A5 C5 D5 C5 A5...Odin...Odin...A5 C5 D5 C5 A5...Odin...Odin...

Ah yes, to anybody with a certain musical knowledge this chord progression is instantly recognizable as being the opening guitar salvo to the classic AC/DC number 'Whole Lotta Rosie', but with a slightly altered Uber journalistic slant on the lyrical content to fit in with my attendance at Odin's Rock Club...and that Rosie reference fittingly down to tonight's headline artist, Dave Evans and the UK Badasses.

"Who?" you may utter, but in the fathoms of not only Australian but global musical folklore Dave Evans was in the equation at the very beginning of probably the greatest hard rock band to ever grace us with their presence...AC/DC, as their original singer; this man is a legend - Uber fact 101.

The evening's proceedings are opened in absolute killer style with Swansea quartet Buffalo Summer kicking it about with their own brand of classic inspired '70s tinged southern rock of sorts on tunes like 'She's All Natural', 'A Horse Called Freedom' and 'Truth From Fable', all straight-laced songs with all the essential bounce, groove and neat swaying riffage and a slight Black Stone Cherry, Electric Boys and Black Crowes influence rearing its musical head into the equation. Guitarist Jonny, vocalist Andrew, drummer Gareth and bassist Darren possess an uber-cool, ultra rare nowadays, stage presence and a musical tightness and togetherness to die for. Including a couple of newies in the set in the shape of 'Priscilla' and 'Little Charles', alongside the seven tracks lifted from their self titled debut release like the swinging 'Rolls On Through' and 'March of the Buffalo', these guys could have portrayed the band Stillwater from the movie 'Almost Famous'. They conclude the extremely groovy set with the catchy, anthemic 'Down To The River' and the rocking riffage of 'Typhoid Mary'. Check these guys out when the opportunity arises, you won't regret it believe me people.

The diverse scale and high standard of Welsh rock/metal outfits is highlighted for the second time tonight with the arrival onto the Odin's stage of Triaxis. Banging out some classic metal with influences and inspirations surely spewing from the likes of Priest, Testament and all those like-minded musical fellas, Triaxis head straight outta the intro into 'Sand and Silver' and, as the five-piece are female fronted, comparisons to artists like Nightwish are obviously inevitable but this group has so much more to their craft then say some of those other types of bands, especially for the gentlemen in attendance with not only frontwoman Krissie Kirby but guitarist Clare Hale within the band's ranks adding vastly to the sex appeal of the show, but I'm sure the Ladies of Steel at Odin's are equally knocked out with the guys in the band too. Anyway, back to business; operatic, powerhouse vocals as expected to accompany the old school metal fashioned by the globally adored dual axe attack, following on with hard hitting but melodic tracks 'Black Trinity' and 'Sker Point' and plenty of stage movement and, of course, a plethora of fretboard acrobatics to snare and nail any six string aficionados within these walls to the ground. The heavy progressiveness continues on 'And Shadows Creep' and 'Lies' - the solitary tune performed from their debut 2011 album 'Key to the Kingdom' - finishing an impressive performance with what has become obligatory for any Triaxis show; 'The Wicker Man' of course, the Iron Maiden tune rounding things off in a true booming style.

With a thunderous introduction from Odin Skullsmasher himself, Dave Evans and the UK Badasses hit the stage rocking to the hilt with the triple swagger of 'We Don't Dance To Your Song', 'You Talkin To Me' and the title track from the singer's 2008 release 'Judgement Day'. My initial reservations around should I attend tonight's show or stay at home were, within the first bars of the opening number, blown totally out of the water as the classiness was stunningly and shockingly evident thanks, it should be uttered, to the musical collective known as the UK Badasses, but it's Mr Evans the frontman who's the focus tonight and amidst the renditions of 'Rock N Roll Singer' and 'Jailbreak' the question arises as to "What if?" (this guy had spent a longer reign within the DC ranks).

The man has an aura of quality surrounding him and with a set list mixing it up between the AC/DC standards and his original solo material, it must be said the solo moments stand up almost as equally in the live arena. Obviously the reaction of all the Angus and Angus-ette wannabes in the audience shows this off rather grandly and, of course, Welsh born Evans has come home in many respects and is certainly treated as one of the boyos tonight, rockin' the roof off Odin's with 'Helluva Night' and "one dedicated to the ladies," 'Little Headbanger' and a naughty little track penned about Australian groupies entitled 'Band Molls' before playing the songs that started it all way back in 1974 which he sang on with the Aussie superstars, 'Can I Sit Next to You Girl' and 'Rockin in The Parlour': this is definitely not a tribute night this is the real thing and with the last four tracks on this evening's setlist all Bon Scott classic period DC, starting with the crowd giving some "Oi Oi Oi Oi" on the singalong to 'TNT' and on listening to Evans's take on 'Baby Please Don't Go' and 'It's a Long Way to The Top' this guy should be playing to packed houses every night of the week performing his own brand of '70s style bar-room boogie, closing his set with 'Let There Be Rock' and encoring with 'Whole Lotta Rosie' amidst scenes of front row bedlam at Odin's Rock Club. This is special. This is the business.

Another fine evening of rockin' entertainment at Odin's... "We Salute you, Dave."

[Photos by Ian Cates: www.iancates.co.uk]