mad_lee_riot_2008_05

» Mad Lee Riot 2008 05 26

Reviewed by Niklas
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Special guest: M.ILL.ION
City: Stockholm, Sweden
Venue: Debaser
Date: 26 May 2008
M.ILL.ION set length: 25 minutes
Mad Lee Riot set length: 25 minutes

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All pictures by Nathalie Tuokko.
Please contact her and ask for permission before using any of the pictures.
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M.ILL.ION

Gothenburg-based M.ILL.ION was one out of four rock bands from the music association The Tube, who this evening on Debaser brought out the best from their roster at the moment. While Mad Lee Riot was honoured with the task of rounding up the night, M.ILL.ION was obviously the band with the biggest merits. I hadn't heard of them before, but apparently they've been around since 1989, opened for bands like Michael Schenker Group and just recently released their sixth album, Thrill Of The Chase.

Initially there were no plans to review this band, but M.ILL.ION managed to draw me in with their simple and straightforward, yet extremely well-written melodic metal. Comparisons could be made to Whitesnake (although without the wuzzy ballads); partially because the front man Ulrich Carlsson sounds almost like David Lee Roth did during his prime. It actually feels a bit awkward that M.ILL.ION are not on the billing list to this year's Sweden Rock Festival, not just because the music would feel right at home in Sölvesborg, but also because Carlsson would be a fully good replacement to Roth if his voice would crumble.

6 chalices of 10

(sorry, no setlist)

Mad Lee Riot

While M.ILL.ION isn't playing on Sweden Rock Festival this year, Järfälla's Mad Lee Riot actually is, and this Debaser-gig is the band's last chance to prepare themselves for what is most likely the concert of the year for them. This is also the first gig when the band (which consists of Robin Thorman on guitars and vocals, Per Lönnroth on bass and Lea Larsson on drums) uses two extra live-musicians, a guitarist and a keyboardist. This makes for a big change since I saw the band performing as a quartet for the first time about a year ago, it's not only more impressive visually but also gives the songs more edge.

It's rather difficult to place Mad Lee Riot into one specific genre, but one gets the feeling that grunge rock lies closest to their hearts. But there are also other influences to be heard if you put your mind to it; the epic opener The Fall has shades of Coldplay to it, while No Reply displays harder and crunchier riffs. In terms of songs The Fall plays in a league of its own, but there is good energy throughout the show, which also is sparkled with a couple of intriguing keyboard interludes. My main concern is the set list, which could have been better balanced, and I would gladly skip the Britney Spears-cover Toxic for another song of their own. Still, I would advise everyone not to miss Mad Lee Riot on Sweden Rock Festival, mostly since they have a sound that stands out from the rest of the line-up.

7 chalices of 10

SETLIST:

The Fall
All The More
No Reply
Toxic
Gorilla
Why Do You Howl?
Acedia