MEST!

Seeing Mest, for me, was a teenage dream come true. My good friend introduced me to them when we were early teens. Now, that's a good few years ago, yet the feeling I get from music is still the same. Front row at the Alma in Bolton transported me back to that time. A time when punk rock and pop punk really got me, with each and every shouty anthem i listened to, I felt alive, young and free.

I'd never actually seen Mest before but it was everything I expected, everything I wanted.

When we got home sleeping was a feat: ears ringing, belly full of rum, Cadillac replaying over in my head. Alive, young and free!

Punk rock as fuck. 4 bands. 4 really brilliant bands and although the people count didn't dip into 3 figures, the atmosphere more than made up for it.

Mrs Foxon x x x

Mest pics.. #mest #punkrock #alma #bolton #teenagedreams #fun #saturday

A post shared by Jen Foxon (@jenocifero) on Aug 18, 2018 at 2:51pm PDT

More;

Read Mike's thoughts Here.
Have a look at what Rick had to say Here.
Read the Mr Foxon's post Here. 

Mest! Bolton August 2018

When I saw this Event I nearly fell off my chair. Mest, MEST! When it comes to pop-punk Mest sits at the top of our list, and Favourites from the late 90s post-punk with Goldfinger, Millencolin, MxPx, Anti-flag.

20years of good music, but circumstances fought against us with seeing Mest live. Until they announced a tour... with a gig at our hometown - Bolton. 
There was no consideration, I went on and booked 4 tickets immediately. Me, Richard, Chris & Jen.

Hosted by Rawcus Events (check them out!) The venue was the Alma, a small venue with a capacity no more than 150 - although the tickets sales unfortunately didn't sell out, or fortunately for us, as we got to meet and chat with all the bands and particularly Tony Lovato!

 Michael, Tony Lovato, Richard

Zapian were good, decent way to start the day. Shame to miss the earlier bands but it was all about JD and we were mostly there for Mest anyway.

Sitting down listening to Zapiain, the venue was empty with just Me & Richard and the other band's members. Spotting a Millencolin tattoo started a conversation with Arron from Red Winter (Apologies if I get the names wrong, I've stalked the Facebook page for band members names) the guys were friendly and happy to divulge a few stories and tales from previous gigs. All I'm going to say is if they guys have wine on the stage, just don't stand right at the front unless you can duck inadvertent roundhouses!

The Liverpudlians, Red Winter, hit the stage with decent tunes and witty banter, engaging the crowd and really doing the Supports job of warming everyone up. It's no wonder they've had the chance to support some big names (such as Blink-182).
'Garry', the guy at the back in the red shirt, certainly enjoyed it.

I really like Nobody's Hero and the Some Friend you Were.

Bit of @redwinteruk whilst we wait for @theofficialmest

A post shared by A Life Of Music Rocks (@alifeofmusicrocks) on Aug 18, 2018 at 10:52am PDT

The lads were good and sounded much clearer than my video (phone recording next to a speaker was always a bad idea).
I can tell you they are in our vision now and we'll be tracking their gigs.


The day continued with Kill The Masters, fast paced, not too serious, Punk band from Bolton. Chris' run down does more justice so head over and check out his post (Here). We headed over to the bar and heard an acoustic version of Jaded coming from a side room, peeking in we saw Tony & Adrian playing, turns out this was for Meet & Greets so we stepped away (after the song).

Slimboy came one, Swiss pop-punk band, having heard a few songs we were excited for these. They are good, really, really good. Richard and Chris elobrated more so want more info head in that direction! :P

During all of this I Adrian (I later found out the name) came over and said Hi. I fucked up, made a terrible, drunken, shameful mistake if asking if he was a roadie helping out ... (Earth swollow me whole please)... Nope turns out he's a guitarist in Mest. Should have checked out the touring band more!
Anyway turns out Adrian is very friendly guy and lead singer of 'Assuming We Survive' - Turns out these guys are fucking awesome, check them out, similar sound to Fall Out Boy... But heavier and without the Twee lyrics, actually not like Fall Out Boy, AWS are a true pop/punk outfit in buzzing listening to this back catalogue!!

Over to Mest, we had the opportunity to chat to Tony a few times before the set. Needless to say I was buzzing. We stumbled upon Meat 18years ago when Richard mistook What's the Dillio for What's the Dildo - then we found Wasting Time, and Mo Money, a year later UnknownDestination.
We've buzzed for Mest for years and the on/off band has meant we haven't had the chance to see them. Then it happened, in our home town and we were on it.

The guys were amazing, smashing out classics from Cadillac to Jaded to Long Days, Long Nights. We spent the entire time singing, moshing, circling, it was amazing and everything I ever expected.

@anthonylovato @theofficialmest #mest

A post shared by A Life Of Music Rocks (@alifeofmusicrocks) on Aug 18, 2018 at 3:43pm PDT

It only got better from there, after we spent a little more time with Tony, giving him cigs, talking about music and the tour.
He told us about a little boy he met the night before, a 7 year old, he was telling us about him refunding the ticket money for his mum to buy him some toys for Christmas. Really showed a side a him that was more than just a pop-punk legend.

We loved Tony before, now it's on another level.
Hats off to you! You're something else! Class!

I can't really top that, we shook hands with Tony and Adrian and took our leave.

Mx

More on this event;

Have a look at what Rick had to say Here.
Read the honorable Mr Foxon's masterpiece Here.
Mrs Jen Foxon's ode to Mest here

Shaking Hands and Hey Jude

Wow what a night (and afternoon) Saturday was, went to see Mest at a small venue in Bolton with several support acts.

We didn't go with our blogging for ALOMR heads on, (I know I know we should be telling you all everything we do, every minute of every day, but I don't and we won't) however, we saw some great bands so I felt it would be rude not to share my thoughts, no doubt the other three will pull some absolute blinders of analysis when they get round to it, oh yes the four of us were all together for the first time at a gig since the old boys 30th!

I went mainly to listen to Mest (obvs), Slimboy and Red Winter (much more on these guys to come). We got there at 4ish and the first band had already been and gone (my fault i was given the option of getting a taxi or having another JD).

The second band were playing when we entered and were just wrapping up there set, next up were Zapiain, we had listened to a few of there songs before hand and am sure were very good but for some reason its a little hazy this part of the afternoon so I cant really give you much more than that....sorry.

(Red Winter - ALOMR photos)

I know Michael has touched on Red Winter but I liked them that much I am going to touch them again, hopefully not with a roundhouse kick to the face, we had a good chat with the lads before they went on stage, I insisted they needed to change the lyrics in one of their songs, sadly I had the wrong band and not for the first time in my life had cocked up (however another member of the ALOMR team made an even bigger balls up with a different band later on in the day... not sure if I will drop him in it or not yet). 

Once the guys got on stage and sorted out the sounds (Well done to the sound tech at the Alma by the way he did a great job of getting the bands on stage tuned in quickly!) they quickly thrashed through 6 fantastic skater punk hits, they had some good banter with the crowd and each other, they remind me of Blink around the take of your pants and jacket era, maybe a touch heavier but with the same fun and bounce that they had throughout there gigs.We will definitely be going to see these guys again and soon.

Kill the Masters - Yeah (courtesy of Michael)

A new band to us that we hadn't heard before were Kill the Masters, these guys are angry punk, they are coming at a time when it is probably right this particular style to resurface. The group is a three piece outfit with the guitarist and bassist switching instruments and vocals throughout and a solid drummer who holds it all together. 
They have some great songs with my favourite being Drugs, its a catchy song that even the Mums can sing along to even if the subject matter isn't the cleanest and did an Usher cover that sounded awesome. 
The guys are currently doing their first EP and should have it launched by December, keep an eye out for it although am sure we will give it a mention when it hits!

Slimboy, I don't know what to say about these guys, they are brilliant, yes I am a little biased as they picked me out to say thanks for singing along (I am the annoying dude on the crowd who sings along to every song in my monotone voice) and then got me to sing Hey Jude on the microphone with them. 

Their songs Sorrow, Believe in You and Whatever are there best in my mind but give them a listen and tell us which you think. I was told they have just finished touring with the Ataris so I am sure they are destined for big things and I hope to see them again soon leading there own show.

Slimboy - ALOMR photos

I would also like to point out that I did not take any videos or pictures at the show as I was having to much fun watching some great bands and would like to say thanks to Rawcus events for pulling this together, it was unbelievable to see these bands coming to our home town playing the last bastion of rock The Alma.

Finally onto the main event of Mest, wow 18 years I had waited to see them live and they did not disappoint, from start to finish I was wrapped up in a punk plethora that I still have a fuzzy feeling from now. Tony Lovato slams as stood about a foot Infront of me and all that came between us was a stood up pallet, I thought I wouldn't get any closer but the band were awesome and stayed around after the gig shaking hands and chatting to us all (even though all I could do was state in awe at a band I have lived since being 12 years old) the guys are heading to the studio when they get back home and I for one can't wait to hear what they come up with and to obviously follow it up with another tour... Where I hope to see them supported by Red Winter and Kill the Masters!

Riche xxx



MORE POSTS ABOUT THIS EVENT
Michael's Here.
Chris Here.

Jen's Here.

Rawcus Events - Mest, Slimboy, Red Winter & More

We went to see Mest on saturday night, we couldn't decide who was going to write about it. As it turns out, we all wrote about it.

Read my thoughts Here.

Have a look at what Rick had to say Here.

Read the honorable Mr Foxon's literary masterpiece Here. (Check out the amazing picture Chris captured in his posts. Below is the Tony checking it out, he loved it!)

Mrs Jen Foxon's ode to Mest here

RAWKUS Events

The line Up:
Mest
Slimboy 
Kill The Masters
Red Winter
Standing Waves
Zapiain 
TheLast Dregs
Counter Point

Mx

Tony checking out Chris' pic, check it out in his posts.

Another good pic of Tony, this one by Michael.