Rosalie Cunningham @ The Hive ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This closing night of the tour in Edinburgh, supporting her current album of the same name begins with an explosion of colour from the Clockwork Orange-style backdrop which matches the bass player's Fireglow Rickenbacker.
Claudia Gonzalez Diaz plays the instrument as if it's part of her being. There's a stage-craft and chemistry at work that pulls the threads of cult cinema, glam rock in the spirit of Bowie and songwriting packed with infectious melodies and earworms. Timothy Martin's Finishing School is a playful comment on JD Wetherspoon's weekend booze culture reminiscent of Pepper era Beatles or Bowie's 1967 self-titled Deram album. The likes of this and Home draw upon a similar rich well of English eccentrics and uncanny characters.
Dias locks into a jazz-flavoured and punchy groove with Aaron B. Thompson on keys while Cunningham looks every inch the rock star reminiscent of Hammer Horror siren Ingrid Pitt.
As she leans forward her eyes widen as if about to sink her fangs into a fan down the front but instead she waves her balloon sleeve high in the air to strike another electrifying chord on a Gibson SG.
Cunningham's jumpsuit could perhaps only have been worn by the most idiosyncratic member of Kiss – Ace Frehley back in 1974. The band is a well-oiled machine, and each member brings a unique and dynamic presence to the stage. During Spook Racket Cunningham stomps her glittery platform boots, claps her hands, shakes her long, raven-black hair, and shares lead guitar with Rosco Wilson, who, underneath a 70s footballer haircut and moustache, builds the riff.
Diaz swirls her mop of auburn hair as the riff echoes around the room. During the end coda, there's a mystical nod to Jethro Tull with the bass player now on flute. Wilson takes over lead vocals for the swampy blues rock thrust of Rabbit Foot. By this stage, the audience is ecstatic, the sheer sense of joy in the moment doesn't escape anyone as the band's epic musicianship leaves most of us in awe.
They thrash through a variety of tempos and memorable stage moves; flared trouser legs kick out, guitars are raised high and screaming space rock solos nearly take the roof off but we always return to the safety of the groove. Recent single Return of the Ellington delivers yet another energetic riff suggestive of a souped-up James and the Cold Gun by Kate Bush.
The set closes with the fuzz-driven psychedelia of Ride On My Bike but the crowd want more, nobody is thinking about the last bus home or a bedtime cup of tea. The band returns for a final encore of the dramatic carnivalesque Dethroning of the Party Queen. Cunningham is a gifted performer and a velvet-voiced vocalist who uses her voice as much as her guitar.
As if that's not enough she's a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who writes in the tradition of the best but is very much a vital artist in the here and now.
PHOTO Richard Purden
PHOTO Richard Purden
PHOTO Richard Purden
Like this:
Like
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
a minute ago
- Metro
Fans slam iconic 80s rockers for calling Trump appointment ‘great honour'
Kiss has infuriated fans by calling their inclusion in US President Trump's Kennedy Center Honours a 'great honour.' The 80s band has been named alongside soul singer Gloria Gaynor, country star George Strait, and actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford. This is the first Kennedy Center Honours since President Trump took over as chairman of the arts and culture center in Washington DC earlier this year. The highly controversial move has been pointed to as a sign of encroaching authoritarianism in the US, as Trump's first action was removing Biden-era appointees from the board and stacking it with loyalists. Yesterday, in a press conference to announce the honourees, Trump said: 'We'll be honouring one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Kiss. So Kiss was formed in 1973 in New York City by founding band members – and incredible people, by the way – Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss 'Kiss became a global phenomenon. Sold more than 100 million records worldwide and produced 30 gold albums and lots of other things. They produced, they made a fortune. And they're great people and they deserve it and they work hard and they're still. 'And they're going to do something very special. Kiss is going to be here a little bit before the show. I think they're gonna do something very special. We're gonna have a good time.' In response to the announcement, Gene Simmons told TMZ: 'Kiss is the embodiment of the American dream. We are deeply honoured to receive the Kennedy Center Honour.' 'From our earliest days, Kiss has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off,' adds Paul Stanley. 'The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honours cannot be overstated, and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of Kiss and all of the band members who helped create our iconic band.' Many Kiss fans are extremely disappointed by the band's reaction, accusing them of capitulating to Trump's growing censorship of American arts. One Reddit thread saw users embroiled in a heated discussion, with @Mr_pootatohead writing: 'Is Gene going to lick Trump's boots now after saying, a couple of years ago, 'I knew him before he entered politics. Look what that gentleman did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top. Once upon a time, you were embarrassed to be publicly racist and out there with conspiracy theories. Now it's all out in the open because he allowed it.' Would they be allowed to wear their drag-inspired costumes?' One user disagreed, writing: 'They should decline because you don't agree politically? I hate Trump personally, but the Kennedy Honours is just a PR event to celebrate American arts & culture.' In response @twoquarters posted: 'Indeed that is what it was but the accelerated movement into authoritarianism has seen a contamination of nearly all politically? No. I don't even know we are in an era where politics even works. It's far beyond that now.' X users are also displeased, with @LeeJohnson65 writing: 'Nope. I've been a KISS fan since the beginning but if they support this regime, I'm out.' @OxfordBuckeye agreed: 'Always thought Kiss were overrated garbage. This proves it.' Indeed, Trump made no mention of how critical members of the band have been of him in the past. In January 2021, as Trump sought to call the results of the 2020 election into question, Stanley described his actions as 'abhorrent,' 'mob boss behavior,' and 'a true danger to our democracy.' Four months earlier, Stanley also wrote on Twitter: 'REGARDLESS of who you support, it is incendiary & abhorrent for ANY candidate to say 'If I lose, the election is rigged. It's an insult to those who have fought for the free, safe elections we have and dangerously implies that citizens who don't share your views are the enemy.' More Trending Simmons also countered Trump's election fraud lies in 2020, posting that '60 courts in various states and 60 Judges (including Pres Trump appointed Judges) UNANIMOUSLY, and without exception, dismissed ALL allegations of a rigged that Includes Trump appointed US Attorney General Bill Barr!!!' Back in March, Trump outlined his intention to not only host the ceremony himself, but also to choose honourees who aligned with his political views. He said: 'We'll go slightly more conservative, if you don't mind, with some of the people/ There are people out there that would not be considered that are much bigger stars than the ones that were being honoured…In the past, I mean, these are radical left lunatics that have been chosen. I didn't like it. I couldn't watch it. And the host was always terrible.' View More » It seems that, according to fans, the members of Kiss are willing to put aside their beliefs for another moment in the spotlight. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Keir Starmer embraces Volodymyr Zelensky on Downing Street ahead of Trump-Putin meeting MORE: Hollywood star made massive life change after his body 'gave up' in near-death experience MORE: South Park's latest savage Donald Trump takedown scores 6,200,000 viewers in 3 days
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Latest ‘Live At The Lion' festival to be the best yet at Golden Lion
Record crowds are expected to attend what will be the seventh annual 'Live at the Lion' event. Running from Friday, August 22 to Monday August 25, the mostly free four-day event at The Golden Lion in Rossett has become a standout fixture in the local calendar, drawing over 3,000 people last year and raising hundreds of pounds for local charities. Since taking over as general manager in 2009, Allan Parrington has established the Hydes-owned pub as a real community hub for the people of Rossett and surrounding areas. Golden Lion general manager Allan Parrington. (Image: Team G) This year's festival kicks off on the Friday night with the return of the Big Fat Tipi Music Quiz, held in the pub's now-iconic Nordic-style tipi, with all proceeds from the £3 per person entry fee going to Bowel Cancer UK. The weekend's entertainment will feature more than 20 live acts performing across two stages, the main stage and the tipi stage, throughout Saturday and Sunday. TOP STORIES TODAY Homes in Flintshire left without water again as burst main causes 'further problems' Why Loggerheads' Caffi Florence is set to close for good later this month 'Asylum seekers' flats speculation in Flintshire town prompts council statements The 2025 line-up features a mix of returning favourites and exciting new artists including; Year of the Dog, The Cover Lovers, Manilla Times, Danko, Morgan Elwy, The Welcome Party, Colonel Dax, Brad Hunter and The Afterparty, Fleece, Karma Shake (acoustic), Tom Macaulay, Mr. Phormula, People of Maha, Matt Nicholls, Andy Hickie, Maria Mihailik, Ste Jones, Delta Ladies Choir and the High Society DJs. The festival will close on Monday August 25 with a nostalgic 80's afternoon daytime disco, offering a relaxed and upbeat end to the weekend. Allan Parrington, general manager of The Golden Lion, has overseen the festival's growth into a major local event. He said: 'We're incredibly proud of what Live at the Lion has become. What started as a small community idea has grown into something very special, and it's all thanks to the amazing support we get from our guests and neighbours. "Everyone involved is also very grateful to Hydes who are always very supportive of the festival and what it means to the surrounding community. This year's line-up is our best yet and we can't wait to welcome everyone.' Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes Brewery, added: 'The Golden Lion is a shining example of what a great pub can bring to its community. Live at the Lion has become a real highlight in the Hydes calendar and we're proud to continue supporting Allan and the team in delivering something so special year after year.' Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of over 40 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Trump says he will host Kennedy Center awards and rejected liberal artists
Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will host the Kennedy Center honors this year and said he had been heavily involved in choosing who to nominate, rejecting people he thought were too liberal. The US president named actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss, country music star George Strait and actor and singer Michael Crawford among the first batch of Kennedy Center honors nominees since he took over as the Washington-based arts center's chairman upon returning to the White House this year. The president typically attends the annual honors event each December but sits in the audience as a VIP and hosts a reception for awardees at the White House. Trump's announcement that he will host the event is a break from tradition, although no details were released on what form that would take. His announcement continues his push to exert authority over US cultural institutions, such as the Smithsonian, and Democratic-led cities and came on the first full day that federalized national guard troops were on duty on the streets of Washington by order of the president. Trump has cited a crisis of crime and homelessness in the nation's capital to sharp criticism from opponents. In an appearance at the arts center on Wednesday morning, Trump also said that he intends to 'fully renovate' the entire infrastructure of the Kennedy Center to make it a 'crown jewel' of arts and culture in the US. 'We're going to bring it to a higher level than it ever hit,' the president said, adding the venue would be featured in next year's celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the US founding. Trump said he had been invited to host the Kennedy Center honors and had reluctantly agreed. Trump avoided the Kennedy Center awards during his first term after artists said they would not attend out of protest. After taking over as the chairman this year he fired the board of trustees and replaced it with loyalists amid an overhaul of the venue's offerings. In March, the producers of the rap musical Hamilton pulled out of staging their Broadway hit, citing Trump's aggressive takeover of the institution's leadership. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump had teased a name change for the center, formally the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and said it would be restored to its past glory. 'GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS,' Trump wrote. He said work was being done on the site that would bring it 'back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment'. 'It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!' he wrote. He did not announce a name change during his appearance later on Wednesday. House Republicans added an amendment to a spending bill Trump signed into law in July to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump, but that venue has yet to be renamed. Maria Shriver, a niece of the late President Kennedy, a Democrat, has criticized as 'insane' a separate House proposal to rename the entire center after Trump. Trump said he was 'about 98% involved' in choosing the honorees this year. He added that he 'turned down plenty' of names, saying those individuals were 'too woke' or too liberal. He described the artists he announced on Wednesday, including several of his favorites, as 'great people'. Historically, a bipartisan advisory committee selects the recipients, who over the years have ranged from George Balanchine and Tom Hanks to Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell and Stephen Sondheim. In the past, Trump has floated the idea of granting Kennedy Center honors status to singer-songwriter Paul Anka and Stallone, one of three actors Trump named as Hollywood ambassadors earlier this year. Anka was supposed to perform My Way at Trump's first inaugural ball and backed out at the last moment. The Kennedy Center honors were established in 1978 and have been given to a broad range of artists. The Associated Press contributed reporting
