The Black Heart in Camden has always been a great venue to see some fantastic rock and Metal bands. This Sunday night was no different as Trixter, on their first tour playing this side of the pond, were joined by Rob Wylde.
Trixter – Rob Wylde
The Black Heart, Camden – 10 March 2024
Words And Photography: Manuela Langotsch
The second part of the night was reserved for US Glam Metal band Trixter with Steve Brown on vocals and guitar and PJ Farley on vocals and bass guitar. It was their first tour playing this side of the pond, which started in Wales and finished in London.
They are both no strangers to British rock fans, however, with PJ touring with Fozzy and Steve standing in for and Vivian Campbell for one UK date at Wembley Stadium when Leppard performed three songs at the NFL final in recent years, but they had yet to experience a Trixter show which was about to change.
With three Million albums sold worldwide and no shortage of songs to build the set list, these New Jersey musicians decided that now is as good a time as any to book some venues, pack some T-shirts and head to the UK for some intimate semi-acoustic storytelling shows.
These two legends have been playing together and have been best buddies for over 35 years, performing all the hits with plenty of funny stories.
The original four-piece group is now a two-man band, but that doesn’t mean less of a show. Far from it. It is obvious that both are highly experienced musicians and vocalists, having played in front of over 1.5 million people on tours with Kiss, Poison, Scorpions, and Warrant. Most recently, they were opening for Mr. Big in Rome, NY and also joining Eric Martin, Mr Big’s frontman, on his US solo shows over the years.
Joining them on this tour on drums was Bath-based Martyn James, who also provided backing vocals and, after only playing three shows with them, felt already like a lifelong team member.
The London audience had people from all over the globe, Brazil, Spain and even Nottingham. There were rock fans who remember them from the ’90s and Millennials who saw them for the first time at Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling cruise earlier this year.
The set list featured their most successful songs from their ’90s albums Trixter, Hear! and Undercovers, as well as from their 2015 and last album, Human Era.
Most of the crowd knew all the lyrics and happily sang along.
The band’s US success in the ’80s and ’90s sadly never quite expanded to the UK and Europe. Their biggest hit, Give It To Me Good, stayed for eight weeks at No. 1 on the MTV Charts and peaked at No. 65 for nine weeks in the Top 100 Billboard Singles.
Debut album Trixter, released in 1990, stayed 54 weeks on the Billboard Album Chart, and VH1 voted them The 29th Greatest Hair Band Of All Time.
Well, if that is not something to shout about, then what is?
Having been friends and in each other’s pockets for over three decades definitely showed (in a good way!) as they took turns to provide the lead vocals and give the other one space to shine during their guitar solos.
Chemistry on stage is vital and is not something you can fake. These guys are the real deal and it’s great to watch and listen to them.
For their final song, Give It To Me Good, Rob Wylde went back on stage and joined them vocally. It was a perfect end to the night.
Hopefully, Trixter will not leave it too long before coming back to the UK. I, for one, am a fan now, and I can easily see them on the lineup of the UK’s various Rock festivals. You heard it here first.
Rob Wylde
It all kicked off with singer-songwriter Rob Wylde, frontman of Hair Metal Band Midnite City, performing an acoustic set of some of the band’s most popular tunes, including Good Time Music from their latest album, In At The Deep End.
The Midnite Army, the band’s die-hard fans in the crowd, loved it, and so did Trixter’s Steve Brown and PJ Farley, who were seen clapping along amongst the audience.
You can’t blame them. Why sit backstage waiting for your turn when you can enjoy a great piece of live performance instead?
An intimate and stripped-down gig like this gave Rob the opportunity to interact with his fans, tell stories and enjoy the moment.
There was great energy in the room as Rob sang feel-good melodic rock songs. It was just what the doctor ordered. Midnite City start their Raise The Dead tour next month. You should definitely check them out if they play near you.
