Live Review: Massive Wagons – Epic Studios, Norwich
17th April 2025
Support: Scarlet Rebels
Words & Photos: Tom Atkin
Continuing the longer days, means it is just so much nicer turning up to shows without the dark, cold and damp in the air.
Opening the night’s proceedings are Welsh rockers Scarlett Rebels, a band that includes a member of the Townsend family, so great things are expected. They do a fabulous job of setting the tone for the evening, providing some tightly played good ol’ rock music, throughout the show every member of the band looks as though they are genuinely enjoying putting on a classic performance. A feeling that is reciprocated by the crowd as there seemed to be no hesitation in heads starting to nod along. There is always an expectation that the crowd may be parse for support bands, that’s not the case this evening, already they are packing together like sardines.
Scarlet Rebels brought a very original sound to the show tonight, one that grabbed the attention of Epic fairly quickly. A performance that was a great introduction to the band for those not already familiar, even with the slight hiccup of the guitar amp being cranked a little too loud.
Fun, well performed rock music, you can hear certain influences throughout, but still keeping their own style.
Now for the main event – Massive Wagons!
They have upgraded their production since they were last in town, an increased LED light rig now cover the back wall, highlighting they are evolving the live experience that they provide.
Coming on stage to the iconic ‘Pretty Vacant’ goes down very well indeed, with majority of the people in the room singing along. From this they launch into one of their latest singles ‘Everywhere We Go’, a feel good song that has a somewhat deeper tone. However, as with almost everything Barry and the gang do, this has a very fun, upbeat tempo and sound. If this is the direction of their next album. It is only going to be a great record.
That initial momentum continues throughout the set, a feeling that is infectious with the whole of the crowd getting involved with ‘Fun While It Lasted’, ‘Please Stay Calm’ and ‘Missing On TV’. All three of which are from the new era of Massive Wagons, a nice little nod for the fans that only got into them in more recent years.
Holding a consistent energy through out, the mix of new and older songs fits nicely and shows their creative consistency, fans of all their music are catered for this evening. It is all completely dialed in, no matter what age of song they are playing, 2018’s ‘Back To The Stack‘ or 2024’s ‘The Good Die Young‘ theres no fluctuation in the energy from either the band, or the crowd, with every single body in here is having as much fun as possible.
This is fully what was expected of the the evening; Hard rock that is well thought out and excessively light hearted. The sort of show that leaves no one disappointed. Whilst it is common to see a band enjoying themselves on stage, it is hard to remember a performance which match the feelings of this show.
Photo Credit: Tom Atkin
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