Show: Motörhead
Date: January 25, 2011
Venue: House of Blues, Anaheim
City: Anaheim, CA
Motörhead
Photo by Nicolas Bates
Written by Lindsay Murphy
After over thirty-five years of rocking hard and melting faces, British band Motörhead still know how to ignite a crowd. The prolific power trio played to an insatiable, sold-out audience about a week after releasing their twentieth full-length studio album The World Is Yours. To say the House of Blues in Anaheim was “sold-out” was an understatement.
This Tuesday night show in Anaheim kicked off their North American tour. As fans old and young plastered in band paraphernalia and leather jackets became increasingly restless for the show to begin, the band burst out onstage and assuredly announced, “We Are Motörhead.” Judging by the crowd’s response, it was safe to say there were die hard fans on the premesis.
Song two, “Stay Clean,” brought amp issues, causing the already-rowdy crowd to become even more riled up. Restless fans chanted the band’s name and yelled and screamed for their beloved Motörhead to return as Lemmy stood patiently behind his mic. Although the delay disrupted their flow, the band returned to form with the popular “Metropolis.”
But frontman and rock icon Lemmy Kilmister, with his signature bushy mutton chops, mane of hair, and biker garb, didn’t disappoint. He displayed charisma, presence and a confident attitude that solidifies his stature as a founding father of rock ‘n roll. Lemmy’s voice sounded as grimy and “rock ‘n roll” as ever, much to the adoration of men and women alike. Before launching into the fast “I Got Mine,” Lemmy teased younger concertgoers: “This song was written in 1983—before you were born.”
Their sixteen-song set showcased the band’s prolific career, with picks spanning their discography. Motörhead’s performance fueled the enthusiastic audience, and a dense, seething moshpit kept intense pace throughout the show.
Guitarist Phil Campbell shredded aggressively, and drummer Mikkey Dee pounded energetically for a profuse solo during “In the Name of Tragedy.” Lemmy’s vocals shined on fan favorite “Ace of Spades,” which they saved for the last song before their one song encore.
They performed all the essentials, including “Metropolis” and “Killed by Death.” An encore of “Overkill” was just the opposite, leaving headbanging fans wanting more.
Pioneers of thrash metal and punk rock, they still have the sound perfected. Motörhead’s musical approach has followed a formula over the years, but it’s one that clearly pleases fans and makes for solid shows.