1) This is Taking Dawn. Beg yer pardon, my mistake. Make that Takin' Mutherfuggin' Dee-awn Fugg Yeah. They're from Las Vegas in the Yew Ess Ov Eh, apparently, and they're here to rawk Wolverhampton. A bit like a thrash metal version of Motley Crue, they are very tight, slick, and entertaining. Got a good crowd reaction for a support band but then, at the end, had to help their roadies clear the stage of their props and gear. Such is life. Vicky's verdict: 2.5/5. David's verdict: 2/5.
2) Next up, it's the Black Spiders. David has the advantage over Vicky in that he's heard a couple of their tracks. They are the least metal of the bands tonight. Heavy bottom-end (more tea Vicar), not many solos, good groove. May well have a future. But, then again, what do we know? We thought the Southern Death Cult were shite when they supported Big Country back in the day but that Ian Astbury-fella was right when he told the audience 'you'll be back paying top whack to see us within a year'. No we fuggin' won't, we replied. Then they changed their name (and style of music) and became a bonafide world-wide rawk phenomenon called the Cult. Anyway, Vicky's verdict 1.5/5. David's: 4.5/5.
3) Airbourne are on stage and they are loud. Make that LOUD! We got a clue that they would be when the drum tech tapped the bass drum pedal ever so lightly and the sound vibrated right along the balcony, through our seats, up our spines (shaking loose a couple of vertebrae), rocketed into our skulls, smashed a few brain cells, before exiting through our overloaded luggholes. Look at that back line. The support bands didn't get to use that. I have been going to gigs since 1970 and I can't ever recall anything as loud as this. The bloke to my left is a big chap. I try to keep his bulk between me and the speakers but it's no use. 
4) Security Alert! Security Alert!! There's some half-naked Aussie-fella with a guitar gate-crashing the balcony seats and we're pretty sure he hasn't got a valid ticket. Olde people are having to stand up to make way and now he's got us in his sights. It's an outrage.
5) The audience lap it up. Mainly young uns down the front. They'll be stone deaf before they're 30, you'll see. Serve 'em right.
6) The spirit of Slade's Don Powell is alive and well, still living in Wolverhampton, and rawking in the body of Airbourne's singer/lead guitarist. Imagine AC/DC's Bon Scott and Angus Young inhabiting the same body and you're about half-way there to imagining how much energy this bloke (and the others in the band) put into a show. The other two guitarists are simply Angus Young. Vicky's verdict: 4.5/5. David's: 4/5. I am forced to penalise them a point 'cos it is too loud. Classic Rock mag's tag line is 'If it's too loud, yer too old'. OK, I admit it: It's too loud and I'm too old. Come on Vic, let's get home for a nice relax and a mug of cocoa before a good night's kip. Now that's what I call Rawk 'n' Rowl. NB. I've managed to blog this less than 24 hours after the event. That's pretty impressive for me. Nothing compared to the two young chaps sat in front of us who were both uploading, in a blur of opposable thumbs, images and words from their mobiles to their Facebook sites whilst still headbanging without missing a beat. Now that's impressive.
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