Let me set the scene. LA2 is more the size of a night club than a rock venue. There is an upstairs bar with seating overlooking what I suppose would generally be the dance floor downstairs. This also has a seating area around the sides, with a bar at the back. The capacity according to the box office is about 1000. Tickets were available on the door and I suppose that in total on both levels there were about 500 - 600. Certainly not a sell-out, in fact it looked disappointingly empty for a long while.
The doors opened at 7pm.I was one of the first 20 in and headed straight for the front nearest the stage. When I say nearest the stage I mean I was actually so close that I was leaning on the band's front stage speakers, but more of that later. After a while I got into conversation with some young Heep fans there. They had come to see Heep alone without their friends because in their words, "I wanted to see a real band, not just one that was trendy to see". There's hope for the world yet! So if you ever get to read this, Hi to Sarah, Andy and Diesel.
Let's get the support band stuff out of the way. I believe that they were a late replacement for the original support band, (doing a favour for Bernie and good on you boys for that) and were unsure how a Heep audience would take to them. They being basically a covers band. This may explain why they arrived on stage about 8 pm and mumbled rather than announced that they were 'Doctor Doctor'. They were on stage for about 30 minutes. I don't know what the first 2 tracks they played were, unfortunately the singer's mike was balanced too loud. They may have been originals, but the rest of the set was covers of pop rock songs including 'I shot the sheriff'. Nothing memorable, you'll see lots of bands do them just as well. I did like the bass and drums section, the keyboard player had potential, the guitarist was certainly good enough too. The vocalist was a competent vocalist and better than many chart singers around but a showman he was not. When you are used to Heep vocalists being great showmen as well, it tends to colour your expectations of all other singers. Although Doctor Doctor were a nice enough bunch of lads, listening to the rock records over the PA would have been just as interesting.
And so to Heep. The stage crew cleared what little there was of Doctor Doctor's equipment to leave a stage area about the size of my bedroom. Ok my bedroom and the box room, but big it was not. I'd taken a copy of Loukas's set list of the Athens gig to compare and not surprisingly they were the same, but I'll repeat it below anyway.
So to 'Mistress of all Time'. My favourite song from SOL and I was not disappointed. Like him or not, this song showed that Bernie does have a vocal ability other than screaming. By the end of this song, I was away on cloud nine. It was pleasing also to note that the audience were prepared to listen and sing along quietly to this song, Bernie wasn't subjected to the loud whistles and shouts that so often accompany a band's quieter sections.
'Words in the distance' was introduced by Bernie as "This one's going out for the Heepsters on the Web!" I had e-mailed Mick and explained how the Euro-Heepchat had been nicknamed the 'Words in the Distance' chat and asked him if he could get Bernie to dedicate it to this group. He replied that he would, although Bernie may forget in the heat of the moment. He didn't forget, so a big thank you to Mick and to Bernie
On to the Wizard. Even with an acoustic guitar, Mick can captivate an audience and play them along. Sometimes I wonder if he remembers how the Wizard did actually start on the record! Not that the audience cared, we just loved it and sang along as well.
'Dream On' saw Trevor swap his bass for an acoustic and MIck his lead for an acoustic, as they both sat and led us through a hauntingly beautiful song, aided by gentle singing from Bernie.
A gradual build up in tempo via 'Love in Silence' took us up to 'July
Morning'. Phil didn't actually need to introduce this, the crowd were
cheering from his first notes. I don't think Bernie will ever get those
high notes properly, but he seems to have fun trying. I think it's because
he seems to know he won't get there but still has a go for fun that he can
get away with it live.
I don't know why they have started to do ' The Other side of Midnight' It
was good but they have better songs in their list to choose from.
Gypsy. Classic pounding rock. I loved it 26 years ago and I still love it
now (though yes I do think Dreammare is better and has more wicked guitar).
What beats me is how the rest of the gang know when to come back in after
Mick's middle bit. I don't think it's ever played the same is it! Head
banging is just not the same with short hair!
From the end of Gypsy there was just a short lead in to 'Look at Yourself'
to close the main set. Even if you weren't to get the obligatory encore,
this is still a great way to finish a show. Full rocking with the crowd
fully involved.
'Bird of Prey' opened the encore section. A song that is definitely not suited to Bernie's voice and his performance of it did nothing to convince me otherwise. Mick didn't seem too hot on this one either. Did Ken originally play lead on this one on the album?
After a short break the boys were back for the second encore. 'Lady in Black' . Well it was passable, but for God's sake Bernie stop adding all these 'Come On's and 'Just a little bit more' . The audience don't need the encouragement to sing this one and the exhortations ruin the feel of this wonderful song.
Oh no. its time for the final song. 'Easy Livin' What a way to go out though. If you can't rock to this one, you don't deserve to be alive! LA2 were certainly rocking away.
That was it. 1&1/2 hours Heep were on stage. At times it felt like I was almost there with them. Why? Because I was so close to the stage that I had to keep moving my hands so that Bernie could put his foot on the front speakers! What was worrying was that the guy pressed right behind me and into me at times, kept trying to run his hand down Bernie's shin. LA2 is used as a gay club sometimes!
Overall impressions of the night? A few comments from people I talked to afterwards. From Sarah, the 24 year old first time Heeper I'd talked to beforehand. "The best experience I've ever had." From Diesel, an experienced band watcher "Absolutely wonderful." From a young Japanese lad who'd never seen Heep before, " Unbelievable. This is a dream come true for me."
For me, it was like seeing the first girl you fell in love with after 20 years. Neither of you are as young and you've changed a lot, but despite all that you can still feel that magic chemistry between you. Yes folks, should you ever have doubted it, this love affair with the Heep is not going to die yet.
I didn't get to meet the band. Only UHAS members with their proper badges were being allowed backstage. I did get one of the Uriah Heep guitar plectrums that Mick hands out at the end. The biggest disappointment was not getting any pictures. Having been told by the box office that photos weren't allowed in LA2, I didn't take my camera. As it had pictures of my son's birthday, I didn't want to lose the camera when security 'minded' it. Damn it, there was no checking and other people had cameras.
I did get a T shirt, but I'm not best pleased with it. On the front is "Uriah who?" On the back is "Uriah F****** Heep thats who". F****** replaces here the actual swearing on the shirt. Not one to wear in front of the kids.
That's all, youll be glad to know
Pete 'Boy can that guy rabbit on once he gets started. Wake me up when he's
finished will you' Wharton