An extremely sparse crowd welcomed youngsters BAD ATTITUDE to the Rock City stage, and their short set wasn’t exactly met with the warmest of responses. However, for a bunch of fledging teenagers, they were a decent enough band, just short of a good image, and a few knock out tunes. The Rock City basement seemed to fill up quicker than a Next store on boxing day when NEW GENERATION SUPERSTARS took to the stage. Playing in their hometown, it was obvious that a number of their followers had come down to show their support.

The sleaze’n'roll four piece have some good songs, and are certainly an enjoyable live band who are full of energy, and boast no shortage of talent. Frontman AJ doesn’t have the most memorable of voices, but his no frills style fits the raw edge of the band’s music rather well. Songs like ‘Come Over’ and ‘Rock’n'Roll Overload’ went down a storm, both being as good as anything you’ll hear from the current crop of up and coming UK rock bands. With a style that could appeal to a range of rockers, NEW GENERATION SUPERSTARS could well be set for a bright future – just as long as they can ride out the tough times. Let’s hope they do!

San Fransisco glam metal heros VAIN rarely venture to European shores these days, so it was a great pleasure to get the chance to see them. The 1989 album ‘No Respect’ is very close to perfect, and certainly one of the very best in the glam rock / hair metal genre. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the 75 minute set was made up of songs from that album, and with all bar one of the original lineup intact, VAIN played a storming show.

In an unforgiving music business, VAIN never managed to capitalise on the quality of the ‘No Respect’ album, and through various strokes of bad luck and bad management, they have unfortunately faded into hair metal obscurity. Still, a decent 100 strong crowd will have really enjoyed the intimacy of tonight’s show, as did frontman Davy Vain. Although strangely bare footed, the brilliant singer pranced all over the stage as he belted out note perfect renditions of ’1,000 Degrees’ and ‘No Respect’.

Although big anthems like ‘Beat The Bullet’ and ‘Who’s Watching You’ were obvious highlights, album tracks like ‘Icy’ and ‘Smoke and Shadows’ were also thoroughly enjoyable. The infectiously catchy ‘Love Drug’ was the best of the three songs that weren’t from ‘No Respect’.

Overall, tonight’s gig was a great night out, with both of the main acts putting on memorable performances. Although dubbed a farewell tour, I for one will be keeping my fingers cross that VAIN keep on going. They’re too good a band not to!

NEW GENERATION SUPERSTARS Setlist: I Won’t Stop / Nothin’ To Lose / Own Sweet Hell / Way Back Home / Bleed / Addictive / Dopefriend / Come Over / Save Me / Do It ‘Cause I Can / Beat ‘Em Down / Rock ‘n’ Roll Overload

Photography by Alexander Shaw(Click Here)