Live Review: Monster Truck With Those Damn Crows At Islington Assembly Hall, London (11/10/22)

A last-minute location change from the Shepherds Bush Empire to the smaller capacity Islington Assembly Hall does little to dampen the spirits of those up for a Tuesday night of rock and roll in London. In fact, the more intimate venue makes for a much more raucous time. Why? Monster Truck are in town. They have a new album to showcase (Warriors) and they’re bringing the good times with them. A mix of anthemic rock tunes, whiskey-soaked southern blues, upbeat foot-tappers and energetic head-bangers.

First up though, as Monster Truck didn’t come alone, is Welsh rockers Those Damn Crows.

As the venue begins to fill out, there is a sense that a lot of people are here to see them. This is more than just the ‘support slot’ and for 45 minutes Those Damn Crows prove why. A fiery and energetic singalong, Those Damn Crows play like they’re the headliners and are treated as such by a crowd eager to sing, cheer and dance along to their catchy collection of songs. Which includes a new one coming from their freshly announced brand-new album, ‘Inhale/Exhale’, which will be released on the 17th of February 2023 via Earache Records.

Perhaps the moment of their show, maybe even the moment of the night, comes during during an intense finale of Rock ’n’ Roll Ain’t Dead! Vocalist Shane Greenhall running off stage and into the crowd, only to reappear a minute later on the balcony above. Security holding on to the back of his trousers, he balances precariously leading the crowd below (and behind) in one final chant; who said rock’n’roll’s dead?

Any other day, any other band and Them Damn Crows would have stolen the show but Monster Truck have no intention of going quietly into the night. Forget the mantra of ‘less is more’. Monster Truck have a blistering array of music to show off and by God, they are going to show it off.

Focusing the majority of the set on 2016’s Sittin’ Heavy and the most recent release, Warriors. Monster Truck are all about making the crowd feel good and over nearly 90 minutes, that’s what they do. The new songs, the likes of Golden Women, Fuzz Mountain, Live Free and Country Livin’ fit seamlessly alongside older tracks like Why Are You Not Rocking?, She’s a Witch, Old Train and The Enforcer. Regardless of if it’s peppy and energetic music or bluesy and heartfelt, Monster Truck deliver an impassioned display of soul in hard rock form.

Funny enough, the venue change seems to have suited them as the theatre style of the Islington Assembly Hall makes Monster Truck’s performance look and sound tailor-made for this environment. They move, they groove, they play their instruments with manic energy and look like they’re loving every minute of it. Something that is infectious to the packed masses as there isn’t a frown to be seen.

Two bands playing as though their lives depended on it with music designed predominately to get you moving, it’s an exhausting but satisfying night of rock. The UK tour isn’t quite over yet, so make it your mission to see this pairing. You won’t be disappointed.