It was easy to do this with singer Bernie Shaw up on the stage because he was so damned rousing as a front man and he was commanding your attention at every point of the night. My friends and I opted not to be among those that were sitting since this was such an energetic Heavy Rock show and one that warranted your standing up with fists in the air and lungs a screaming. You know, the Ziggy Stardust David Bowie Spiders…. In case your curious about this, the bassist Trevor Bolder was one of the original Spiders From Mars. He joined when long time drummer Lee Kerslake had to step down based on declining health. The only new member is drummer Russell Gillbrook who has been in place since 2007. That means singer Bernie Shaw, Trevor Bolder (bass), and Phil Lanzon (keyboards) and totally adept at the bands historic catalog. I had mentioned how there had been numerous lineup changes over the course of their history but the roster present tonight along with Mick Box has been in place for over twenty years. It does sound great live that’s for sure and the band is surely a tight one. I guess it can be described as a bit of a “commercial” number since it has a catchy chorus, solid groove and heavy keyboards. “Only Human” was up next and a song that I knew since it was from the album before last. As I mentioned, I was going to be one of those members of the audience tonight who would be taking in the show as a willing pupil to the cult masters and learning tonight what they have been preaching for four decades. It was an exciting way to start the night that was for sure and it would continue with the title track off their eighth album “Return To Fantasy”. They would open up with the title of the 2008 album and it knocked you around like nobody’s business for an intro. Clearly these old dogs had a lot of new tricks up their sleeves and loads of energy to spare. “Celebration” would be the follow-up to their 2008 release “Awake The Sleeper” which many found to be deliciously heavy and powerful. They called it “Celebration” and it was something that would surely bring those out of the loop fans such as myself into their grasp. Moving along, the guys in Uriah Heep had recently released an album of their classics but ones that had been re-recorded by the lineup of today. That was insane but great for the state of the Metal Republic. The last time I remembered the venue being this packed to the brim had to be the Saxon show that I attended several months ago. They had tables set up on the main floor but the area in front of the bar was left for standing room but truth be told, the word “room” was laughable since there was hardly an inch to spare. The curiosity was cleared entirely as I walked into a packed to the doors venue. We’ve seen successful shows for bands that had not been around before at this space but we’ve also seen some dreadful draws. There was no opening act tonight so I wondered how this show would do before walking in. I was not 100% sure so don’t quote me on that. I heard some folks speaking about how the band played at a festival show some years ago but that it was not a full on US tour so perhaps it was more like two decades since something like this had been attempted. King’s and it would not only be their first at the famous venue ever but the bands first stateside appearance in at least ten years. The show would be held at the expected B.B. Their crème de la crème tunes can be found across the span of no less than twelve greatest hits compilations and anthologies. In 2009 they celebrated their 40th anniversary as a band and have released twenty two studio albums and eleven live albums across their career. The only original member from the band is guitarist Mick Box and in some sense based on the numerous lineup changes across their history are a group that rivals the Allman Brothers when it comes to stuff like this. Historically speaking the band was formed in 1969 of so and named themselves after a Charles Dickens character from his David Copperfield novel. My friends were more focused on what the group was all about and with this particular underground, cult status group I would have to learn by watching from this night going forward. delivered a cover of it) but other than that they were pretty much a mystery to me even though they have been active since I was a very, very young child. Granted I loved the song “Easy Livin’” (especially when W.A.S.P. The reason that I bring this particular musical flaw to light once again is because the same applies to me with the band Uriah Heep. King Blues Club (New York, NY)Ī few months ago I mentioned about how despite all of the hubbub about them, I never quite appreciated or “got” the band Accept and when I attended one of their shows many years after first hearing them found myself among the converted.
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