Live Event: Tragedy + Nanowar of Steel, O2 Academy, Islington, London, April 27th 2023
A mere 6 weeks after watching Tragedy at a home town gig in New York opening for Steel Panther, I had the pleasure of seeing them again at the o2 Academy in Islington, this time playing a headline set.
Before the “Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees and beyond” hit the stage however, was the opening act Nanowar of Steel. As you might expect from the name, they are a parody of power metal bands.
As they hit the stage by first thought was they looked “Troma”. Cult movie fans and longtime listeners of 80s Picturehouse will know exactly what that means, and after an hour of songs about armpits, Chtulu on a mobile, someone in a barn owl costume dabbing and a coffee table being crowd surfed I am still confident in that assessment – a lot of fun, although I think am entire hour was maybe a touch too long.
Having seen Tragedy a couple times now (the aforementioned NYC gig, and the slightly less glamorous Norwich several years ago) I knew what to expect, and was not disappointed. Not just covering the Bee Gees, we got fantastic and hilarious covers of classics such as “Fame”, “Summer Lovin'”, “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man after Midnight)” as well as Gibb brother standards like “Nights on Broadway” and “Stayin’ Alive” before ending with a stage invasion alongside “YMCA”.
The comedy in between songs is well honed and laugh out loud funny, with towel boy Lance being the butt of most of the jokes.
On record, Tragedy are good but they really shine in a live environment, so if you’re able to catch them on tour…do it!
Review by Thom from press access kindly supplied by Palmer Turner Overdrive.
