[Heeplist] Sellersville Show Review

[Bob winward]

I arrived at the Sellersville PA Venue about 6:15 and ran into Lannis and Bobbi at the front door.  We talked for a long time, as doors did not open until 7:30 and it has been years since I have seen them.  I also saw Barry Lombardo briefly, took a picture with David Bateman and his grandson, also met the 2 sisters from Germany.  They have been to almost 200 shows since 2014.  After the show I ran into Keith Shaw, it was good to catch up, haven't seen him since Trenton in 2002..  Keith is on the Harms Way Project and also played at HV2015 in Belgium and HV2002.


The show started at 8:10 and ran to 10, so they played an hour and 45 minutes.  The set list is same as reported last week from the Orlando show.  It is Brilliant that they open with Gypsy and they play it really hard driving!  Look at Yourself was totally amazing, they keep refining this song live. Micks solos are incredible on it, and Davey and Russell take rhythm section to a whole new level. Seems like they improvised solos during LAY and Magician's Birthday.  I thoroughly enjoyed the incredible interplay on MB by Mick and Russell. The drumming was fierce and powerful, the guitar work crisp and searing!!  After LAY was Shadows of Grief.  First time for me to see them do this live and it was even better than the version on LAY the album  After SOG, was Stealin', Bernie encouraged the audience to sing along.  4 people in front of me got up and left after the song.  I felt like yelling "Heep Haters" but thought better of it.

I was surprised when they got to Lady in Black, it was really pumped up and rocking, and Bernie worked the crowd to encourage a sing along.


Overall, the sound was phenomenal, the venue is perfect and not a bad seat in the house.  This is the most pumped up and energetic I have ever seen Uriah Heep.  They played loose and with conviction.  I previously mentioned Russell and his fierce drumming, but he is also smoother than when I first saw him live.  Davey has become very dominant sound wise on bass and seems to be playing and soloing quite often as opposed to some bassists who just strum. In my opinion he does real justice to the tradition of strong Heep bassists.  He  moves around quite a bit now since I last saw him (2015), and during July Morning, he lit up his bass with a blue light, it looked really cool.  Bernie's voice was exceptional tonight and he really nailed the high note on BTW.  Phil was killer on the keyboards, especially on Shadows of Grief.  He also moves a lot now and makes hand motions to the music as well.  He has really evolved as a showman.  Lastly Mick seems to be playing more loosely on the guitar and better than I have ever seen him.  I think the energy Davey and Russell display spurs Mick to another level. The enthusiasm of all 5 was pervasive through out the show.  They had it really going tonight and kept the pace constant for an hour and 45 minutes of solid balls to the wall, no holding back rock n roll!!


Overall the band is full of energy, drive and enthusiasm and totally enjoyed their performance and fed off the crowd of 350 that packed the place.  Now time for bed, could not go to sleep so excited and not writing a review first.  Tomorrow I have to work til about 1 then meet JC Richards and another Heep fan Bryan Gardner at a train station in Edison, NJ and then get to enjoy another thrilling evening of Uriah Heep Live!!!


Bob "All Heep is Good Heep"  Winward