Blogs

Alien Ant Farm at Corporation reviewed

It’s a brand new year and what better way to start it off than by travelling back over a decade to see an old favourite play a sell out show at Sheffield’s biggest alternative venue, Corporation?

Playing through their platinum (US) selling album ANThology, this was a nostalgia party that everybody was invited to.

Corp immediately became a swarming hive of activity fuelled by the previous performances by the wonderful Dirty Youth and INME. Passionate and eager, we were psyched up and ready for AAF to arrive on stage. 

The performance given by Mitchell, Cosgrove, Corso and Peugh was nothing short of how I would have imagined it when I first heard “Movies” on Kerrang TV. Feeling somewhat sentimental and ecstatic in unison,  I think I can speak for most people who attended that evening when I say that this gig was something pretty special.

The crowd were absolutely insatiable throughout the entire set and the showmanship was simply incredible, from track 1 all the way to 14, and what better way to close the show than by playing their hugely successful cover of Michael Jacksons’ “Smooth Criminal.”

The band were truly on form and performed to an exceptional level, I’m sure this experience will be a memorable one that will stay with people for a long time.

Follow Corporation nightclub on Twitter for event updates! – @Corpsheffield

Review: Anti-Flag at Corporation

It all started with a perfect opening: Turncoat gave everyone an immediate rush of energy that possessed every person in the room for the entire show.

Anti-Flag have now (for twenty years or more) laboured to build and be part of a conscious community whose eyes are open to the world around them. Fully fuelled by activist political opinion, the group send a positive message to all to be respectful and live life to its full potential. The set list included Die For Your Government and War Sucks, Let’s Party to name a few of their more obvious political songs.

The gig was enthralling, people became united and threw their fists in the air and belted the band’s lyrics right back at them with passion. The crowd was encouraged to make some noise, jump and dance with all they had. This is one of the first gigs I’ve been to where the audience interaction was so consistent, short speeches and opinions on world affairs left people clapping and cheering in agreement.

The icing on the cake for me personally, was the moment Chris #2 (bass guitar, vocals) joined us in the crowd to finish up, it truly broke down the walls between performer and audience and was spectacular to see. Anti-Flag were bringing out positive activist records when I was less than ten years old and they have not lost a single spark of devotion for what they believe in.

The new album American Spring contains higher elements of pop in contrast to some of their earlier music, this is not to say however, that the band have lost of their initial hard hitting edginess. Whether the punk scene is your thing or not, it is difficult to argue with positive messages against racism and hate. It is a close knit community that goes deeper than just the music, and I was delighted to be part of it for an evening.

Game Over Sheffield

Game Over

 

My first encounter with Game Over was a Facebook invitation.

“Here we go…” I thought, “I can’t wait to decline this!”

I’m quite picky with events I go to, a general rule I follow is – if it’s not gigs, I’m not interested! I don’t even visit the cinema, and as somebody who spends hours alone rejecting social invitations on a regular basis in favour of being at one with my Xbox, I was at first reluctant to go to an event that would require me actually speaking to other human beings (and not down a mic).

Why do I need to go to a bar to play video games when I can just merrily sit here, check my phone (for the texts I’m not going to receive) and eat some custard creams in the comfort of my own crumb riddled bed?

This is why…

I realised almost immediately that Game Over has been the type of social activity I have been looking for.  I was lucky to meet some of the nicest people I have ever interacted with and it was genuinely one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a long time. There is something quite brilliant about being complimented on your t-shirt because somebody knows it’s actually the vault boy and not TinTin!

What makes this night even better is that you don’t have to be some powernerd who spends all day on COD shouting at four year olds and throwing their controllers at the wall. Nope, this was for anybody who has an interest in anything games related new and old. I sometimes find that myself and others are put off by these events on the basis that there will be some know-it-all fedora wearing guy going around trying to educate people on the history of video games. Every single person I spoke to was down to earth and friendly.

And what better way to make some friends than virtually shooting them in the head?!

Not only can you kick some serious backside on Mario Kart, but you can eat a slice of pepperoni and neck a beer at the same time.

I really struggle to fault this event.

For those of you who would like to visit and beat me at some games, check out the latest event on Facebook Game Over – Battle Of Seven Hills and like and join the page here: Game Over – Facebook Page

Please also remember to tune in to Gamers Rule on Sheffield Live! – every Saturday from 11am to 12noon!

Build your own home

Sheffield City Council are offering information and advice about how to build your own home.  It is hoped that this will go some of the way to solving the housing shortage in the City.