BAND – ANVIL
VENUE – (LE) POISSON ROGUE
LOCATION – NEW YORK, NY
SHOW DATE – 5-3-18
ANVIL – OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE
REVIEW BY – JOHN ERIGO
BAND MEMBERS –

LIPS – GUITARS/VOCALS
ROBB REINER – DRUMS
CHRIS ROBERTSON – BASS/BACKING VOCALS

 

ANVIL came storming into NYC recently, they’re on tour promoting their newest album POUNDING THE PAVEMENT(check out our review here ANVIL – POUNDING THE PAVEMENT ALBUM REVIEW – it’s always a fun and loud show when ANVIL comes to town. I’ve been seeing them live since 1982 and I rarely miss a how that is within my area. Why? Well first and foremost because they flat-out kick ass! Secondly – I have been friends with Lips & Robb since that time, 1982. I always enjoy the musical chops and showmanship of the band, so even if we weren’t friends, I’d still be going! I consider it a huge honor that I have had a relationship with the band since the early days. I don’t boast or brag about it, but it is pretty cool!

The most recent line up of ANVIL really sounds incredible, they come blaring out, metal on full blast! As Lips enters the crowd wailing away, he uses his guitar pick ups to talk to the crowd. MARCH OF THE CRABS starts up and we’re off and running! Keeping it old school and heavy, one of the first “thrash” type songs I ever remember hearing, “666”,  just comes at you full speed ahead! The chops that all these guys have is quite impressive. If you pay close attention to Lips, you can see he sings and plays solos without really looking down at his fingers, which is crazy! Robb Reiner, to me, has always been THE metal drummer, just astounding he still hasn’t lost any of his chops. Really, the Gene Krupa/Buddy Rich of metal drummers! The newest member, even though he’s been around a while, Chris Robertson, is more than just a solid bass player. He displays some really impressive bass work, and his added vocals sound great with Lips’ ageless voice. Also, Chris & Lips really interact well together putting on a show with Ted Nugent – like facial expressions and all around fun. Speaking of Uncle Ted, one of the highlights of the bands set is a newer song called BAD ASS ROCK AND ROLL. This songs from Anvil’s 2013 album HOPE IN HELL. Always seems to be a real crowd favorite now. There is a little story behind that song —

I will briefly side-track for a quick minute. BAD ASS ROCK AND ROLL is ANVIL at its purest form. It is exactly what the title states. Lips and I had a conversation one day about that song. I had said to him that this song was the essence of the band, when ANVIL was at their best! The band’s early sings were filled with Nugent-like riffs that screamed old school rock n roll. ANVIL always had a unique way of taking those kind of riffs and making them into great metal songs. Lips agreed! They had kind of strayed away from that sound and were sounding even more metal, which was fine, but that rock n roll riff element needed to be re visited here n there. So if you listen to the newest album, check out the song ROCK THAT SHIT – same formula!

OK, sorry, back to the gig!

It’s always interesting to watch bands play new songs live. ANVIL alway is impressive by making new songs sound like they have played them forever. BITCH IN THE BOX, which is a song about the “Siri” voice in your phone/device, was just spot on and really heavy! They also played EGO and DOING WHAT I WANT. Equally as impressive live!!!

The band doesn’t forget their more recent albums, they don’t JUST rely on the classics like MOTHRA and METAL ON METAL – they also played DAGGERS AND RUM, ON FIRE, RUNNING,  and DIE FOR A LIE  among more. This was a 2 hour metal-fest!!! So when the band comes through your town on this current tour, do yourself a favor and DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!!!!! Keep on pounding!!!!