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They're not resting on their laurels though, as
the set quite different from last time out, while at the same time
they're not taking the easy option and filling the set with their
older/more popular material either. We actually get treated to a
number of songs either not played for a while, or never gigged at
all, and it's nearly 100% newer material from the last two or three
CD's too. Yes, we get Vigilante, It's Only Love and maybe one other
older track in the main set, plus they can't resist pulling out Old
England's Eyes and Kingdom Of Madness for the encore, but I can't
say there were too many people that seemed to be too upset by this
"focus on the newer stuff" approach. Actually, by comparison with
Whitesnake or Def Leppard tours in recent years is kinda
refreshing…….... The dramatic Don't Wake
The Lion closes the main set in fine style, sounding a bit more Zep-like
than I remember from last time out, while several of the other songs
played tonight seem to be driven from a sequenced Mark Stanway
keyboard rhythm thing that's then augmented by the solid as a rock
skin pounding from Harry James behind the kit. Yep, he's still
moonlighting from his regular role in Thunder to earn a few extra
beer tokens.
Fortunately the rumoured mention of Crystal
Palace, Harry's favourite football team, doesn't materialise,
probably 'cause he just knew Bristol City were gonna get a result in
at least the first half of the Championship play-off semi-final a
few days later. Oh yeah, Harry had apparently only rehearsed the set
for five days prior this tour opener, which a few people seemed to
think wasn't much. In my view, I wouldn't mind five hours rehearsal
prior to some of my gigs……..
Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin hold down the
roles that anyone familiar with Magnum will be completely familiar
with, while the predominantly finger style five string stuff from
the bass player holds everything together with a fine pumping
foundation - superb! The sound was spot on too, so kudos to the guy
twiddling the knobs behind the desk - or is it all push buttons and
computer interfaces these days??
On the basis of this gig it'll be interesting
to see how Magnum approach their headline appearance at the slightly
larger outside gig at Codicote Castle in a couple of months - maybe
some of their older stuff will get another airing??
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| P.S. I've
subsequently found out that this gig was a 20th anniversary
celebration of the Wings Of Heaven CD release, something I didn't
previously mention 'cause I hadn't seen this publicised in the
general rock press. I could have missed something though, as I only
tend to get Classic Rock each month……
The album was apparently played in full, and in order, so my comment
about the vast majority of the songs being from the last three CD's
was clearly bollocks - just shows what I know huh!!! The full set
list was: Back To Earth; When We Were Younger; We All Need To Be
Loved; You'll Never Sleep; Midnight; Vigilante: Days Of No Trust;
Wild Swan; Start Talking Love; One Step Away; It Must Have Been
Love; Different Worlds; Pray For The Day; Don't Wake the Lion; with
an encore of All England's Eyes and Kingdom Of Madness
Thanks to Alan Holloway for pointing out the error of my ways -
clearly a bigger fan of Magnum than me……..
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