The venue was packed and buzzing as we eagerly awaited the return of Michael Monroe to London’s Electric Ballroom. It was a cold night, but the room heated up as opener C.J. Wildheart and his band took the stage at 7:45.
Michael Monroe – C.J. Wildheart
Electric Ballroom, Camden – 27 November 2024
Words: Lizzy Blayne Evans
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
Though I was probably not the most familiar with C.J. Wildheart‘s set, I immensely enjoyed it and felt I got to know him a bit more by the end. He was gracious and friendly, telling stories between his songs, such as Butterfingers and The Baddest Girl In The World.
You could tell C.J. and his band enjoy what they do and respect Michael and his band. It was the perfect opener to get us excited and into the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.
At 9 pm, as expected, Michael Monroe and his band took the stage. The crowd were quiet as Carmina Burana played through the speakers; the lights were low, and figures stepped onto the stage. As the lights came up and the opening riff of Up Around The Bend was played, everyone went wild.
Wednesday’s show comes as part of the Two Steps From The Move 40th anniversary tour that has played in Copenhagen, Stockholm, now London and going onto Wolverhampton.
The first half of the show has the band playing the iconic Hanoi Rocks album Two Steps From The Move in full. As it is one of my all-time favourite albums, it is amazing to hear it played entirely.
Michael’s ever-continued high energy is inspiring as he chants the bridge in High School whilst the guitars and bass shine in Underwater World.
Hearing Don’t You Ever Leave Me is especially exciting, with guitarist Rich Jones doing the beloved late Razzle’s speaking part before the guitar solo.
Million Miles Away shows off Michael’s saxophone skills. It feels surreal to hear these songs live, something I was almost sure I would never experience.
Everyone sings along to the upbeat Boulevard Of Broken Dreams along with the album’s deep cut, Boiler. Michael fans himself with paddle fans before throwing them into the crowd and pointing his scarf-clad mic stand to the fans. He is singing, playing the saxophone and even the harmonica – all the trademark skills he is known for on stage.
The band’s interactions with each other show how much they love what they do. It is inspiring to see bassist Sami Yaffa and Michael together. The two have been playing together for over 40 years, and still have such a great onstage connection. The album portion of the set closes with the energetic Futurama and finally, Cutting Corners, one of my favourite Hanoi Rocks songs.
The band then takes a 15-minute break, which flies by as energy buzzes. When they come back, they open with I Live Too Fast To Die Young from 2022’s album of the same name. The crowd seems to get even more enthusiastic as time goes on, hands in the air during Murder The Summer of Love and Old Kings Road.
Michael graciously thanks the crowd between songs. The band continues to play solo Monroe songs until the old Hanoi classic Motorvatin, opening with the iconic bassline that makes the floor buzz.
Next was Hammersmith Palais, a hit solo song, followed by the final song before the encore, Malibu Beach Nightmare, which it seemed the crowd was maybe not expecting and loved dearly. The band promised us an encore as they disappeared, returning as quickly as they left.
The two songs of the encore were Nothin’s Alright and Dead, Jail Or Rock ‘N’ Roll, two of the most popular hits. It seemed that everyone, at least around me, could not help but sing along to every word of the iconic chorus of Nothin’s Alright.
I was blown away by every aspect of the show. From Michael climbing up a ladder on stage to sing practically above us, to climbing into the crowd, his energy is truly contagious. It was the kind of show everyone was physically reacting to, tapping their feet or bopping their head.
I have been wanting to see the band for years, so this was an exceptional show. These guys have something truly special, and it is evident when you watch and hear them play that this is a must-watch. It seemed that everyone in tonight had a great reaction to every song.
The mix of Hanoi Rocks songs and solo tunes made for a packed setlist fit for any fan of Michael’s solo work or Hanoi Rocks.
