Paxoman
Member
I have been meaning to write a gig review of bolton but just haven't got around to it!
Yeah bolton was a good night. We were welcomed into bolton in the afternoon with torrential rain, and it chucked it down for most of the day. We had a drink and a big nosh up in the goose, and then decided to walk our dinner off by having a nosey around bolton. But the weather had other ideas, so we dived into another pub. Mrs Paxo, being the wild rock chick that she is, decided to have a cup of hot chocolate!
Limehouse Lizzy were as good as ever, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with their choice of songs. For some reason they decided to play most of the singles and ignore the classic Lizzy tracks. It was a good show never the less. I felt really sorry for them though because I'm sure they thought they would be playing in front of a packed crowd, but the hall was virtually empty.
So to Saxon. Well what can you say? They effortlessly breezed through another set. From what I can remember the setlist was something like this (in no particular order) -
Killing ground.
Dallas 1pm.
Dragons lair
Crimson king.
Wheels of steel.
Conquistador.
Heavy metal thunder.
Motorcycle man.
Dogs of war.
747.
Eagle has landed.
Denim and leather.
Princess of the night.
Bands played on.
Never surrender.
So a good set, but definitely not as long as they played at JB's. I think if the crowd are up for it, then Saxon play a longer set. The bolton audience, although appreciative, were a bit.......er........reserved! Totally different from the last Saxon gig I saw at the Mean fiddler.
Highlight of the evening was when I put one arm around Sammi and another arm around the bloke next to me and got us all jumping, and Biff pointed to us as if to say "hey well done for really getting into it"!
So all in all it was an excellant night and Mrs Paxo enjoyed her first Saxon gig. And she said she would go again (I should think so to!)
Pax.
Glad you had a good night and good to hear Mrs Pax will be returning.
Its just such a pity about the poor turn out. Whoever does the tour promotion for Saxon needs a good slap. Year in year out I speak to people who "Only found out today" or worse still "Never heard about the tour till afterwards". It isn't exactly hard to get a few adverts in magazines or even entry into gig lists.
Saxon deserve so much better as they piss over most of the other live bands out there including Maiden etc imho.
Paxoman
Member
I totally agree with you Dickie. I believe the venue only holds 650, so Saxon should have easily sold that out. Especially with a great support band like Limehouse Lizzy.
It sounds like they had the same problem on the america tour too. I just don't know what is going on. I have been to bigger sold gigs by Judas Priest and Motorhead, not to mention the 3 nights Iron maiden done at brixton. So metallers are still out there, so you can't tell me Saxon can't sell out a poxy venue in bolton. So it must be down to the promoters. Er no offence to the people of bolton by the way!
Pax.
Sammi951
Member
Well what can I say?? I LOVED the Saxon gig - and I've even gone out and bought one of their CD's - it's only a "best of" one, but it has a lot of the songs they played at the gig on it, some of which are live versions, and I have been singing along and shaking my hair about whilst playing air guitar in my bedroom!!
Anyway, as Paxo said, the day didn't start off well, with the rain and everything, but I was well excited by the time we got in the venue. I did like Limehouse Lizzy, but I've never really been into Thin Lizzy so I suppose I didn't enjoy them as much as I could have. I have to say though, they were good! I think Paxo misled you a bit though - yes, the venue was half empty when Lizzy were on - but it filled up considerably when Saxon came on. Also, I think the crowd didn't "get into" it as much because it was all seating, so even though the majority were stood up anyway, the seating restricted your movement somewhat. The crowd really did seem to enjoy themselves, but Paxo just thinks anything and from outside of London is inferior anyway, so perhaps he is a little biased there! We Northerners DO know how to rock!! Anyway, back to the gig...I just loved it when they came out and did Killing Ground - it's definitely one to get the crowd going, isn't it??! I couldn't believe how excited I was - I had been thinking they were a bunch of ageing rockers - but I have to say that Biff had a real presence about him, he was superb, and I can now say my "claim to fame" is being pointed at by Biff Byford!! I just loved the guitars too-that Bass player just looked like he was enjoying himself SOOO much-there's a man who really loves his work!! If Mr Paxo hadn't been there, I'd have been tempted to throw my bra at him, being the true Rock Chick that I am!! hehehe The guitarist without the hair looked like a miserable git though, but the rest of them looked like they were really enjoying themselves, which in turn, added to my enjoyment too. So, all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, even sang along to the bits I knew, and have been singing them ever since!! I would most definitely go again!!
Sam
Sammi951
Member
Paxoman
Member
Well we all know that London is the capital of the world, but lets not dwell on that here!
Yes without doubt the seating spoiled the enjoyment but I still think it was a boring crowd. Where was all the "Saxon" "Saxon" "Saxon" before and during the gig? I have to say that in all the Saxon gigs I have been to, that is the first time that has never happened. I must say though that the bolton crowd did make a lot of noise, but then that's mouthy northerners for you!
But as Sammi said, it was a great gig. I've been going to see Saxon since 1980 and there is no doubt that they are better now then ever. Whereas bands like Iron Maiden are past their best; Saxon are just getting better. Biff's singing is better now then ever, and the whole band just make it all look so easy. But yes Paul Quinn did look a bit miserable (not the first time I have heard that said). Nibbs was as mental as always!
Pax.
London may be capitol of the world for gigs (spent many a journey there and back in the early hours!), but it definatly ain't for good crowds.
Generally the London crowds are very laid back as they are spoiled for choice. When we get gigs down this way (sunny Cornwall) you get a great crowd, much the same as the Scottish crowds.
We got the Saxon Saxon chants going in between nearly every song at Dudley.
Got to agree with you about the fact that Saxon just get better and better. Every time I go and see them I seem to come away from the gig saying "That was the best I've ever seen them" (apart from the tired show at Bloodstock), and I never do that with say Maiden.
Quinny's only miserable because he lost the key to his wig cupboard!
:
Paxoman
Member
Yeah I take your point about London crowds being spoilt for choice. Not too sure I agree with London crowds being laid back though. I've been to loads of gigs this year, and have been in some "wild" crowds. I just think it depends on the band, crowd, songs played, as to whether it will be a wild one or not. But I do accept your point that places where bands don't play often, the crowd are generally gonna be well up for it.
Pax.
