Saxon (München - Babylon - 20.01.03)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik

We arrived to Munich early enough to go to the center of the city in order to visit the cd-stores and buy the tickets. After we entered VOM (a music megastore) I found myself side by side with Doug Scarrat, who was also passing his time in VOM. "Hello Doug, would you sign this please?" I asked Saxon's guitarist. "Yes, no problem!" he replied. We moved away 'cause some crazy Czech fans already attacked Doug. Later on we went to a restaurant to fill our stomachs with beer and large amounts of delicious food.

Babylon at 7:00 pm. "Ufff, I wanna see Saxon, I don't care about support acts!" I can't stand waiting for three support acts to end, I want Saxon now!!!" I was really upset because of that. It is obvious that I'm getting old, sick and tired of waiting. There were a few people waiting outside the main door. The mission was accomplished after I found myself in the front row! It got serious at 8:00 pm. Wolf were on stage performing some good old NWOBHM stuff. The boys were on fire and the right act to warm up our frozen bones. Wolf as a support act had a respectable sound. The double guitar twin harmonies and the solos of both Gibson "Flyin' Vs" were very clear. The guys were completely relaxed, having a great time. I'm sorry that I don't have their albums, so I can't tell you about their set list. Their image was fitting for the music style they play. Tightened jeans and leather. If this band will carry on with such enthusiasm, there is no fear that they wouldn't succeed in future. Quality songs with heads and tails, short and very quick boosters based on NWOBHM eighties Iron Maiden legacy. I wish them good luck!

The next to come were Evidence One. Unlike Wolf, Evidence One were quite a disaster. The first band member who came on stage was their lead guitarist. With his guitar in a position that is usual for a very quick and precise fingered guitarist, I expected a real Malmsteen on stage. Even his red coloured "sharp edged" guitar with a really evil look forced me to think about that. He was acting as if he would be in love with himself. But they were light years away from the real glam metal bands. Yes, they are trying to imitate glam metal. This concerns their music and image. The riffs were easily structured and open, often caught in a mid-tempo drive. But they couldn't convince. The front man gave me really hard times. He was constantly forcing the crowd to sing with the band and to raise hands high etc... as if Evidence One were the headliners. He thought about himself, how really important he was, and acted like a real pussy. I hate it when members of bands treat themselves as if they're someone very special, as if they are more important than every single person in a crowd. This immediately builds some sort of a distance between the crowd and the band, and funny, even if this wasn't the intended effect, it than actually happens. His screams were somehow enough for ear-digestion, but his vocal was without any power in the middle and lower sequences. The lead guitarist was frightened, he wasn't relaxed. His three-fingered work just couldn't step into the light. His hands were shaking. And I was dyin' to see them leave the stage. You didn't miss a thing here. It would be better if those guys were the first act of the night and wouldn't spoil the good ambient in the hall that was left by Wolf.

The third group was Nocturnal Rites. A professional approach. Angry, speedy, kicking real high. The sound was great, the guitar work balanced, uff..., and what that little fellow on the guitar showed was pure wizardry of the Swedish school. Fingers were flyin' everywhere, he just couldn't stop. Well-tuned back vocals that were supporting Johnny Lindquist sounded really good. The band performed their material mainly from their best record called Afterlife. The crowd was going mad especially when band struck "Wake Up Dead". This band deserves a better reputation. Despite the fact that their last release, Shadowland, is "happy" in comparison with Afterlife, this band rides into a bright future for sure. Great musicians and a fantastic performance. It would be interesting to see them as headliners.

While, the roadies were building a new stage for the legends that came here to rock, we enjoyed the tunes of Samson's Don't Get Mad Get Even classic album that perfectly suited the whole scene.

Fog was filling the air. It was 9:45 pm when silhouettes took their positions on stage and Biff greeted the audience: "Good Evening!" "Fill your heads with heavy metal thunder!" And the metal monsters began to rock. After thundering the heavy metal, Biff continued: "Here comes the Motor fuckin' Cycle Man!" The whole hall found itself at boiling point quickly after "Still Fit To Boogie" was done. Three rock'n'rollers from the band's early period were played one after another in the blink of an eye. After this powerful top spin stroke straight in the beginning, they sliced down things a little bit: "This song was written back in 1969 and is called The Court Of Crimson King!" (Originally written and performed by King Crimson). The band gave the impression of an unstoppable fortress. A harmonized, precise machine, a real "perpetuum mobile". And the performance of "Court Of The Crimson King" was a direct proof of that. Than Biff turned the show into a guessing game: "This song we haven't played for a long time, I even can't remember its name!" "Will you help me?" The audience tried a few times, but unfortunately always replied wrong. It was my favourite Destiny song, "Ride Like A Wind" (orig. perf. by The Commodores). I thought that I'm dreaming for a while. I really didn't expect this song on the list.

After "Ride Like A Wind", the intensity of the show faded down. We came to the other side of the story here. Despite the fact that the boys in the band are fantastically tuned in, and that they can play blindfolded as if nothing has happened at all, everything was just routine. O.K., don't get me wrong now, I mean, in a general way; every gig is a certain routine for the band. But it makes a clear difference if you put some balls into it or if you are acting like bein' sick and tired of everything. And Saxon were really bored, sick and tired of everything. The sound was superb, the boys played correctly. But soulless. Even Biff wasn't giving his 100% on vocals. He usually "cut" verses at their ends instead of keeping the melody as he's doin' it in studio. As if some dog would be barking (e.g. Dickinson's '90-'93 Maiden live style performances). And Saxon lost some stage dynamite here. On the other hand, both guitarists made just a few steps from their original positions on stage. Well, the hooks and solos were played with no mistakes. But Paul Quinn was acting like a robot. Lazy! Every time when Biff thanked to the audience, Quinn clapped his hands together very cynically. And I felt that I'm bein' treated like an idiot and not like a fan. Well there were some blizzards. Biff showed what fantastic screams he is still capable of in "Song Of Evil", when the whole band really sounded evil. That also concerns the next piece, a real rare chance to see the band performing "Cut Out The Disease" live. In comparison with the last (Killing Ground) tour when Scarrat played a majority of the solos, this time, Quinn was in the centre. But as I mentioned, it was pure routine and nothing more.

How well this band is tuned! In "Battle Cry" a drum solo was included. After Fritz finished his drum bombing, the rest of the band joined him on stage with the "Warrior" theme, that turned back into "Battle Cry" and its final fade out.

"Say hello to eagle!" The band continued with "Eagle Has Landed ". A curtain fell, and the bird was flown. A little birdie! This wasn't the giant eagle that Saxon were using in the early eighties to fill stadiums all over the world. But, O.K., it contributed to the climax that rose especially when the band returned to play the encore and blasted a few classics more that were asked for. I've got a bad impression that Saxon came there just because of the money. And I would pay 10 euros more for the ticket, just to see this band show some signs of life on the stage. Well, after all, this gig was far from bein' bad. If I would just listen to the band and not watch them at the same time, I would say that these guys are still one of the best live acts. But something was missing. Soul. And so we got a slightly bitter taste this time. Especially if look back on 13th of November 2001 in Vienna's Planet Music, where the band was showing real balls. "Saxon. Put some balls into it the next time for heaven's sake!!! Or you better retire."

Nocturnal Rites set list: Babylon München, 20.01.2003

Afterlife
The Sinners Cross
The Iron Force
Shadowland
Wake Up Dead
The Sign
Eyes Of The Dead
When Fire Comes to Ice
----------------------------------- encore
The King's Command
===================================

Saxon set list: Babylon München, 20.01.2003

Heavy Metal Thunder
Motorcycle Man
Still Fit To Boogie
The Court Of Crimson King
Ride Like A Wind
Dogs Of War
Requiem (We Will Remember)
Cut Out The Disease
Broken Heroes
Song Of Evil
Battle Cry
Drum Solo (cont. with theme from Warrior, than turns into Battle Cry fade out)
20.000 Feet
The Eagle Has Landed
747 (Strangers In The Night)
Crusader
Denim And Leather
------------------------------------ first encore
Strong Arm Of The Law
Solid Ball Of Rock
Princess Of The Night
Dallas 1 PM
------------------------------------ second encore
Wheels Of Steel

I must apologize to you. All of the tracks on Saxon's set list were played, but unfortunately I couldn't keep in my mind the right order of their performance. Only the first five songs and both encores are listed in the right order.