Magnum – Live @ Norwich Waterfront
aaamusic | On 25, May 2016
Monday 16th May, Norwich
The queue outside the Waterfront in Norwich consisted of mainly 50s/60s aged guys. Obviously, when I last saw Magnum back in the Mid-Eighties the crowd was thirty years younger. Inside the venue it was as if nothing had changed, but this was no nostalgia trip as the band played classic oldies mixed with songs from their 19th studio album Sacred Blood ‘Divine’ Lies.
Credit to original members Bob Catley (vocalist) and Tony Clarkin (guitarist/songwriter) who are well into their 60’s. They formed the band in Birmingham back in the late 70s and they certainly haven’t lost any flair and the live music sounded fresh and essential. Kudos to the sound guy as everything sounded perfect with the mix on the night.
Vega started proceedings with their brand of melodic rock, sounding OK, with some good songs such as and the title track of their new album ‘White Flag’. They were a solid support band but 45 minutes was a bit long and some of the songs were a little samey, and needed a bit more of an edge.
On to the main event, and Magnum take to the stage and after the intro launch straight into my favourite song of theirs: ‘Soldier of the Line’ and then another favourite ‘Storyteller’s Night‘. At this point all the band members were getting into the groove with Tony Clarkin riffing away with his dead pan demeanor; Bob Catley’s vocals are excellent and his connection with the audience was assured; Al Barrow on the Bass was grinning from ear to ear. On the drums Harry James looked cool in dark glasses and played with energy and vigour; finally, long standing Keyboardist Mark Stanway looked the true rock part with his long locks blowing around with the fan on full blast. Magnum are certainly no ordinary heavy rock group, they write intelligent songs and great melodies from there huge catalogue of albums.
The new songs sounded really dynamic live and included ‘Crazy Old Mothers’ and the fabulous ‘Your Dreams Won’t Die’. Next, from the most successful album of their career ‘Storyteller’s Night’ comes the wonderful ballad ‘Les Morts Dansants’ (which is about the execution of soldiers during WWI, I believe). They then turned up the volume once again with the out and out rocker ‘All England’s Eyes’, before closing the set with ‘Vigilante’, which is the ultimate in epic melodic rock anthems with its chunky and choppy riff and great keyboard sound.
The band come on for a deserved encore and played the brilliant ‘Spirit’, with its beautiful arpeggio guitar, and finally the classic ‘Kingdom of Madness’, to close of a remarkable 1 and three-quarter hour set.
