Saxon

Share

Recap from Metal Mike Koreski in Portland, Oregon (4/17/18), Additonal photos from Ralph Cartel in Los Angeles, California (4/22/18)

What an atmosphere for Tuesday night’s show at the Portland Memorial Coliseum. The Portland Trailblazers were playing game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs. Then across the courtyard was a near sellout crowd of a different sort….some younger, mostly older metal fans who came out for a BIG night of 80’s metal music featuring Judas Priest and Saxon!

Judas Priest Portland Oregon 4-17-18

Judas Priest is riding a wave of momentum right now… 70’s/80’s hard rock/heavy metal is more accessible at arenas and clubs these days as it used to be during those decades when many of the bands were earning the “classic” status they have now.

The latest Priest release “Firepower” is very good (in my opinion their best work since Painkiller in the early 90’s), and the unfortunate circumstances with original guitar player Glenn Tipton (who has Parkinson’s and is to the point where he can’t tour anymore) have also caused fans to realize you better see these groups now while you can as you truly never know when they are done.

Click Here to view more photos

Opening the night was Black Star Riders, which was originally a latter day version of Thin Lizzy, centered around one of the key guitarists, Scott Gorham and singer/guitarist Ricky Warrick, who changed their name when they decided to make new music, but still play some Thin Lizzy classics and deep cuts. This show featured “Jailbreak” as the second song into their tight 40 minute set. The band is good… some good energy on stage… Warrick in particular is a VERY intense performer.

Next up was Saxon, one of the original NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) bands. Their close to one hour set was split between selections from their latest scorching release, “Thunderbolt” (the title track was the opener and as well it should’ve been), and classic tracks such as “Power and the Glory”, “Denim & Leather” and “Dallas 1pm”.

Saxon vocalist Biff Byford was my vote for MVP of the night… amazing stage presence, knows how to work the crowd and his voice was amazingly strong for being several decades in use. Oh yeah, and he looked very regal in a double breasted revolutionary-war-looking coat… so metal, LOL. The bass player for Saxon was the craziest stage performer I’ve seen in decades. The guy was doing the best animal from the Muppets imitation ever and his head would just continually thrash during most of the songs. He also ran the whole stage, stood on the front stage amps and embodied how Saxon are still a vital band for fans of this genre. By the way, pick up “Thunderbolt”, you WILL NOT be disappointed!

And then it was time for the main event. Judas Priest opened their set with the title track off their latest face melting release “Firepower”, and the rest of the set didn’t disappoint. They played “Freewheel Burning” on this tour for the first time in a looooong time, and my favorite song of the night was the “Screaming For Vengeance” deep track “Bloodstone”. Guitarist Andy Sneap (who co-produced Firepower and was Tipton’s choice to replace him on tour) had a chance to shine on this song and a few others, but Richie Faulkner is the featured player in the band now.

The second half of the show was loaded with more of the sing along chorus songs that allowed vocalist Rob Halford to have the crowd sing them, giving him a small break on “Turbo Lover”, “Hell Bent for Leather” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.

And then, the big reveal… Glenn Tipton came out for the encore and played for only the third show of the tour so far (he played at the Kent, WA show two nights earlier). The encore was “Metal Gods”, “Breaking the Law” and the finisher, the gigantic sing along “Livin’ After Midnight”.

Click Here to view more photos

A couple of points about this show… all three bands have new discs out and you really should be purchasing them, as they are worthy of being listened to in sequence, not on a music service playlist with several other bands, even though you just wanted one. Also, support live music when these and several other “vintage” artists come to town (see Rich Rock’s Y&T review for an example). Many bands bring it better than they have in years.

80s Metal Trending

In a new interview with Andy Dax of Streetteam Berlin, W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless was asked if there are any plans for the band to release an album of "acoustic" [...]

Sammy Hagar, who recently completed "The Best of All Worlds Tour - The Residency" at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada, told Baltimore's 98 Rock radio station [...]

FIREHOUSE has just released a new single called "Mighty Fine Lady". The song marks the band's first release with FIREHOUSE's new lead vocalist Nate Peck, 2023 "American Idol" golden ticket [...]

During a May 28 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", former GUNS N' ROSES and SIXX:A.M. guitarist Darren James "D.J." Ashba was asked if he would ever consider [...]

Former JUDAS PRIEST and current KK'S PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens performed on May 25 at Yield Rock in Lima, Peru as part of his South American solo tour. Backing [...]

Iconic Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett thinks he nailed his playing on this album in particular [...]

WARMEN, the brainchild of former CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne "Warman" Wirman, has released the official lyric video for the title track of its upcoming album, "Band Of Brothers", due [...]

Johnny . The post Johnny O’Neil shares video for new single “When Janie Moved Into Town” first appeared on Sleaze Roxx. [...]

UFO’s . The post UFO’s album ‘No Place To Run’ to be expanded, remastered and reissued as Double CD and Triple Vinyl first appeared on Sleaze Roxx. [...]

During an appearance on the latest episode of The Candid Mic With Fran Strine podcast, David Ellefson spoke about his last stint with MEGADETH, which began in 2010 with a [...]

They've been understandably tight-lipped about future plans. Continue reading… [...]

In a new interview with The 500 With Josh Adam Meyers podcast, Paul Stanley spoke about KISS's upcoming appearance without makeup at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as part of the [...]

DEF LEPPARD has shared behind-the-scenes video from guitarist Vivian Campbell's first two shows with the band in eight months, which took place on May 15 at the Coliseo José Miguel [...]

Chrysalis Records will release UFO's classic 1980 album "No Place To Run", newly remastered from the original production tapes transfers at AIR Mastering and reissued on stunning three-LP tri-fold sleeve [...]

In the special 50th edition of Rock Candy magazine, Philip Anselmo of the returning PANTERA tells editor Howard Johnson what it means to him to have the band back on [...]

It's been a point of contention for decades. Continue reading… [...]

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, German metal queen Doro Pesch spoke about a special album she is planning to release to commemorate what would have been [...]

Progressive metal pioneers CYNIC have parted ways with drummer Matt Lynch. Sitting behind the kit for the band's May 24 appearance at the Maryland Deathfest — which included a performance [...]

Latest track from upcoming "Tracks II" set is found on LP of border tales, 'Inyo.' Continue reading… [...]

Despite calling it the hardest part of making a new LP, one band member sings on 90% of the group's opening tracks. Continue reading… [...]

Despite their reputation as one of thrash metal’s fastest bands, Slayer haven’t been afraid to lift the pedal from the metal on occasion. Here’s when they did it best. [...]

Skid Row were once blood brothers, but infighting and a split with their singer turned it all into an ‘abyss of hatred’ [...]

Klinghoffer was warned about his future conduct during court proceedings in California [...]

Metallica’s . The post Metallica’s ‘Black Album’ certified 20x platinum and ‘Master of Puppets’ certified 8x platinum by RIAA first appeared on Sleaze Roxx. [...]

They're bringing their "theater of the mind" into the digital age. Continue reading… [...]