[Heeplist] Gig report: 4 Feb 2014 at The Stables, Wavendon

[Bob Winward]

Thank you Adrian a very impressive review indeed.  I am one of the lucky
ones in the USA since they came to the NY area in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Some
in other parts of the USA are not so lucky and have not had an opportunity
to see Heep on the West Coast or South in over a decade.

That alone makes a report like yours so refreshing, you were able to live
and experience Heep live, an opportunity and privilege.  Thank you again!


On 2/6/14 11:21 AM, "Adrian Yardley" <adrianyardley at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Iain, Bob
> 
> Tuesday's concert in Milton Keynes was a great experience. When a band
> continues to tour after 40 years, the bond between the follower and artist
> is clear, and tonight Uriah Heep offered up oodles of pleasure
> 
> This venue seats 400, built recently in 2000 achieving good acoustic with
> an intimate atmosphere. Most of this audience would have been aged around
> 15 in 1970!
> 
> Bernie leapt around the stage, captivating and involving the audience.
> Mick played on the left of the stage, touching the air in motion - his
> signature style - playing fast riffs while exuding the bonhomie of an
> oversized hobbit - holding the stage with Bernie. At the end of the gig,
> Mick and Bernie expressed their appreciation for supporters loyalty and
> that they love playing - which must be true considering the very full tour
> schedule they keep up every year.
> Phil played keyboards at the back, such a strong and complex element of the
> Heep sound. (Afterward I asked Phil if he has any section pre-recorded, but
> Phil said he plays every note live in concert.)
> Russell plays very muscular drums
> Davey (the newest member having taken over from Trevor Bolder who passed
> away May 2013 from cancer) almost goth in striking appearance: aquiline
> nose, black clothing including shiny trousers, and massive extended bass
> guitar (I forget the make). Afterward Davey said that Trevor's boots were
> very big to fill, and all the band feels his loss. Mick and Davey and
> Bernie got together at different points to play in close proximity, and it
> was apparent that the band gets on well together with great team dynamics.
> 
> Rhythms surged from the outset, stimulating some head banging around the
> theatre. Each number was tight. Heep opened with (only) one track from
> their excellent 1995 album, proceeding to play an abundance of
> crowd-pleasing classics. Only one number didn't receive much audience
> reaction: 'Nail on the head' from their last album 'In the Wild' - which
> came over as if the band is knocking a nail into the head of the listener -
> an unpleasant image.
> 
> Setlist:
> 
> Against the Odds    [Sea of Light 1995]
> Overload                 [Wake the Sleeper 2008]
> Traveller in Time      [Demons and Wizards  1972]
> Sunrise                  [The Magician's Birthday  1972]
> Stealin'                  [Sweet Freedom  1973]
> I'm Ready              [Into the Wild  2011]
> Between two worlds [Sonic Origami  1998]
> Nail on the head     [Into the Wild  2011]
> Into the Wild           [Into the Wild  2011]
> Gypsy                    [ Very 'eavy... Very 'umble...  1970]
> Look at yourself      [Look at yourself  1971]
> July morning           [Look at yourself  1971]
> Lady in Black         [Salisbury   1971]
> -----
> Free & easy           [Innocent Victim  1977]
> Easy Livin'              [Demons and Wizards  1972]
> 
> 
> Overheard was one roadie saying that they could not quite get the sound
> balance as wanted. I sat in row 3 centre - where the sound was loud but not
> particularly in focus - no speakers were on-axis for this seat. Yet it is
> rare for perfect sound in auditoria (rare exceptions: Queen playing at
> Hammersmith when Freddie Mercury still had long locks, Joe Satriani at the
> Brixton Academy.)
> 
> As Bernie related, nearby the band is recording their new album. With such
> vitality and their strong yet under-acknowledged catalogue that emerged
> over last 20 years, over-shadowed by the early greats, this 2014 release
> will be worth seeking out. May we hope for some Prog Rock in there?
> 
> Uriah Heep played the same venue only last March - which was sold-out. So
> do, do, do, return again in 2015 - a warm welcome awaits in Wavendon.
> 
> Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 23:36:46 -0000
> From: "Iain Barnes" <i.barnes3 at ntlworld.com>
> To: "Heepsters Mailing List \(Travellers in Time\)"
>         <heeplist at travellersintime.com>
> Subject: Re: [Heeplist] Heep's new CD
> Message-ID: <6376119EE5904C048F30D4B04E173B22 at IainPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8";
>         reply-type=original
> 
> I'm still around Bob but as I spend most of my time away from my house I
> have problems posting to the list unless I'm at home using my ISP.
> 
> I'm going to see Heep on Friday so I'm really looking forward to that.  It
> will be my first time to hear Davey live, it will be strange not to see
> Trevor especially in his home county of Yorkshire.  I will be thinking of
> Trevor for sure but hopefully greeting Davey and enjoying his performance.
> I was going to purchase the VIP package but money is dwindling fast so I had
> to shelve that idea.
> 
> It sounds as if  the new CD will follow in the style of more recent
> releases.  I guess that is a natural progression for Mick and Phil.  Russell
> and Davey come from a hard rock background too so progressive, fantasy,
> mystical etc would be against the grain for this line up.  I'll be delighted
> to get a new album whatever style it ends up.
> 
> Iain
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Winward
> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 8:36 PM
> To: Heepsters Mailing List (Travellers in Time)
> Subject: [Heeplist] Heep's new CD
> 
> Anyone out there still like or listen to Uriah Heep???!!!  Haven?t seen much
> here lately except a few posts about American football.  Heep had a gig last
> night in the UK, not one report??  No set list on setlist.fm?  I did see a
> post last week about heep news on facebook.   So just out of curiosity I
> went there for the first time, they have a page, and it seems I friended it
> a couple years back, but who has time for facebook?  Any how, there was a
> link to an interview with Bernie.  Interestingly, I like rocking, but would
> have preferred the prog sound.
> 
> ?Bernie tells us: ?We are writing now, we are starting the 24th studio album
> and we are in with our producer, Mike Paxman.
> 
> ?We?ve already clocked eight backing tracks in seven days, which is pretty
> good going. We are doing a lot of the writing and arranging in the studio
> itself. In the days of old we would have a lot of time off to come up with
> stuff. We used to go to the rehearsal with finished songs.
> 
> ?But Mick and Phil came in with five ideas recently and the ryhthm section
> just added to it themselves. We were thinking of doing a prog album like
> some of the more mystical songs that we used to do, but so far the eight
> tracks are really rocky. It just evolved, and that?s the way we like to
> work. We?ll have ideas and if it works it works, but sometimes the song on
> the table at the end may not be anywhere near what the first idea was.
> 
> ?When the producer says ?stop we?ve got it? that is the first time you
> really listen to what you?ve recorded and it can blow your mind away. The
> good thing is our ideas are still fresh and they are coming thick and fast.
> It?s not going to be an album of cover songs that?s for sure!?
> 
> 
> Bob W
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