Live: Stoneghost @ Barfly, Camden Town.

by | Apr 6, 2016

I’ve got a soft spot for the Barfly.  A few years ago, I did my first practice shoot for a live music gig there, and for me it always sums up the epitome of a hard core rock club where bands and audience alike can get up close and personal and basically let their hair down.  And they don’t come much more hardcore than Stoneghost tonight.

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

After a hard week at work this felt like a room full of people (band and audience) letting out their frustrations on the world via the medium of hardcore metal and basically saying **** you to the rest of the world!

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

Warm up to the main event was provided by the rather excellent and locally based Lost Gravity, who whilst nowhere near as hardcore as the main act, do a great job of getting the room energized, complete with their new bassist Andy Peggs.  This is helped not only by some strong crowd pleasing songs like What Goes Around Comes Around, but also by lead singer Breno Val’s rapport with the crowd.

Lost Gravity, supporting Stoneghost @ The Barfly (Andy Sampson)

Lost Gravity, supporting Stoneghost @ The Barfly (Andy Sampson)

Although they list their influences as Metallica and Alice in Chains, you can definitely pick up heavier undertones from Megadeth and Rage Against The Machine, and they even find a slot to close their set with a cover of Killing in the Name.  But the best thing about Lost Gravity is their uplifting feel; songs like Anywhere but Home are really catchy and sing along, and in a different way to Stoneghost, they help you forget its been a tough week and have a sing-along and a beer.  Or in Breno’s case, a Guinness!

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

Its difficult to prepare yourself for the pummeling that a live Stoneghost performance provides you with.  But from the second that lead singer Jason Smith gets on stage, you know that you’re not in from a run of the mill show.  Opening up with the frenetic paced The Sound Remains, Jason stalks up and down with the look of someone with some real anger management issues, and proceeds to graphically portray the angst ridden aspects of every moment of every song.  Underpinned by the rapid fire drumming of Chris Finnis and heavy bass of Jamie Nash you can feel the room move as your senses get well and truly assaulted with a sound that’s way tougher than their debut album New Age of Old Ways portrays.

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The album has rightfully received praise since its release last year with its blend of both hardcore and classic rock styles, and with some great guitar grooves from Andy Mathews it has managed to push itself from being just another metal album into something that’s genuinely different.  Unsurprisingly most of tonight’s set comes from the album although the good news is that they also played a couple of as yet untitled new songs.

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The set itself is fast paced, loud, and intense all at once.  During All they Need is the Light Jason finds time to join the small but pretty energetic mosh pit, and in a true devotion to the cause, having smashed himself in the forehead with the microphone during Devils Motion, he manages to complete the set with blood trickling down his forehead.

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

The raw power of Stoneghost @ The Barfly, Camden (Andy Sampson)

Perhaps a fitting introduction to my favourite song of the night Mother Of All Bastards, which mixes classic rock classic swagger and a hardcore machine gun section all combined in one, and a great way to finish a night of intense rock.  And at the end of it, Jason even found time for a brief smile. Clearly he enjoyed it too.

Live Review and Concert Photography of Stoneghost was by Andy Sampson at Camden Barfly on Friday 1st April. Andy has his own great personal website here called Sound Ritual Photos www.soundritualphotos.co.uk

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing