Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
After overcoming a handful of hurdles that the last few years have thrown at Ash Costello, the charismatic performer returned to the UK & Europe with New Years Day for the Californian’s first jaunt to these shores in 5 years (the worldwide lockdown curtailed their trek in 2020 that saw the band return home). And has it honestly been 6 years since they performed with Halestorm on their UK arena tour?
Showing copious levels of tenacity, Costello is back with a new album (2024’s ‘Half Black Heart’) and a new-ish line-up of the band that she started 20 years ago. Guitarists Nikki Misery and Jeremy Valentyne returned in 2022 along with bassist Brandon Wolfe (unable to make this tour), and completing the line-up is the hard-hitting and aptly named drummer Tommy Rockoff who certainly likes to make himself heard.
Getting the party started are English nutters Fearless Vampire Killers. The adage “We’re not here for a long time; we are here for a good time” seems to have been spawned purely for these guys.
Hugely experienced, the five-piece – dressed in uniform blue shirts and black stab vests – are a whirlwind of activity during their 30-minute set. Ice Nine Kills-meets-MCR could be a good starting point, but they also have a joyful eccentricity of bands such as Less Than Jake, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
With bandmembers Laurence Beveridge and Kier Kemp swapping instruments and vocal duties on occasion, it adds a touch of spontaneity to the set which is anything but cookie-cutter. Anything goes, it would seem, and driven on by an audience that includes many familiar with FVK, the band even drops a fan request for ‘Neon in the Dance Halls’ into the set; going as far as pointing out the punter on the barrier that had requested it. Great fun, and a band that is best enjoyed live.
These are busy, busy times for multi-national rockers Conquer Divide. After this run with New Years Day, the five-piece are back out in the UK & EU with Ankor for a lengthy tour that runs through February and March until the last date in Belgium on March 16th. And considering that the band also opened for The Warning in the UK back in April 2024, it’s fair to say that the rapidly-improving band are taking these shores seriously.
As you would expect, the vast majority of the material aired in the 45-minute set comes from the Mascot Records debut, ‘Slow Burn’ and my, how the songs have grown over the last year or so. ‘Atonement’ opens the album, and also serves as a hard-hitting set opener that highlights the powerful vocals of Kiarely Taylor.
Izzy Johnson and Kristen Sturgis form a stellar guitar partnership on what is a guitar-heavy set, and both play with a fantastic sense of joy in what they do. The hypnotic, rhythmic drumming from Sam Landa is impressive, and she continues to impress as the band tears through 10 tracks. Spencer Maybe from A War Within is on touring bass duties, as well as providing harsh vocals – and he combines with Taylor to great effect; especially on ‘system_failure’ which excels. Those dates with Ankor are looking tasty at the moment.
What was quite a bright stage for the opening two bands soon becomes a pit of darkness for the headliners. Set-opener ‘Vampyre’ was always going to be awash with warm reds, and with red on red, those in the front few rows now know how a rotisserie chicken feels. Damn, it sure is warm. Guitarists Nikki Misery and Jeremy Valentyne are stationed on either side of the stage which is devoid of any equipment meaning that the pair have the run of the entire stage without any cables, etc, getting in the way. It makes for a great visual when the pair stand still like gnarly marionettes waiting to spring into action once Ash Costello strides onto the stage and unleashes both guitarists from their trance.
Costello is everywhere during the early few moments when ‘Vampyre’ bleeds into ‘Half Black Heart’ crossing from side to side, making eye contact with everyone she can (in this darkness, this is not as simple as it sounds), coaxing a response out of the crowd and getting them to jump on the latter, asking them how their headbanging skills are before a version of ‘Come for Me’ that slaps, lands. The bloodcurdling scream that Costello unleashes on ‘Come for Me’ is hair-raising. On the opposite end of the sliding scale, her softer vocals on ‘Shut Up’ highlight Costello’s full range, as well as acting as a fantastic excuse to get the crowd involved (ditto ‘Fearless’).
Tommy Rockoff is living up to his name and rocking his socks off from behind his kit. That kid can hit, and his playing throughout is one of the highlights of the evening. More highlights arrive during the latter stages of the set, with ‘I’m About to Break You’, ‘Defame Me’, and ‘Kill or Be Killed’ being the pick of the bunch from 2015’s ‘Malevolence’ album. ‘Skeletons’ from the follow-up album ‘Unbreakable’ is always special, and tonight that’s no different.
Some social media posts hinted that Ash Costello was feeling under the weather before the show, but anyone without that prior knowledge would not have guessed it. Energetic, passionate, and determined to make it a night to remember for those who have been waiting 5-plus years for New Years Day to return. Mission accomplished.
Connect with New Years Day, here.
Review – Dave
All images – Dave Jamieson
