Saxon + Fastway + Girlschool @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, 6th November, 2016
The show started earlier than advertised and I was delighted by how full it was for the supports. This shows what a great line up we have tonight and confirmed everyone was here to see Girlschool as much as Saxon.
After forming 38 years ago (older than I am) it’s a pleasure to see Girlschool and they sound great. I can’t comment on how they sounded back then but I can only imagine based on the fans here tonight it was awesome. One of the tracks I heard seemed to have a very heavy drum beat and came across with a punky edge to it. I’d like next time to see a full set by these, though it went down with the crowd well with heads banging away.
Before I go out tonight I get “oh god Saxon and Fastway, fast Eddie from Motorhead?”. Wearing a waistcoat and a Fastway tee with chequered flag print behind it they open with heavy guitar intro and rock and roll screams. Guitar pieces being very dominant throughout we hear All Fired up where the crowd sing along with Fastway, followed by Another Day with a good beat and this performance has a somewhat calmer audience than that or Girl School though as they say “it’s our job to warm you up for the mighty Saxon” I feel the order was a little wrong but this is always a problem when you are between two good performing bands.
Having been around before I was born it’s hard to believe these guys are still rocking and rolling. They naturally look a little older, but still very fit and up to the task. This is another sold out venue to add to their notches, I hope I hold up as well at the same age. Dressed in with very Rock & Roll look these rockers I’m anticipating will provide a show to remember.
Opening up with the title track of their new album Battering Ram, which thunders through the venue means the crowd’s reaction was something of pleasure to see. Saxon opening up with their newer hits show they have the chemistry and bravery to push their new content rather than relying on reputation.
We get a couple of older hits then move onto Solid Ball of Rock , which goes down a storm. Biff tells us “this is one of our favourite places to play and I dedicate the next song to you”. Never Surrender, this kept heads consistently banging away with the odd one on the front row static, possibly mesmerised. This continued into Crusader and Stand Up and Be Counted another two great songs. Now we see some heavy stuff least the heaviest I’ve seen of Saxon with Devils Footprint featuring on their latest album Battering Ram which sees Nibbs Carter doing some crazy style head banging.
Biff introduces the next song with “The album came out in 2006, I think, and this is Killing ground” This starts with a heavy beat with dominant vocals and was performed well. Then follow a number of slower based tracks played and although a newer track probably one of my favourites of the night being Queen of Hearts. This opens with heavy guitar riffs and thundering beats as we hear the volume pushed up, this is followed by Band Played On and ending with Biff “Were going to play and extra track for you tonight, it’s a bit of a slow one to get you in the mood it’s called 20,000 feet” it was anything but slow.
Biff “were going to play a song that started it off really here’s” Wheels of Steel which is such a fantastic track that propelled the fans into a rocking vibe and no doubt a cracking hit that sounds just as good now as it did in the 80’s. Immediately as they start to leave the stage requesting more with a tribute encore with Ace of Spades with Eddie from Fastway playing guitars. the crowd sing parts for them followed by 747, Denim in Leather and the Princess of the Night.
Girlschool there is no denying this is the closest I will get to seeing Motorhead but as girls, and great the talent these rockers have, they create a rock and roll vibe that the entire crowd thoroughly enjoy from start to finish. The same could be said for Fastway, with a great performance, but the headliners stole the show. Saxon seems to get better with age just like our friend Jack Daniels and unlike many of the bands around of my generation which typical consists of mainly girl/boy band groups who are together for a few moments and then apart the next. Members and content may change but Saxons line up though over the years has been fairly consistent. They are still able to fill out venues.
Saxon, you’ve been awesome and I’m glad to have witnessed your skills.
BATTERING RAM
LET ME FEEL YOUR POWER
SACRIFICE
SOLID BALL OF ROCK
NEVER SURRENDER
CRUSADER
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
DEVILS FOOTPRINT
STRONG ARM
KILLING GROUND
EAGLE HAS LANDED OR BROKEN
QUEEN OF HEARTS
BANDS PLAYED ON
DALLAS 1PM
WHEELS OF STEEL
ENCORE
ACE OF SPADES
747
2ND ENCORE
DENIM AND LEATHER
PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT
Review and Images – Chris Bowley