City will go into Meltdown

Mar 10 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

METAL outfit Meltdown make their Fair City return on Friday.

The hard-rocking power trio last appeared in Music Scene territory at the Late Lounge last December, in a triple-bill with Thin Lizzy tribute act The Lizzys and Dundee-based HM quartet Swordmaster.

This time round at the Watergate venue, Meltdown will again be supported by Swordmaster, with The Spoons, an up-and-coming rock act with strong Perth connections, also putting in an appearance.

Meltdown are led by axeman Steve Murphy (26), who has been playing since he was eight and gigging for the past 11 years.

After winning the national Guitar Hero competition in 2005, finishing at the head of a field of 3,000 entries, Murphy teamed up with veteran drummer Dave Watson.

A former student of top Austrian session sticksman Thomas Lang, Watson has toured Europe and the USA in his time and performed drum clinics with legends like Dave Weckl, Steve Smith and Vinnie Colaiuta.

Citing classic rock influences such as Paul Gilbert, Planet X and Vinnie Moore, the instrumental band also includes former Little Panic bassist Chris Woods (25).

For the Perth show, they will be bolstered by a guest turn from respected guitarist Dave Fulton.

Meltdown’s debut, self-titled album was laid down at Seagate Studios in Dundee late last year under the watchful eyes and ears of producer/engineer Graham Watt.

Described by Murphy as “hugely talented” group, The Spoons are led by bass virtuoso Jason Wotherspoon and his drummer brother Marc. Completing the line-up is Jondi Mac, The Spoons’ much-travelled keyboard player/singer, who studied at Perth College.

Tickets for the show, which starts around 9pm, are available from Perth’s Bandwagon Music or at the door.