KILBURNFLYER

Saxon at the Forum last Thursday (St Georges Day) was great. Doro in support was great - especially her cover of Breakingthe Law. Saxon did ‘Battalions Of Steel’, ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’, ‘Demon Sweeney Todd’, ‘Ride Like The Wind’, ‘Requiem (We Will Remember)’, ‘Strong Arm Of The Law’, ‘Valley Of The Kings’, ‘And Te Bands Played On’, ‘Hellcat’, ‘The Eagle Has Landed’, ‘Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)’, ‘Machine Gun’, ‘Never Surrender’ and ‘Wheels Of Steel’, with encores of ‘Live To Rock’, ‘Motorcycle Man’, ‘Crusader’, ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Coming’, ‘747 (Strangers In The Night)’, ‘Denim And Leather’ and ‘Princess Of The Night’ (hat tip to Mr Ling who always writes this shit down as it his job).

Then up early for the 4 hour drive to Hammerfest.

Now the line up was a big disappointment - especially after the last two Hard Rock Hell festivals had so many name bands on the bill - but that didn't make the weekend any less enjoyable. I was introduced to a number of new bands the most notable (good and bad) of which were:

Alestorm - I thought the pirate metal thing would irritate me after a few songs but it didn't. They were really good and I have now bought everything they have produced ready for the next time I get to see them.

Skindred - a really fantastic live act with a brilliantly enthusiastic front man. Some great songs and all in all great fun.

Sepultura - just a load of shit

Attica Rage - met these guys before and had already bought their album but they were much richer live than they are on record.

KILBURNFLYER

Splendid night at the O2 to see AC/DC. The show was pretty much exactly the same as when I saw them at Madison in November but the extensive touring has clearly honed the performance. They actually made full use of the stage including the runway into the crowd which was only used once at Madison for the obligatory guitar solo. Very prefessional and very enjoyable. Sadly I fear this may be the last time I see them - can't do the show at Wembley Stadium due to other commitments - but hope they come round again for one last hurrah. Was in the company of an old girl friend I took to see them at Hammersmith in 1982 - cue much reminiscing. They really are a magnificent live band and everyone left with a very big grin on their face. Next week Saxon and then the marathon of Hammerfest - bring it on !!

Set-list (again ripped from Mr Ling): ‘Rock And Roll Train’, ‘Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be’, ‘Back In Black’, ‘Big Jack’, ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’, ‘Shot Down In Flames’, ‘Thunderstruck’, ‘Black Ice’, ‘The Jack’, ‘Hell’s Bells’, ‘Shoot To Thrill’, ‘War Machine’, ‘Anything Goes’, ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’, ‘TNT’, ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ and ‘Let There Be Rock’, with encores of ‘Highway To Hell’ and ‘For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)’.

KILBURNFLYER

It is a very rare event that I leave a concert early but I did on Thursday night when the Sisters of Mercy played the Forum and they were just woeful. They seemed to play ok (although it is difficult to say for sure) and the song selection was good but the sound was just so awful. I have heard better sound standing outside a venue with the band already onstage inside the venue. They might have well been playing next door for all I could hear. They were halfway through most songs before I recognised what they were. A total fucking waste of time and money.

AC/DC tonight at the O2 - lets hope for something better