Winter Rocks - Corporation, Sheffield, Saturday December 3rd 2022
Day 2 - VIP
So after a cracking night we get to go in early the day after and witness 3 bands and the wonderful Presenter, Caz Parker for the VIP Experience that began with two of the boys from The LA Maybe. They completely set the standard for the day performing a handful of their own penned material and a couple of covers in Guns 'N' Roses 'Patience' and an absolutely stellar performance of Slaughter's 'Fly To The Angels' with Frontman, Alvi Robinson hitting every note as good as what Mr. Mark Slaughter himself can do with Guitarist, Dallas Dwight nailing the riffs too.
They actually hail from Charlotte, North Carolina (not LA at all) and have the ability to give off a warm 'n' friendly intimate vibe as though you are literally sat in the living room with them - total pro's if I may say so with songs like the bouncing and addictive 'Oh Sugar' or beauty of 'Take Me Away'. They got us to say the least and plenty of merch was sold as a result of their hugely enjoyable time we were treated to on that small stage!
 The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 9 |  The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 6 |
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 The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 8 |  The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 7 |
 The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 5 |  The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 2 |
 The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 4 |  The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 3 |
 The LA Maybe - Acoustic - Photograph 1 |
Now the next band are a polar opposite of what we just witnessed in both style and place since The Backstabbers have come to entertain us all the way from Finland - Helsinki to be precise. They deal out their full-on rah-rah-rah, oi-oi-oi, in your face Punk Rock that takes the room up a few decibels. The folk in here dig 'em and they surely do blow away any cobwebs off anybody but re-install any hangover headaches - hahaha!
They put me in mind of local boys Sour Tusk together with old-school DIY elements of the late 70's where you were likely to get kicked in the head as part of the fun and bawled through numbers like Knockout and even a bit of Motorhead if I remember right.
 The Backstabbers - Photograph 9 |  The Backstabbers - Photograph 5 |
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 The Backstabbers - Photograph 7 |  The Backstabbers - Photograph 8 |
 The Backstabbers - Photograph 6 |  The Backstabbers - Photograph 4 |
 The Backstabbers - Photograph 3 |  The Backstabbers - Photograph 2 |
 The Backstabbers - Photograph 1 |
Now I have seen New Generation Superstars a few times over the years supporting a variety of Rock 'n' Roll and Glam bands alike. Therefore, it was good to see them headline the first part of the day with their banging sleaze rock that borderlines on punk at times - the harder edge of Cock Rock as well fondly call it.
They rocked us up with ballsy numbers like 'Raise A Toast' that's a celebration of sort with a whiskey in your hand, the fast paced & full pelting 'Beat 'Em Down', the snare slamming 'Bleed', the almost southern fried 'Way Back Home ' and newer material like the gutsy 'Taste of Me and 'Goodbye 2020' about the sh*t year that hardly ever happened that everyone of us can relate to. A good set indeed!
 New Generation Superstars - Photograph 2 |  New Generation Superstars - Photograph 7 |
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 New Generation Superstars - Photograph 4 |  New Generation Superstars - Photograph 6 |
 New Generation Superstars - Photograph 8 |  New Generation Superstars - Photograph 3 |
By Glenn Milligan