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David Meadows
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Magnum in Newcastle
"Do you lot know how brilliant you are?" Bob asks at the end, apparently genuinely overwhelmed by the reception. But he must know: it's not us, it's them.
Bob says clap and you clap. Bob says jump and you jump. Bob makes the whole front row of jumping, clapping middle-aged men feel twenty years younger, surreptitiously wiping tears from eyes while singing along with every word that comes out of Bob's mouth...
That's how brilliant Magnum are. No other band I've seen has that kind of heart and soul. You can't stand in a Magnum audience and not love them. And there's no experience to match standing in a crowd singing The Spirit. That's why Magnum concerts are always the best concerts I've ever been to, and last night was the best Magnum concert ever.
They played for an hour and three quarters. The Academy is a large venue, all standing and surprisingly packed. I think their audience is actually getting bigger each year! For a band I once saw playing to 100 people just before they decided to split up... incredible... I feel a song about phoenixes coming on...
Bob Catley is looking his age (which is certainly too old for those trousers) but sounding twenty years younger. Tony Clarkin is as usual content to underplay, concentrating on what the songs need instead of trying to be some kind of guitar god, but when he cuts loose with a long solo in How Far Jerusalem or a long jam with Mark to introduce Sacred Hour, you remember just how good he can be. Mark Stanway is still an understated wizard of the keyboards. Al Barrow on bass still has an I'm-so-happy-to-be-playing-this attitude that's completely infectious. And back on drums, Harry James is just... monstrous.
They opened with a song from the new album and followed it with Back Street Kid (my favourite song), and freely mixed new songs and classics for the rest of the night. The classics are drawn heavily from Storyteller's but you also get Vigilante (my hands are still bruised from clapping) and Kingdom of Madness, with Sacred Hour (always our song...) for an encore. The new songs are strong compositions and show that Tony hasn't lost his touch; he's still my favourite song writer. They all have the typical Magnum sound: beautiful vocal melodies over heavy guitar riffs and moody keyboards.
And they had smoke! Magnum is always associated with clouds of billowing smoke in my memories...
They can write new songs, they can change members, they can grow older, but they'll never really change. And that's why we'll always love them.
Why are Magnum audiences so brilliant, Bob? Isn't it obvious?
---
"Don't place your trust in foolish promises sworn
Nor cryptic message scrawled upon every wall
Street corner justice beware
The spirit will find you always be fair."
--Tony Clarkin
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19/May/07, 10:27 pm
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Ray Oceanweaver
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Re: Magnum in Newcastle
Glad you enjoyed it.  I'm now kicking myself for having college this week. Grr.
--- Rachel
~The optimist fails as badly as the pessimist, just has a better time of it~
Wings of Rapture - For Writers of Erotica and Romance |
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20/May/07, 8:43 am
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DavidT
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Magnum In Bristol
Saw Magnum in Bristol last night, and whilst it was good it did feel (apart from the new songs) like a very, very safe setlist. I could have written it before I went into the venue. With such a stunning back-catalogue of songs it is a shame that the band have got themselves into a setlist rut over the last few tours.......some songs from Sleepwalkin', Rock Art and Wings Of Heaven would liven up the setlist for us regular attendees or maybe The Lights Burned Out, Soldier Of The Line, Back To Earth, When The World Comes Down - the list is almost endless. Heres hoping for some more inspired setlists on the next tour or I may find myself going to just the one show. 
---
"You know, you don't act much like a scientist. You're more like a game show host." - Dana Barrett (Ghostbusters)
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21/May/07, 7:21 am
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David Meadows
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Re: Magnum in Newcastle
The old "unadventurous set list" argument... been round this one a few dozen times on the Deep Purple forum and I'm sure there are many bands that get the same complaint. Even Mostly Autumn aren't immune to it.
To me, the only criteria for a good set list is "did I like every song they played?" And if the answer is "yes", I'm not going to start wishing for different songs.
Sure, I would be the first to welcome a non-greatest-hits set from any band I see -- because I like every song my favourite bands have recorded. But by the same argument, I'm going to like a safe greatest-hits set equally as much. So I'm never going to complain if that's what I get.
If I like a band enough to go and see them live, they can play anything they want to and I'm going to enjoy it.
It's like picking up a packet of fruit pastils and finding they're all black and red... Damn, I really like the orange ones! But... mmm... black and red ones... 
---
"Don't place your trust in foolish promises sworn
Nor cryptic message scrawled upon every wall
Street corner justice beware
The spirit will find you always be fair."
--Tony Clarkin
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21/May/07, 11:55 am
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DavidT
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Re: Magnum in Newcastle
I see your point - but sticking with your analogy if you have had well over 50 red fruit pastilles in a row you start to find them a bit predictable and are bound to be crying out for an orange one, or even a green one.........I'm not saying they should ditch all the Magnum songs from the setlist and become a 50s rock 'n' roll cover band or anything (please tell me someone else was at XLs in Birmingham that very surreal night!!), but just mixing an orange or green one in the packet once in a while would be good.
Last edited by DavidT, 21/May/07, 12:41 pm
---
"You know, you don't act much like a scientist. You're more like a game show host." - Dana Barrett (Ghostbusters)
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21/May/07, 12:39 pm
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davids sister
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Re: Magnum in Newcastle
Hi there big brother!!Look....it was a long time ago & I have trouble remembering last year..(could I put that down to the falling beer glass & phone one of those annoying adverts for compensation?!)...never mind that long ago!!The concert you took me to was amazing but the nightclub is all very vague!!But surely the question here is.....WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE GOING TO A MAGNUM GIG??!!see you soon.
PS.-I'm sure I must be owed something for the curry!!
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23/May/07, 8:42 pm
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