Wimbledon

Haven't been to jolly old Wimbers for nearly 20 years! Well finally I decided to make the trip and reminisce a little. So much has changed since I was last there it's really moved along with the times. Thankfully there wasn't much rain and interruptions were short lived. I managed to get a few photos. I saw old "nasty" Illie Nastase in the balcony. Tim Henman's parents of all people! Well not that surprising I suppose. Saw Richard Williams the father of the Williams sisters just standing in the grounds with his new girlfriend. Rather odd indeed but no photo cause it would have been a bit blatant. Oh and Henman Hill looks really big on TV but is actually really not that big. The whole of Wimbledon is a magnificent sight and the atmosphere is very posh in some respects and also the regular crowds also bring it down to earth somehow as well. Saw Nadal and Roddick in the practice grounds and a couple of other stars. Sharapova very briefy walked out but no photo unfortunately. She's actually very pretty in the flesh as well. Anyway it was fun and here are the photos.

Cricket

Went to Lord's for the last day of the Test match even though it was a guaranteed draw between England and Sri Lanka. It was only 20 quid so I went a long for a laugh after I put a tenner on this horse that won enough for the ticket. Without that horse winning I wouldn't have gone at all no doubt! Took a few photos. Lord's is always a picture when the sun's out.

Journey with Foreigner and Styx at Wembley Arena

It was my first time seeing any of these famous AOR and melodic rock old stagers and whilst the ticket cost me £50 which is a bit steep for my tight pockets but alas this is a big gig and when these guys come calling you've got to give them the time of day however hard it hits your pocket! First of all I should say I am not a huge or massive fan of any of these bands to be honest. My fandom for AOR and melodic rock is based around newer bands rather than the classic oldies. Of course these three are giants of the genre back in the day and have a huge old time following even now although the two supports less so here than Journey who are riding a crest of a wave thanks to a program on the telly called Glee or something and also some dude singing their anthem Don't Stop Believin' on X Factor a couple of years ago.



Must say the Wembley Arena was pretty much packed out for this all seater event which was must have been pleasing to see for all three bands as they came out for their sets. My seat was about as far away from the stage as it's possible to be but at least it was quite high up and head on, so I didn't need to twist my neck like the people sat at the sides. First up were Styx whose pomptastic style is somewhat different to the straight ahead style of the other two bands. Near enough the whole of the band either sang lead or backing vocals at one point during their set which shows their versatility off very well. Can't say I knew all the songs at all although I do know we didn't get the pretty bad Babe! The vocals were top notch from Tommy Shaw and Lawrence Gowan the keys guy. The songs are somewhat recognisable from my deep memory though it's been years and years since any Styx music passed my lugholes. They warmed the crowd up nicely and the Wembley Arena acoustics were for once on good behaviour as the band sounded pretty much crystal clear. Come Sail Away seemed to garner the best response from the crowd although I enjoyed opener The Grand Illusion most of all as it was very pomptastic indeed.

1. The Grand Illusion
2. Too Much Time On My Hands
3. Lady
4. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
5. Miss America
6. Blue Collar Man
7. Come Sail Away
8. Renegade

After a 20 minute change around the lights went down and it was time for Foreigner and boy did they please this happy old time crowd. Their sound was once again pretty much perfect with with Mick Jones' guitar work the star of the show. They played pretty a much an expected greatest hits setlist which left every old time Foreigner fan happy. I wouldn't say I was a Foreigner fan but these guys really delivered. Sure the old timers would probably say it's not the same without Lou Gramm but I think the current singer Kelly Hansen does an amazing job on the mic to be honest. He hits exactly the same notes that Lou used to only with way more power. Although i must admit he doesn't sing I Want To Know What Love Is quite as good as Lou used to, but the rockers he nails. Urgent was killer as was Cold As Ice. Only song missing from their set was I've Been Waiting For a Girl Like You which was strangely omitted not that I cared but I'm sure a few Foreigner diehards did. their set ended with a rousing and a seemingly extended version of their hit anthem Jukebox Hero. These guys maybe old but they still know how to rock.

1. Double Vision
2. Head Games
3. Cold as Ice
4. Starrider
5. Feels Like the First Time
6. Urgent
7. I Want to Know What Love Is
8. Hot Blooded
9. Juke Box Hero

Video clip from Cold As Ice - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdYQKQ-TbJQ

Finally at around 9.30 or so the house lights went down again and it was time for every one's fave old time rock band to deliver the goods again. What a masterstroke they pulled in starting off with mine and probably most people's fave Journey song of all time! This is the way to start the show however there were a few slight sound issues which made the bass too loud and distorted a touch but the song was sung with amazing power by the little waspish frontman Arnel. The crowd at the front was mostly stood and going at it with full force and if the seats weren't down they would have probably started a little geriatric moshpit!

The sound soon settled down once the sound guy got the levels right and became a tour de force of power and melody for the band. The band sounded truly energised and happy to be playing for the thousands gathered and were keen to air new songs from Eclipse which I have found to be a rather disappointing album in truth however I will admit that i rather enjoyed the live rendition of songs such as Chain of Love and Resonate in particular as Arnel really outdid himself with his powerful delivery.

Having said all that this was a night of a million and one notes and all of them belonging to Neal Schon! The guy was literally spitting fire from his axe all night. In fact I though I was at an Yngwie show for a second or two he solo-ed so long and hard on most songs. His guitar cut through the mix like razorsharp shards of glass and he pulled more shapes than you'd believe! If you were a fan of Neal's guitar acrobatics you'd be in heaven however I do believe that most of these people were here for the classics and not a wankathon on the guitar.

However don't think I'm taking away from Journey's overall performance because it was pretty much flawless. In Arnel they have found the frontman of their dreams. The guy is like a little Tasmanian Devil come Whirling Dervish all rolled into one all topped with an amazing vocal delivery which is pretty much faultless.

A mention of Dean Castronovo on the drums, not only can he play wicked but his lead vocals on Mother, Father was great as well. He could have been the singer full time had they not found Arnel. My only gripe about the show apart from Schon's extended soloing was the lack of material from previous album Revelation. I love that album a lot and much more than Eclipse but hey this is the Eclipse tour and with so many classics to play as well there's only so much you can fit in so I had to accept this situation. The latter parts of the setlist was completely given over to the hits and the crowd really got into it having been a little bit restrained during the new songs. In the end Journey had to give them what they wanted in the end. A great show by three classic rock bands.

1. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
2. Only the Young
3. Edge of the Moment
4. Ask the Lonely
5. Send Her My Love
6. Resonate
7. Stone in Love
8. City of Hope
9. Lights
10. Mother, Father
    (Deen Castronovo on lead vocals)
11. Open Arms
12. Chain of Love
13. Wheel in the Sky
14. Be Good to Yourself
15. Faithfully
16. Don't Stop Believin'
17. Any Way You Want It
18. Encore:
18. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Separate Ways live clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvDNAjnICfY
Faithfully - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ASApzL98Rk

Champions League Final

Unfortunately we were slaughtered. Rooney gave us hope but in the end Barcelona mullered us and then some. I went up to Wembley to soak up the pre-match atmosphere and took a few photos and videos.

Pagan's Mind Live Report

My 11th gig of the year so far and I've missed a few I fancied as well but still a fairly productive year gig wise with over half the year left to go. Anyway it was my first time seeing Pagan's Mind so I had to make the effort. For once I didn't have a ticket pre-booked and paid on the night to get in. Normally I like to get tickets beforehand to save money and also the possibility of not getting in on the night but to be honest I knew that PM were not going to sell the Underworld out somehow!

They are not THAT big here basically in my estimation and so it proved. The Underworld was probably barely half full, about 250 if you're being generous although all who did turn up witnessed a great show by the Pagan boys.

I missed the first support band who went by the name of RIP Sanity. Quite like that name might have to investigate them a little. I saw most of Neonfly who played a 45 minute set. I saw these guys a few weeks ago supporting Power Quest. They are quite good. I find it hard to pigeonhole them actually. Sometimes they are power metal with an AORey sounding singer, then they have prog tendencies, then they go into complete AOR sounding tunes. There's something about them I'm not quite getting though. Maybe it's the singer. Anyway they are quite good as a support band like I said and they have an album coming out and the best way to judge them I think is on their studio output.

Finally the Pagan lads took to the stage at 8.30pm which is quite early for the Underworld but there was a 10.15 curfew because of some club running after I guess. Anyway plenty of time to listen to some killer prog/power based material from this great band. For a one guitar band they don't half pack some punch let me tell you. The sound in the Underworld last night was absolutely amazing as well last night. It was loud but crystal clear mostly. The band are quite an odd looking bunch. Two portly guys on bass and keys. A nicely hair-cutted shit hot guitarist and the small elfin screamer Nils on the mic. Didn't really catch what the drummer looked like!

As Nils explained between one song and we sort of realised after, he had broken his hip six weeks ago and they had toyed with the idea of cancelling the tour but he decided to soldier on in the end. He has walking very gingerly around the stage for sure though his showmanship and crowd geeing from the waste up was still tip top. The crowd themselves were well into what the band was doing and although this was the first night of the UK tour they were in tip top shape musically speaking if not physically. They played most of their famous hits and a couple of new songs as well of course. The new songs sounded amazing especially Intermission of course which was sung with great power by Nils especially that scream! Enigmatic Mission is also always gonna be great isn't it. Nils' voice is very powerful live although on the odd occasion he was struggling to be heard over the music. They played an awesome instrumental song whose name I don't recall I'm sure you PM fans will know which one. That was just immense.

The encore featured Through Osiris Eyes which is perhaps their most well known song and probably a song they will have to play on every live show they ever do from now until they decide to call it a day.

I'm glad I came to see these guys finally and they didn't disappoint one iota. Their live sound is not far from their amazing produced recorded output at all. They can definitely lay claim to being the best band of this style in Europe at least if not the world and they deserved a far bigger turn out as well but I guess not enough people really know about them which is a shame. Apparently the Snooty Fox gig in Wakefield in two days is going to be broadcast live on the internet. Well worth a watch I'd suspect if you have a good connection.

Champions???

Don't often post about United anymore but dare I say it....CHAMPIONS!!!

Ok I am ever so slightly jumping the gun as one more point is needed mathematically speaking but even the most pessimisitic United fan must surely admit that number 19 is in the bag. Can you believe it United fans? 19 fucking titles!!! Liverpool well and truly knocked off their perch.

Roll on the Champions League Final. What an epic night that's going to be.

Power Quest LIve Report

As you may or may not know The Purple Turtle is basically a pub with a stage at one end. Alas Power Quest as a band are not big enough to play a headline gig anywhere else and so it proved as the attendance was roughly 100 or so. I talked a fair bit once again with Chity Somapala the new singer before the gig. He's a very enthusiastic and likeable fellow plus he is great at fronting the band. I also very briefly met Alessio the previous PQ singer as he was also present.

Two support bands were on show. First were Primitai who I've caught supporting already this year at the Accept gig. They are ok and the heart is completely in the right place but the songs are just not memorable enough for me.

Direct support were Neonfly who apparently have a new singer though I didn't know they had an old one until Charlie my gig going pal told me so after the gig. The new singer has a very shrill and high pitched voice. The band's music is pretty cool with some decent melodies. When their album is released I will definitely check it out.

Finally at 9.45 the PQ guys were armed and ready for action and launched straight into the opening instrumental off the new album and then into Rising Anew. The band and Chity sounded very energised. The sound was a little on the loud side for such a small venue but was clear enough especially Steve Williams' keys which were pretty clear. Chity's vocals were very powerful and in pretty good shape for the first night of the tour. The band seemed to be having a lot of fun judging by the wide grins on their faces. They played a lot of songs from the new album including brilliant tracks like Crunching The Numbers and the title track Blood Alliance.

Of course they didn't miss out some older classics as well from their previous albums. One of the highlights of the set was Another World. I love that song. Better Days from the new album was also awesome with it's gorgeous 80s keys and vocals harmonies. Fun Stuff.

Just after 11pm the band played the final song of the night and the power metal diehards went into the mild night air happy. I saw Chity again at the end and wished him well for the rest of the tour. On a side note both Sam and Herman from Dragonforce were at the show as well and Sam was getting mega pissed as usual. Good to see them turn up to support their brother band though as Sam used to be in PQ along time ago.

A cheap and enjoyable night of power metal goodness folks.