CKY, O2 Academy, Birmingham - review
The rock world raised their hands in a horn formation when they found out CKY would be playing their first UK shows in over ten years - including one show at Birmingham's O2 Academy championing all their greatest hits.
My partner and I were excited for this show for a number of months - he has loved CKY since their early video series, through their Jackass fame and onto their well-established music career in its own right.
It shocked us both then, that when we arrived at the venue that the room was barely a third full, although the small crowd seemed bursting at the seams with excitement.
Energetic punk rock band Graveyard Johnnys opened up to the slowly-filling room - taking to the stage in a frenzy of limbs and soaring vocals.
Channelling the sheer energy of raucous punk rock coupled with a frantic rockabilly bassline and soulful vocals, Graveyard Johnnys managed to win the crowd round and get the party started.
Chats of "C-K-Y" echoed across the venue when Graveyard Johnnys left the stage, and the room erupted as soon as the trio leaped onto the stage and greeted the cheers with arms opened wide.
Trio, that's odd, you may think. But in 2016, CKY announced that they would continue as a trio featuring drummer Jess Margera, bassist Matt Deis and guitarist Chad Ginsburg taking on vocals following the departure of Deron Miller.
This was a bold move for the band and left Ginsburg with a hefty reputation to live up to - one that at times during the show, he did not.
His vocal style is different and at times, lent itself perfectly to the music - adding a more harmonious and glam-rock feel to the singles - but at others, missed cues and missing lyrics did not go unnoticed by die-hard fans.
Miller's voice commanded authority with his gruff tones and captivating vocal range, one that Ginsburg simply does not possess.
What he may have lacked in the singing department, he certainly made up for with his guitar playing.
He brought the songs to life with soaring solos and crushing riffs. Coupled with the beat-perfect drums and bass lines, it made for an unmatched set of talented musicianship.
Through smash hits 96 Quite Bitter Beings, Escape From Hellview and Flesh Into Gear through to brand new song Days of Self Destruction, CKY poured the same amount of passion into each and every note.
"It's so great to be here, the last time I played here Birmingham was in 2003!" Margera boomed
The crowd's enthusiasm seemed to wane as the set went on, with only nodding heads and a few swaying hips in sight rather than the sheer energetic outbursts that the music demanded.
Ending abruptly on GG Allin cover Bite It, You Scum, CKY treated fans to one last outburst of raw, unpredictable energy - the root of CKY that fans know and love.
CKY are back, but not as I remember them. Though the songs still sounded as powerful as I always remembered, this show didn't contain the same spark CKY shows have always had.
What they lacked in energy however, they made up for with the craft they have put into their music - making me excited for what new music they have to offer.
