’ tend to lean towards the more moody side of grunge. Saying that, ’Floorboards’ is a more even rocker before we descend again for ‘Lions Eyes’ and ‘Winter Cell’ slow and dark with some menacing riffs. The brilliant titled ’Torque Wrench’ and then ’Blackbeard’ finishes the show. Yes, I liked them and a good choice to open tonights gig.

Watch our interview with Joe here;

HIRED GUNS are also local and were winners of the Gloucestershire Battle of the Bands in 2016. Frontman Luke Austin is quite a different character on stage, compared to the mild mannered guy I interviewed and did a crossword with earlier, with his long hair down and gravelly vocals, I didn’t recognise him at first. ‘Your Door’ is slow and rhythmic, quite a sexy number too. ‘Cruel’ pumps, with some awesome drumming and Luke’s scratchy high voice on this one, is amazing. The next one ’Never Know’ is more downtrodden with soul, then ’New light’ does exactly that , brings in a new angle, a groove rocker that is my favourite, so far. The ballad with Southern and bluesy tones, ‘Watch You Leave’ is a haunting lullaby. ‘Emily’ another pounding grunge rocker before they play ‘What Did You Expect’ which is quite a stormer, more dirty and mean than anything previous, Luke howls and wails and there’s some pretty cool screaming guitar.

Hired Guns, remember the name and go see them if you can.

Watch our interview with Luke here;

LEONTAS have come up from London to be here tonight. The duo consist of guitarist Alex Munteanu and drummer Scott Collier. They met by chance when auditioning for another band in 2015 and realised they had similar tastes. After the two previous bands, Leontas offer more melodic and gentler sounds to start with, they play some T Rex with ‘20th Century Boy’ quite early in the set, often nice to hear the odd cover, so you can have a sing along. Then things do get more intricate on their original work, ‘Let Loose’ and ‘Rhythm N Blues’ stir it up more. Alex, with his mop of black hair and striped jeans is of Greek origin, he serenades us on his guitar to more upbeat numbers like ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Just Maybe’ both well penned songs, before they end on another cover with The Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’. Interesting stuff, although the material is original, you could liken them to other pairs like Royal Blood.

They have released an EP titled ’With Love’ so have listen.

Watch our interview with Alex and Scott here;

MASSIVE rolled up early in the day, the lads from down under are a fun bunch both on and off stage. They are well known for their antics and cheeky behaviour, like mooning on other bands interviews and hiding fish in Gorilla Riots tour bus.

Even when guitarist Ben Laguda blows his amp, after only a couple of songs, the party doesn’t cease.

Tonight the set is mostly from the latest album ‘Rebuild Destroy’ which is a steady stomp of riffs and straight up Rock and Roll. Nothing complicated about these guys, they are fuelled on Jack and Coke and deliver, as always, a blinder of a performance.

I think that’s why they are so popular, you know they are going to give you 110%, they would play all night if they could.

Although it’s packed in The Frog & Fiddle, they promise to return soon, due to the problems earlier, what a truly decent lot they are.

Watch our interview with Massive here;

A fantastic gig in Cheltenham, thanks to everyone at the FROG AND FIDDLE for being so helpful and friendly.