By Terry Marland, Rock At Night Wales
Live Review: The Evil Scarecrow with Severenth and Lullaby for a Unicorn-Tivoli Buckley North Wales U.K. Thursday 17th March 2022
Severenth
In a tight set frontman Peet Bailey dominates centre stage with his blockbuster vocals and highly animated presence that sets the scene for the evening. Severenth’s powerhouse performance is well received by the Buckley crowd. Pity they didn’t have more stage time.
Lullaby for a Unicorn
North Wales band Lullaby for a Unicorn are next up with rock solid deliveries of songs from their debut album the self depreciatingly titled “I can’t Believe They’re Not Better”. They sound good this evening and their tounge-in-cheek style and on stage banter prepares the way for tonight’s headliners.
The Evil Scarecrow
We all need a distraction right now and if any band is capable of putting us in a frame of mind to escape real life for a while it’s The Evil Scarecrow. Now in their 20th year of performing their own unique brand of parody metal and led as ever by the wickedly charismatic Dr Hell they deliver a set packed with humour, theatre and blistering deliveries of tracks from their back catalogue. Tonight is the first date of their UK tour. A show that was originally scheduled for 2020.
Along with Dr Hell the band consists of Kraven Morrdeth (bass and backing vocals) Ringmaster Monty Blitzfist (drums) and newcomer to the line-up Count Gravedigga (Guitar and Vocals)
Opening with ‘Way to Die’ and ‘Skulls of Our enemies’ they set off at a scorching pace that is warmly received by the Buckley Crowd.
Throughout the set the band deploy an assortment of bizarre props including flying saucers, mythical beasts, spacemen, ghosts and robots. Audience participation is always on the agenda and tonight the Scarecrows are running competitions to win copies of their Heads Shoulders Knees and Crows DVD. The first contest involves the participant in a chopstick challenge while the band their play a full on version of their latest single “Master of the DO JO” accompanied by a giant inflatable Karate figure.
It may sound more like a surreal cabaret act than a rock gig but their one-and-a-half-hour set is skilfully presented to produce a powerful formula of fantasy, humour and excellent metal musicianship all orchestrated by Dr Hell who oversees proceedings throughout.
“Polterghost” and “Hurricanado” are lapped up by the audience and interspersed with crowd banter as they power their way through the ninety-minute set. Audience participation is key and it takes many forms, the highlights being the synchronised robot moves to “Robototron” and the trade-mark ‘Crabulon” that sees the North Wales crowd scuttling crab-like to and fro across the Tivoli floor.
For 90minutes we have been in the other worldly presence of The Evil Scarecrow and it’s a special place. If they are playing anywhere near you on this tour get out to see them. This show is highly recommended.
The tour continues:
18th March Warehouse Leeds
19th March The Mill Birmingham
20th March Blitz Preston
24th March Engine Room Southampton
25th March Subbs Reading
9th April Rock City Nottingham
17 April Yardbirds Grimsby
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