Only days after the shock announcement that London’s legendary Borderline was set to close, hundreds of the rock faithful flocked to its hallowed halls for a night of great fun and memorable performances. As the room quickly filled and was pushed to its boundaries, there was a palpable buzz in the air. On the bill for tonight were three rock bands, all with their own unique sound. First off, making their live debut, were Temple of One, who were followed by Collateral, and Daxx & Roxane.
The boys from Temple of One came to prove as much to themselves as every single member of the audience that they could put on a killer show, and they did all that and more. Playing a blistering set, Temple of One worked the crowd with their electrifying set, whipping everyone up into a frenzy before Collateral came on stage. For a guy who admitted he was “bricking it” before taking the stage, Colin had full command of both the stage and the audience. The tightly knit trio had a fantastic vibe, with a punk infused sound that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on the Sunset Strip in the late 80s. With riffs full of punk sensibilities melded with a classic hard rock sound, Temple of One have stamped their place on the live music scene tonight, and I look forward to seeing where they go from here. You can read our interview with Colin Parkinson & Drew Low here.
Collateral came bounding onto stage with enough energy to put on a stadium show. While they may be playing the small venues at the moment, it’s very clear that this hard-working quartet are set for greatness. Running through a raucous and bombastic set, the Collateral boys took the night up another notch, and had the crowd dancing and singing along with them. Playing through songs from both their debut EP “4 Shots”, as well as a number of songs from their forthcoming album “Collateral” due out this September, the band gave a headline performance. As their set stretched out over the course of the evening, their performance was dominated by the great chemistry these guys have with each other, as well as the audience itself. After a brief interlude in the form of a guitar solo, the guys cranked the volume up to eleven and stomped through the remaining songs. With a stage presence beyond their years, Collateral seamlessly blend the hard rock of their heroes with a modern sound that is very much their own, and by the end of their set they left the stage leaving the crowd wanting for more. It has been a hell of a year so far for Collateral, between the airplay their current single ‘Lullaby’ has been getting on the radio, and the swell of support that has been forming around them, it is no surprise they will be on the main stage at this year’s Camden Rocks Festival. I wish them every success.
London-based Swiss rockers Daxx & Roxane are no strangers to regular MGM readers, and anyone familiar with the band know that they like to have a good time. By the time they took the stage, the Borderline could barely contain itself, and it felt as though the energy in the room was going to blow not just the roof off, but the walls out as well. Playing through a bevy of fan favourites, the foursome played like their lives depended on it, giving every ounce of themselves. For the remainder of the night, these funky groove-riders gave us an old-school hard rock performance that would be well at home in the late 60s or 70s, while feeling fresh and original. It is safe to say that their time in London has honed the band into a heavy-hitting, and well-oiled machine that keeps going from strength to strength. Like Collateral, Daxx & Roxane are due to play this year’s Camden Rocks Festival. Don’t miss it!
When I got to the Borderline, I was confident it was going to be a spectacular evening, but this was beyond my wildest expectations. Everyone gave a performance to be proud of, and gave us all an incredible night out. I strongly recommend seeking all of these fabulous bands out, and seeing them live as soon as you can!
Temple of One – Setlist
Intro
The Cards
Had Enough
Burning Light
Honesty
Time
Send a Light
Song of Hope
Next to You
Collateral Setlist
Big Shot **
Midnight Queen +*
Going with the Wind *
Just Waiting For You *
About This Boy **
Promiseland **
Merry Go Round **
Lullaby **
Songs with * from EP “4 Shots” and ** from “Collateral”
Daxx & Roxane Setlist
Sugar Rush
Girl Next Door
Ticket To Rock
Loneliness
Lust & Love
Wild Child
Superstition (cover)
Junk Food Hangover
Someone I Love
State Outta Myself
Wrong Side
Encore:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash (cover)
Good Vibes
Written by: Erik De’Viking
My Global Mind – UK Editor
Erik De’Viking is a London based freelance music journalist. His musical interests include music in all its forms, and he is constantly on the lookout for new bands and genres to discover and later preach about to the masses.
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