Local Scene

2023-04-12

ANVIL – THE BALKUN BROTHERS – MIDNITE HELLION – LIVE

By Donna Marie Eriquezzo

It’s a nice warm spring night in Hamden, Ct. Usually I would go home on a Tuesday evening but Anvil is playing and I haven’t seen them in many years and I’m excited to see them again. The crowd at The Space Ballroom is really picking up for a Tuesday as all their diehard fans show up for a fabulous show by Anvil, with support from The Balkun Brothers, and Midnite Hellion. A night of some seriously fun metal!

The Balkun Brothers are a two piece band of brothers from Hartford, CT. These guys grew up in a household of music and they have been playing for many years. Their fifth album was released in 2022 and is entitled 735 Farmington Avenue. This was my first time seeing them and I was really impressed with them and definitely eant to see them again.

Jody Wilk Photography

The Balkun Brothers were voted the best rock band in New England at the 2017 New England Music Awards, and Steve Balkun was chosen by Joe Bonamassa to join him on stage in LA. as part of the Guitar Center Blue Masters competition in 2013 after being voted a grand finalist at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. These guys have toured the US from coast to coast as well as 6 European tours. If you love a mix of rock, funk, and alternative music you must get out and see this kick ass 2 piece band.

Midnite Hellion was next on the stage. This is their second tour with Anvil as Anvil really enjoy touring with them. These guys are a three piece band and full of energy with an old school heavy metal sound. The band was started in 2011 by drummer Drew Rizzo, with bassist/vocalist Rich Kubik joining in 2016 and lead guitarist Charles Koegler joining in 2019. Midnite Hellion has toured the US supporting Kingdom Immortal as well as twice with Anvil.

I really enjoyed watching these guys play, they really got the crowd ramped up. Their debut album, Condemned to Hell came out in 2017 and mostly they supported Otep and The World Over in Dec 2018 in the Midwest and Mountain Regions of the US. If you are an old school metal fan or just a metal fan in general, get out to see these guys. I promise you will be amazed.

Finally Anvil came out on stage and these guys do not disappoint. They were full of energy and vitality, owning the stage, and full of happiness and smiles through their whole set. Its obvious that they absolutely love performing and they had great crowd interaction with the singer/guitarist going right out into the middle of the crowd to play during the very first song.

Jody Wilk Photography

Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band form Toronto, Ontario and they formed in 1978. The band currently consists of the founding members Steve Kudlow (Vocals/Guitar), Robb Reiner (Drums), and Chris Roberton (Bass/Backing Vocals). Anvil has released 19 studio albums as of 2022 and they have been cited as having influenced many heavy metal bands such as Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica.

Anvil was a very popular metal band in the 80s but they faded out in the 90s even though they never stopped playing.

Their setlist included:

March Of The Crabs
666
legal At Last
Take A Lesson
Badass Rock N’ Roll
Forged In Fire
Mothra
Bitch In The Box
Swing Time
Metal On Metal

I really enjoyed this show a lot. I couldn’t stop smiling watching them. As far as I am concerned these
guys deserve so much more credit and recognition than they have gotten. Robb Reiner, who plays
traditional style drums, did an amazing, killer drum solo. I was awed. During “Metal On Metal”, Kudlow
ran out into the crowd again and played his guitar. After the performance the band stayed to sign
autographs and take pictures with their fans. These guys were so humble and nice and I am so glad I
went out on a Tuesday night to see them. If they come back to Ct., make sure you get out to see them.