Saturday 25 May 2024.

Saturday 25 May 2024. UK SUBS live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Punk legends play their biggest ever London show for many years , to celebrate frontman Charlie Harper's 80th birthday....yes 80!. I have seen UK Subs around a dozen times since 1978. With support from Anti Nowhere League and The Ramonas....I have seen both a couple of times before. --------- Level 2 and 3 are closed , but still over 1000 here. A very nice three band punk rock package. Nice to see several punk rockin' chums here. THE RAMONAS were on at 7.30pm for 30 mins. All girl Ramones tribute whizzed through their set. I think it was six Ramones gems including ' Sheena Is A Punk Rocker' and ' Rockaway Beach' and three of their own....really good to those Ramones classics . ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE on at 8.20pm for 45 mins They have toured with UK Subs a few times over the years and play a good set of their best material. ANL full setlist played tonight.... Pig Iron At the End of the Day Let's Break the Law Streets of London ( Ralph McTell cover) I Hate... People So What Woman Uncle Charlie (Tribute to Punk Icon, Charlie Harper, who momentarily joined ANWL to acknowledge the Legend, himself) God Bless Alcohol We Are the League Lots of pogoing / moshing for them and The Subs. UK SUBS arrived on stage at 9.35pm for 70 mins. Big cheers for Charlie as he arrives on stage. Looking great for someone who tours so much. Maybe his nice Japanese wife keeps him in check. They whizzed through their set , including highlights ''Warhead' , ' Stranglehold', 'C.I.D' and ' I Live In A Car '....a really good set. PUNK ROCK WILL NEVER DIE. Full UK SUBS setlist played tonight.... Rockers Kicks Police State Emotional Blackmail Telephone Numbers Fragile Time and Matter Down on the Farm Kill Me Scum of the Earth Limo Life Barbie's Dead Tomorrow's Girls Warhead Riot Stranglehold Disease Encore: C.I.D. I Live in a Car I Couldn't Be You Party in Paris Encore 2: Cake and balloons arrived on stage for Charlie. Rockaway Beach New York State Police Keep on Running (Til You Burn) -------------------------------- -------------------------------- Friday 24 May 2024. BRUCE DICKINSON live at The Forum. Bruce is promoting his new solo album....sold out... Iron Maiden legend is playing a six date UK solo tour , which are his first UK solo dates for 25 years. I have seen Iron Maiden over 30 times since 1980, when they supported Judas Priest at Hammersmith Odeon. They would play multi-nights there on all their tours during the 1980s. I saw Bruce solo at The Marquee Club in 1994. Looks like no Iron Maiden songs are in the setlist.. ---------- The venue is totally rammed sold out. Iron Maiden t-shirts are everywhere. BLACK SMOKE TRIGGER on at 8pm for their 30 mins. Black Smoke Trigger is a hard rock/alternative rock band from Napier, New Zealand, founded in 2018. They played a good solid set of rock tunes. BRUCE DICKINSON on at 9.05pm for 1 hour 50 mins. Bruce is clearly loved by all the Maiden fans here . Bruce is joined by five other musicians on stage. A big screen that shows a nice mix of live footage and pre-recorded images...Lots of lights and strobes. Bruce Dickinson, as is well known, is a qualified pilot – and there is something of the captain preparing for take-off in his interactions with the crowd. “In a moment,” he instructs , “we will commence furious jumping.” Then, as the riff to 'Dark Side of Aquarius' kicks in: “Furious jumping commence!” His ability to hype a room has been honed over decades of what he calls the “day job” – being frontman with Iron Maiden. Next year will be the band’s 50th anniversary, and no doubt there will be much hoopla, so this solo tour is Dickinson’s chance for some me-time. He even mentioned hopefully playing Brixton Academy on his next solo tour. That means no Maiden songs, which is understandable, even admirable, but the downside is a lack of Iron Maiden level bangers. Not that keen on the drum solo and keytar solos, but Bruce charisma and energy made it a really good show....despite no Iron Maiden tunes . Maiden members watching but none came on stage. Full BRUCE DICKINSON setlist played tonight... Accident of Birth Abduction Laughing in the Hiding Bush Afterglow of Ragnarok Chemical Wedding Many Doors to Hell Jerusalem Resurrection Men Rain on the Graves Frankenstein (The Edgar Winter Group cover) The Alchemist Tears of the Dragon Darkside of Aquarius Encore: Navigate the Seas of the Sun Book of Thel The Tower ---------------------- 11pm to 12pm... Iron Maiden always make an effort for aftershow parties , and tonight there is a good one for Bruce. Around 50 or 60 guests in the balcony bar and adjacent room where they is a free bar and full buffet laid out ..Guests here included STEVE HARRIS, ADRIAN SMIITH, ROD SMALLWOOD, FRANK SKINNER ,MARK FULLER and NICKI CHAPMAN.

Posted 25th May 2024