Saxon - Koko London - 20/12/11
So a week
after the Oxford show off to London for a new venue for me. London’s Koko in
Camden was the setting for Saxon’s last show of the Call To Arms tour and with
it being only a few days before Christmas that only added to the party feel.
To a packed
out crowd Sweden’s Hammerfall hit hard for 45 minutes getting a response some
headliners would like.
As last week
their heavy riffing melodic power metal was a real joy to see and showed a band
with real stagecraft thoroughly enjoying themselves.
I look
forward to seeing them back as headliners shortly.
Over the
course of 2 hours and 5 minutes Saxon nearly took the roof off with the crowd
doing their bit too.
With it
being the 30th anniversary of the release of Denim And Leather the
gig was a special occasion with a full run through of the album in 2 parts and
as Biff said not in the right order.
Here’s the
setlist for the night:
Hammer Of
The Gods
Heavy Metal
Thunder
When
Doomsday Comes
Chasing The
Bullet
Motorcycle
Man
Back In 79
Solid Ball
Of Rock
Never
Surrender
Fire In The
Sky
Midnight
Rider
And The
Bands Played On
To Hell And
Back Again
Call To Arms
Rock The
Nations including drum solo
Mists Of Avalon
Broken
Heroes (got the vote over the Eagle Has Landed this time)
Play It Loud
Rough And
Ready
Out Of
Control
Denim And
Leather
Princess Of
The Night
Encores of
Crusader
followed by Doug’s guitar solo
747
Strangers In The Night
Bass solo
Strong Arm
Of The Law
Wheels Of
Steel
A big thumbs
up again for the soundman who again produced a loud but clear sound from my
position up on the first balcony. It was also great to able to see this time
Nigel Glockler at work who was quite superb and his double bass work on To Hell
And Back Again rattled fillings!!
The band
were all on fire (with assorted Christmas hats too including a fetching Lion
hat for Nigel Glockler) and that should show when the show is released at some
time as Biff told us the night was being recorded.
A fantastic
night out that only confirms the band now in their 4th decade still
have the fire to produce the goods in the live domain.
12/10