OMG!* Michael Monroe’s Gang kicks of UK Tour

(*OMG as in one Man Gang, not the more common abbreviation)

O2 Academy Islington 30 October 2019

(Originally Published in PCN Magazine November 2019)

Michael Monroe, Flamboyant Finn and Glam-Punk Prince entertained the crowds at Islington’s O2 Academy on his first UK date of his “One Man Gang” Tour.  The ex-Hanoi Rocks front-man released his 11^th Solo studio album “One Man Gang” (Silver Lining Music) on 18^th October and has embarked on a 17 date UK tour to promote it.  Unsurprisingly the set list for tonight showcased a number of songs from the new album, mixed in with plenty of crowd-pleasers from his back catalogue.

The show opens with the new album’s title track “One Man Gang” a hundred miles per hour garage punk number that sees Monroe cavorting around the stage, Flag-draped Mic stand and Glow-stick in hand encouraging the crowd to get involved.  O f course they duly oblige and there are plenty of nodding heads and hands in the air.    “Last Train to Tokyo”, the current and second single from the album, follows with its ear-worm riff and catchy hooks, a piece of pure 80s garage pop. 

Video: Last Train to Tokyo

A few more from the Album follow – “Junk Planet” sees the first appearance of the harmonica and evokes the spirit of Iggy Pop, it also sees Monroe’s first foray over the safety rail and into the crowd, “The Pitfalls of being an Outsider” harks back to the Ramones in their heyday.  “Midsummer Nights” is one of those wonderfully kitsch summer anthems that everyone loves – before we get the first of the old favourites, “Ballad of the Lower East Side” with its sneering lyrics and punky riffs. “Old Kings Road” and ’78 follow, all the while Monroe is leaping around the stage, Mic stand now used as a flag pole,   off the stage, into the crowd, doing the splits and generally delivering the kind of High Octane Rock ‘n’ Roll performance that is his signature and it is clear the audience love him for it. 

Of Course, Monroe is not the only man on the Stage and his band deliver the goods while Monroe whirlwinds around them.  Guitarist Rich Jones (ex Black Halos, Amen, Wildhearts) and long-time Bass guitarist Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, D23, New York Dolls) set the rhythm and pace, Karl Rockfist (The Chelsea Smiles, Son of Sam)  sat at the back on drums lays down the beat and Steve Conte (New York Dolls) bringing lead guitar and great riffage to the party.

And that party continues apace, featuring more of the back catalogue including a blistering version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Up Around the Bend” before closing the set with “Dead Jail or Rock N Roll”  a hard rocking number that has the band pulling out all the stops and the crowd going crazy. 

Even after a near 90 minute 17-song set the crowd demand more, so following the obligatory walk-off walk-on routine the Band return for a four song encore featuring “Low Life in High Places” a song that would not be out of place in an Alice Cooper set, “ Nothin’s Alright”, the Clash-esque “Hammersmith Palais” form his D23 days and The Stooges “! Feel Alright” segueing into Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” to close out a night of High energy Glam-Punk Rock ‘n’ Roll.  The new material was well received but it was the Hanoi Rocks and D23 songs that really raised the roof and got the crowd moving.

Michael Monroe

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SetList

One Man Gang / Last Train to Tokyo / Junk Planet / Pitfalls of Being an Outsider / Midsummer Nights / Ballad of the Lower East Side / ’78 / Black Ties, Red Tape / Motorvatin’ / Hollywood Paranoia / This Ain’t No Love Song /Trick of the Wrist / Don’t You Ever Leave Me / Malibu Beach / Up Around the Bend / Dead Jail or Rock ‘n’ Roll

Encore: Low Life in High Places / Nothin’s Alright / Hammersmith Palais /  I Feel Alright