Fallen Star Photography

It’s the night before Halloween, and Love Amongst Ruin are in London at the Relentless Garage, which I have never been too before, but apparently has recently undergone a major facelift with sponsorship from energy drink producers Relentless. Having had to cancel their previous UK show at Southampton, this was now the first UK show in the tour since their Sonisphere performance, making it just their 4th show in the UK following a 17 date European run spanning from Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and France. Love Amongst Ruin is fronted by former Drummer of Placebo Steve Hewitt, joined by Donald Ross Skinner (guitar), Steve Hove (lead guitar), Laurie Ross (cello, keys and percussion), Teresa Morini (bass) and Keith York (drums). Their self-titled album is out now, and you can buy it here released through Ancient B records which is their own label.

Love Amongst Ruin were being supported by From Great Height and Innercity Pirates. The first of which ‘From Great Height’ were up, and front man Adam Ever had came with face painted in the mood of the Halloween festivities, though he was not the only one there that had done so, Love Amongst Ruin had requested fans to come dressed in a Halloween fashion so he was in good company. Anyway back to the music, From Great Height are a unsigned four piece band from north London. They fall somewhere between Metal, Prog-Rock and Grunge, and have a somewhat familiar sound to them, though I can not place exactly what they sound like. Nonetheless they were a good support act.

Adam Ever

Michael Alp on Guitar & Tim Story on Drums

After ‘From A Great Height’, the second of the nights support acts were up welsh rockers Innercity Pirates were up which being dyslexic I misread as Insincerity Pirates for some reason, and I thought Pirates weren’t that well known for their honesty anyway… But dyslexia aside, these guys have a really fun taking the best from bands like the Fratellis, with a mix of the Pixies and The Breaks in there too. With songs like “Seen It All Before” (download here) & “Bang Bang” it’s hard to imagine why they haven’t been snapped up by some label yet, but I think in time they will get there. They even had a line of Pumpkins with their name carved in them, that’s a good effort. But if you get a chance to see these guys, do make the effort they are well worth a watch.

Innercity Pumpkins

Russell Toomey (vocals/guitar) & Tom Dale (Bass)

Drew Zeller (guitar)

After that there was the nights main attraction, Love Amongst Ruin. There was a raucous cheer when the band arrived on stage. The audience seem to be primarily comprised of Placebo & ex-Placebo fans, but I guess it’s still early days for the band. It was a shame not more people came, but there was a decent amount of people here, but it would have been nice to see the Garage packed.

Love Amongst Ruin who are still on their first album are limited in their setlist and play a similar set to the Scala show, but without ‘Oh God’ and in its place they played ‘Come On Say It’ and ‘Got To Give It Up’ (Thin Lizzy Cover) which was really cool. It was nice to see Hewitt settling in more with his new found role as front man, after years of being behind the drums, Hewitt appears to be gaining more and more confidence with each show, and I’m sure with more shows that will grow further.

After their set had finished and they left the stage, the crowd were demanding more, and they obliged us with a two song encore, first being Bring Me Down (You Don’t) and then they apologised for having to play a song they had played already, but the crowd seemed to be pleased that they were still playing more, and they finished with So Sad (Fade).

Steve Hewitt (lead vocals & guitar)

Steve Hove (lead guitar)

Donald Ross Skinner (guitar) & Teresa Morini (bass) 

Keith York (drums) apologies for the flash it was too dark to take in natural light.

Steve Hewitt rocking out and Laurie Ross in the background.

Thanks to the kindness of some lovely ladies on the Love Amongst Ruins forum, I and some new friends of mine got after show party passes, and I got a chance to catch up with Steve Hewitt himself, got him to sign my copy of their self titled album and also he agreed to doing me a favour which I will reveal only when it is ready, but there are exciting times ahead to be sure.