With November being the month I think every true Uber Rocker will be suffering from an acute case of rock 'n' roll overdrive, how the hell was I supposed to make a choice between Manowar, Motorhead and tonight's full on line up? Three gigs in three nights - each one well worthy of a look in, yet almost totally impractical when you work full time like most of us do at URHQ.  So for once I went with my wasted rock 'n' roll heart, and you know what, I only went and got it bloody bang on the button.  That's because apparently Manowar in Cardiff the previous night were way too quiet!!!! and Motorhead ended up cancelling their Bristol show the following night due to Lemmy having problems with his fingering (o'err).

So a little over three years on from the night Mrs H first dragged me along to see Duff McKagan's Loaded in a sweaty upstairs venue right here in Bristol - apparently for "research purposes".  I was actually really looking forward to once again getting to see the whites of Duff's eyes, as that night I had been totally blown away by his band's dedication to the R 'n' R cause.  Yes that night, upstairs in the awful Academy 2 venue still ranks as one of the best shows I've ever been at by an erstwhile member of THAT band, and even if I hadn't really got to grips with his band's last album 'The Taking', I was more than happy to let Duff and the guys convert me to their cause in the much more suitable settings of Bristol's Fleece.  This is a true muthafuckin' rock 'n' roll venue, and something that Duff himself would acknowledge later midway through his two hour headline set.  And that's why it's always a pleasure and never a chore to join a snaking queue of people on St Thomas Street, even if local lads Riot:Noise were already whipping up a sonic storm inside.

I've probably missed Riot:Noise live (due to traffic problems or stage clashes at festivals) more times than any other band I can care to remember, so finally making it into the satisfy-ably full venue (well in light of the other gigs going on this month anyway) early enough to see singer Marty openly admitting to having to pinch himself every night opening up for Duff, it was great to finally hear a large chunk of the band's excellent 'Fight The People' E.P live, even if I did only got to see about five songs of their all too brief set.

The Riot guys have certainly honed their sound into a more commercial package since the last time I saw them, (that very same night "upstairs with Duff") and there is an almost arrogant swagger about what they do on tracks like 'Never Enough'.  Something that has me thinking we may have found the band ready to fill the enormous hole left in the UK rock scene when The Glitterati disbanded late last year.  Closing with a fiery rendition of 'Fight The People', I have to admit that Riot:Noise impressed almost everyone watching them tonight (myself included) and the thought of what they might sound like after six months on the road is a truly exciting prospect.  More please - and soon!

And so to a band who have seemingly been on the road forever.... Manchester's very own hellions of the rock 'n' roll highway, Dear Superstar.  Tonight was actually my first live encounter with the band, and as the hypnotic mantra that welcomed them to the stage faded into the darkness, the iconic figure of Micky Satiar stepped out into the spotlight with all the glow of a future rock god about him, and I was immediately hooked.  Delivering a killer 30 odd minute set littered with cuts from the band's new album 'Damned Religion' it was recent single 'Our City Sleeps', the anthemic 'Glitter Just Like Gold' and the title track from said upcoming album (out in March 2012 apparently) that were the defining moments of a high energy performance.  If you still haven't heard Dear Superstar and are wondering what they sound like, imagine "A" jamming Buckcherry tunes with Avenged Sevenfold minus the Maiden overtones and you won't be a squillion miles off.  Check out their new tunes up on the band's Facebook page and then tell me I'm wrong.  Ones to watch out for in 2012 for sure.

And so it was left to the last band I saw live at the Fleece (Killing Joke) to usher in the arrival of Duff McKagan and Loaded.  As the last notes of 'Requiem' blended almost seamlessly into the towering mountain of rock riffery that is 'Executioners Song' the band barely stopped for breathe before 'We Win' was setting the front rows off in a crazed bout of synchronised head nodding.  With 'Dead Skin' finishing off the opening trio of numbers all taken from 'The Taking' I was starting to wonder what I had missed when I first listened to the album when it came out back in April...However when these songs are followed by the strutting 'Sleaze Factory' and the menacing 'Dark Days' it suddenly dawned on me, these new songs just aren't as immediate as the stuff Duff has previously penned, and I need to dig out my CD of 'The Taking' and give it a few more spins as live these songs really are killer.

Looking every inch the athlete he is these days Mr McKagan was running harder and faster than the bastard who stole a laptop from me outside this very venue a few years earlier as the immense 'Seattlehead' really did deliver everyone a kick in the head.

Singling out 'So Fine' for the 21^st century version of Pete Way - bassist Jeff Rouse, to climb all over his instrument whilst a rather butch looking Mike Squires pulled out all the stops on guitar, was a bit of a masterstroke from Duff, as anyone in here tonight solely wanting to hear a song or two from THAT band was probably up to this point wondering what the fuck was going on?   So with everyone in the room finally on Duff's side it was off with his trademark body warmer (which by now was drenched in sweat anyway) for a trip around pretty much every other corner of his solo career, albeit without any tunes from his 1993 album 'Believe In Me'.

You want some highlights?  Well try 'Wrap Your Arms', 'Sick' and a lethal version of the Neurotic Outsiders' 'Good News' and then add to that trio an impromptu cover of The Damned's 'New Rose' and you'll probably understand why the band, eight days into a straight nine date run, were then more than happy to pull out the stools for a mini acoustic set featuring 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory', 'Patience' and perhaps Duff's finest solo moment 'Wasted Heart'.

It was left to the subtle as a sledgehammer one/two of the Misfits 'Attitude' and THAT band's 'It's So Easy' to finally send us off into the night safe in the knowledge that if Duff ever does rejoin his former band mates in a "just for the money" reunion (and let's all pray that really does not happen) then we at least all know where his true passion still lies, and that's in sweaty clubs playing real rock 'n' roll music. Terrific stuff.