Alestorm + Rumahoy + The Dread Crew of Oddwood
@ O2 Forum Kentish Town
February 22, 2018
Review by Sabrina Selkis
Photography by Inty Malcolm
Ahoy Jolly Roger!
Tonight it is all about being a Pirate, breathing as a Pirate, drinking like a Pirate! We all are Scallywags! The party is happening at the 02 Forum Kentish Town in north London. This headline show is in support of Alestorm’s fifth album “No Grave But The Sea” released last year.
The whole tour includes 15 dates around the UK and Ireland. Yes it is freezing, this ain’t no carribean weather, but this doesn’t stop the show from being sold out with a capacity of 2300 people. Queuing is very entertaining with many disguised as pirates, it is quite a sight. Are we really in London? Where is my parrot?
To open the festivities is a band called The Dread Crew of Oddwood. The acoustic Pirate band is from California and formed in 2008.
They play a combination of Celtic and Folk music using traditional and acoustic instruments including mandolin, accordion and stand up bass.
From their first second on stage, the audience is having a blast, even getting the moshpit going.
Songs like “Whalin’ Rumbo” and “Sand Lobster” are very folky, Oddwood has a knack for catchy riffs and lyrics, and evidently the crowd is reacting very positively.
What a band to open the show!
Setlist:
- Dead Man’s Medley
- Side Quest
- Binged and Purged
- Raise Your Pints
- The Gleeman
- Trollwhack
- Heavy Mahogany
- The Dread Crew of Oddwood
- Expedition on Heavy Submarine
- Sulfur
- When I Sail’d
- Cities Burning/Careless Whisper (George Michael cover)
Following up is Rumahoy from North Carolina. The band is signed to Napalm Records and has been active since 2012.
Founded by vocalist Captain Yarrface, he added Bootsman Walktheplank on guitar, Cabinboy Treasurequest on bass, and Swashbuckling Pete on drums.
The 4 members wear balaclavas, which is quite unusual considering they are a Pirate Metal band…which makes me think their shows in Ireland must have been quite something!
Nonetheless they play a very energetic show, more metal catchy than Oddwood. I have to admit I knew nothing about this band, but by judging the crowd reaction and myself bouncing around happily, I will definitely look into their album later.
Opening with “AHOY!” Rumahoy takes control of their audience, fans headbang in unison. “Forest Party” which has its video released last year gets more people chanting and clapping. They finish a very tight set with “Pirateship”, leaving us all sweaty and in need of more rum and beer.
Setlist:
- AHOY!
- Quest for Heritage
- Haitian Slam
- Hoffman, the Pirate King
- Netflix and Yarr
- Forest Party
- The Triumph of Piracy
- Pirateship
And for the finale of this Piratefest edition 2018 is Alestorm. I have seen them a couple of times and I don’t get tired of them. The Scottish pirate metal band is one of the best to headline such a show.
They released their debut album in 2008, called “Captain Morgan’s Revenge” via Napalm Records. To this day Alestorm has five albums out, “No Grave But the Sea” being their last released last year.
There is a massive blow up yellow duck onstage by the way, and if you want a little rubber one it is actually on sale via Napalm Records’ website, I kid you not!
Their energy onstage is relentless, their songs full of headbanging riffs, the fans sing to each track, laugh, dance, drink!
A real party is happening right now, downstairs, upstairs, on stage, I bet even backstage they are having a blast!
By this time I have little recollection to be honest with you, like many I am just enjoying the moment and even dancing with complete strangers! What a night!
Setlist:
Blazing Saddles Theme (tape)
- Keelhauled
- Alestorm
- Magnetic North
- Mexico
- The Famous Ol’ Spiced
- The Sunk’n Norwegian
- No Grave But The Sea
- Nancy The Tavern Wench
- Rumpelkombo
- 1741 (The Battle of Cartagena)
- Drunken Sailor (traditional cover)
- Hangover (Taio Cruz cover)
- Pegleg Potion
- Bar und Ibniss
- Captain Morgan’s Revenge
- Shipwrecked
Encore:
- Drink
- Wenches & Mead
- Fucked With An Anchor
