Despite an early curfew, and following on from two support bands, Megadeth stormed through one of the tightest and visually perfect sets to have graced the Carling Academy in a long time.
Opening the set with Sleepwalker from last year’s release United Abominations, and Wake Up Dead from the classic album Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?, Megadeth proved the old adage that less is most definitely more by just letting the guitars do all the talking.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. December 2007.
With their fifteenth studio album not due till next year, Marillion might have felt they took a big gamble by touring so close to Christmas, they need not have worried.
By playing a set list that had something for everybody, from 1989 up to the present day, the band left a near-capacity crowd content and full of pre-Christmas cheer. A truly eclectic evening was kicked off by Bridge and Living With The Big Lie form their 1994 critically acclaimed album Brave.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2007.
One thing you can guarantee at a Thunder gig is that you will be joined by some of the most vocal and dedicated fans in rock today.
By opening the set with Dirty Dream from last year’s Robert Johnson’s Tombstone album and the excellent Last Man Standing Thunder set their stall out to entertain.
They continued to huge applause from a capacity crowd with The Devil Made Me Do It and the love song I’ll Be Waiting.
Whenever Magnum return home to the Midlands you are assured a gig to remember, one full of pomp , incredible guitar work and lyrics that stand the test of time.
Opening the first set with When We Were Younger from the latest album Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow, Magnum pulled out all the stops to thrill a capacity crowd. The audience greeted every song enthusiastically, including the seminal Les Mort Dansant, All England’s Eyes and the whole of the album Wings of Heaven, which was being recorded live to mark its 20th anniversary.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. September 2007.
With a new album, 13th Star, due in January, it seems appropriate that Fish should visit a favourite stomping ground to showcase some new songs and weave it around the 20th anniversary of the Clutching At Straws record.
Arriving on stage to The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Fish opened the set with the provocative Slainte Mhaith before going full steam into the new Circle Line and the confrontational Square Go.
The new songs were well received by the capacity crowd, as was the older material which included the wonderful Hotel Hobbies, Warm Wet Circles and That Time Of The Night.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.
For anybody who was concerned what five years away from the studio would do to Rush’s live experience- don’t worry, they are back bigger and better than they have ever been.
With a set carefully constructed around old favourites such as Circumstances and the mind-blowing Freewill to a huge chunk of the new album Snakes and Arrows Rush did not disappoint once.
After a short intro film the band were greeted enthusiastically to the stage by a capacity audience who cheered loudly as the threesome opened up with the thumping Limelight, Digital Man from the new album and the brilliant Entre Nous.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.
There are few musicians who would not feel intimidated by the air of expectation from a capacity crowd after being from a city or venue for nearly a quarter of a century.
Thankfully, on his return to Birmingham, former Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson carried it off beautifully.
This often painfully shy man strode on stage to respectful applause which seemed to catch him slightly unawares before he regained his composure and started a stunning evening’s entertainment with the opener Take The Long Way Home.
Mike Peters must currently be one of the hardest working musicians in rock.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2007.
When he isn’t touring with Dead Men Walking or helping care for a new addition to his family whilst bravely battling serious illness, he’s on the road with his first love, The Alarm.
A packed Birmingham Academy cheered enthusiastically from the start as the band opened with the driving Three Sevens Clash and My Town before going into Something’s Got To Give.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2007.
For many current bands, the prospect of touring without the aid of a new album to promote would be daunting.
Not so the Stranglers, because for J.J. Burnell, Jet Blac, Dave Greenfield and Baz Warne just to play in front of their loyal fan base is enough.
Coming on stage to their traditional entrance music, Waltz in Black, they proceeded to thrill the audience by opening the set with the rampaging Toiler On The Sea and Spectre Of Love, the latter from their now classic Suite XVI.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2007.
From the pulsating, atmospheric opening of Splintering Heart to the emotional, heart jerking ending of Easter, a near-capacity audience was treated to a heady mix of songs from Marillion’s new album Somewhere Else and a selection from their extensive back catalogue.
The band treated the audience to a sample of the new album with the tracks The Other Half, Somewhere Else and single Thank You Whoever You Are.
These were deftly intertwined with classic songs such as the sublime Afraid Of Sunlight, You’re Gone and the hauntingly beautiful Fantastic Place.