There have been some odd pairings over the years. Anyone remember Shed 7 opening for Aerosmith a few years back or The Feeling supporting Bon Jovi? If those tours represent one end of the scale then Europe and Black Star Riders are right at the other being as complementary to each other as you can possibly get, with both bands forged out of the rich heritage of Classic Rock.
Before the main even was the teaser of The Amorettes, one part The Runaways and one part The Donnas, a great blend of bratty Punky Pop that warmed the crowd up just nicely.
Black Star Riders, born from the last touring version of Thin Lizzy and with a line-up featuring members with credits including Alice Cooper, Ozzy, Megadeth, The Almighty and Ratt they have a mighty fine pedigree.
The decision to change the Thin Lizzy name to record new material was the right choice and a decision vindicated by their second album, Killer Instinct debuting on the US Charts at number 3 and UK charts at 13.
Clearly buoyed by the success they have achieved on their own merits the setlist reflected this growing assurance with the bulk of the set being from their two albums with a handful being the Lizzy fan favourites that just scream to be included.
Such is the musical DNA running through the band, Black Star Riders songs such as Killer Instinct, All Hell Breaks Loose and a show stopping, dramatic Soldierstown slip seamlessly alongside the Lizzy classics Jailbreak, Boys Are Back In Town and Are You Ready and both really do complement each other perfectly.
Guitarists Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson gel so well as a unit and deliver the trade mark harmonies to devastating effect as Massacre and an epic Emerald testify. Ricky Warwick has grown immeasurably in stature over the years and on the Phil Lynott penned Lizzy material he treated them with such respect and reverence while stamping his own style on them while during the Black Star Riders material he was powerful and imposing.
Now two albums in to a new phase of their career, the Black Star Riders have broken out of the shadow of Thin Lizzy and are a tour de force on record and on stage in their own right moving forward into new musical territory while never forgetting their illustrious roots.
Europe may be forever dogged by their uber hit The Final Countdown, a song so inextricably linked to the Hair Metal days of the ’80s that many may overlook the increasingly impressive body of work they have amassed in the intervening three decades. War of Kings was released just a day before this show and already shows the band expanding and growing from their last two highly acclaimed releases, Last Look at Eden and the heavy Blues of Bag of Bones.
Lead singer Joey Tempest has clearly been supping from the fountain of youth as he has not to have aged a single day since the heady times of the ’80s and has retained both a powerful voice and energetic stage presence that leaves many of his far younger peers at the starting blocks.
Musically Europe have far more in common with the Coverdale era Deep Purple, UFO and their heroes Thin Lizzy and sharing a tour with Lizzy’s Scott Gorham is clearly a big thrill for the band and really seemed to have fired them up.
Europe must be one of the very few bands from the 80s who are writing far better material now than in their commercial heyday. Songs like Last Look At Eden and Riches To Rags with its heavy groove, soaked in dirty Hammond organ and bombastic set opener, the Rainbow influenced War of Kings really impress.
Guitarist John Norum, who’s grip on melody and flair combine to give that essential ingredient to Europe’s distinct sound and at times his solos are breathtaking. The fact that he was invited to replace Michael Schenker in UFO just before Europe reformed is testament to his ability. His playing on the multi-faceted Praise You was inspired.
Older material Rock The Night and Superstition receive the sort of reaction that only long loved songs can get and live they have a heaviness that is missing from their studio counterparts. Of course they can’t leave without playing THAT song and when it comes, The Final Countdown sparks a collective frenzy in the crowd.
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