AOS3!!!

Last night I was very kindly picked up by the Iguana and the Spark to be taken up to the Bear Tavern in Birmingham for the first gig from punk dub heads AOS3 in 15 years. We arrived early and went and had a chat with John the lead singer who was also in PAIN until 2001. It seemed they were all looking forward to the gig although band practice the day before hadn't gone well! We moved into the aptly named 'samosa' room as they started sound checking and were invited to help ourselves to the samosas and onion bhajis. Luckily drummer Kev (also drummer with Headjam) was on hand to point out the spicy dip that looked like gravy in a pint glass but was actually quite nice! Soon the whole band were on stage to run through a song which they did a couple of times. Even then just listening to that was pretty amazing, a band who's CDs I've played to death, (well Gods Secret Agent anyway) but never seen live up there on stage sounding exactly how I expected them to sound! It wasn't long before the doors opened and a few people started filtering in, we stayed in the 'samosa' room where DJs F.R.C. Skinny and Megga spun some tunes. They played a nice selection of tunes including some RDF. We chilled out in there while the first band, Redeye Militia and second band Circadia played and so I didn't get to see them. We moved into the other room for the next band, Intention who I quite liked even though it was quite full-on hardcore punk/grindcore. After a short break it was time for the main event, after 15 years AOS3 were back on stage! They played an hour of class tunes including Warrior nation, Bushes on the golf course, It's a jungle out there and Scary times are never dull. It was brilliant, they sounded and looked great and the crowd loved it too! They had only practiced an hours worth of songs so played a couple again for the encore! All too soon it was all over and they were packing up their kit. We hung around for a while afterwards chatting with Mark from Iron Man Records and some of the band. A couple of people knew me from tinternet and came and said hello which is always nice. John from the band said I was his first friend on myspace, is that good or am I just sad?!! Anyway it was a cracking night, brilliant company as always from top blokes the Spark and the Iguana, brilliant to meet the band and others at the gig who were all lovely and friendly and brilliant to be able to have a drink for a change as I wasn't driving!

Support band Intention, nice to know the lead singer had his ready brek before the gig!.... And no I haven't messed with this picture!

AOS3 doing what they do best!

Lead singer John, top bloke!

Best hairstyle of the night goes to this girl, brilliant! OK I have messed with this picture..... all in the name of art!