Motorhead/Saxon Bristol Colston Hall 18th November 2008

First visit to the Colston hall since Anthrax in 1989 and before that Iron Maiden in 1986.Hasn't changed a lot although they are putting a new foyer to it which has to be seen to be believed.Gold and Shiny metal sums it up.Monstrous.
The seats at the front of the stalls have been removed so a large standing area, seats to the back and a balcony.Holds just over 2,000.
Danko Jones were first up.A 3 piece from Canada although a guy outside who was collecting names said when asked they were from London!! Very Ramones with a frontman who tried to pull a funny face mainly with his bottom lip at every available opportunity. When they played they were ok but when he went on about his life - shut up man you have only 25 mins to make us like you!! Get off.
Saxon. Haven't seen them since 1985. Now our resident Saxon fan(NH) will be horrified about that but I have just not felt like going to see them, but when did they last play all the halls like this? Now Shaz had never seen them or Motorhead before and said Saxon won hands down. Biff seemed genuinely surprised at the reception they got. Shouts of "Saxon" rang out at every opportunity. Oldies(Motorcycle Man,Princess of the Night,747,Heavy Metal Thunder and Never Surrender)went well with newies including 2 off the new cd "Into The Labyrinth" (out on 13-01-09 Saxon fans) although available on the internet already. Good fun.

Motorhead came on to Iron Fist and didn't look back. The mosh pits started and Lemmy was in charge.No one sounds like Lemmy on bass and with Mikkey Dee on drums (who is stunning) What a backline!!! Phil Campbell riffs along with solos dotted around. Lemmy asked again if we wanted it turned up. My ears had an electronic drone afterwards -not ringing - it was that loud. Better in 2 days!!

Songs came and went there are not many bands who can play any obscure song from any album and it sound like a live favourite!!Rock Out and The Thousand Names of God from the new cd "Motorizer" fitted in well. Two tracks were played off "Another Perfect Day" which has recently been reissued. The main set ended with Killed By Death and the last 2 encores of Ace Of Spades and Overkill were stunning.
At the end Lemmy said "Like Status Quo there will be another tour next year". People will go in their thousands. Will I ? Maybe if not the year after.

Motorhead and Saxon great double bill very British!!!
8.5/10 ME

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