PJA - Storytellers Night: Magnum & Neonfly

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Magnum & Neonfly - Leamington Spa

Seeing Magnum is like catching up with an old friend over a pint of beer. Someone you feel completely at ease with and you know exactly what to expect and it never disappoints. If it is possible they are actually getting better with age and the release of their 19th album 'Escape from the Shadow Garden' is no exception. However before Magnum it was good to see Neonfly once again having seen them supporting Sonata Arctica previously.

This time The London-based five-piece delivered an extended set and looked look like they’ve been doing this for years! Frontman Willy Norton has a touch of the theatricals about him and doesn't waste any opportunity to leave the stage and be at one with the crowd, in fact he did it twice. They got a good reception and seem destined for better things which is why it was such a shame to hear that the following night they had their van broken into and all their gear stolen. To their credit they vowed to continue the tour with borrowed instruments.

Neonfly Setlist

Ship with no Sails
The Enemy
A Gift to Remember
Better Angels
The Revenant
The Ornament
Spitting Blood
Heart of the Sun
Morning Star
Outro

The Assembly in Leamington is fast becoming my venue of choice , especially as I discovered a Weatherspoons pub just around the corner that came in very handy afterwards.

Formed in 1972, Magnum have undergone several changes in personnel over the years, however the core of vocalist Bob Catley and guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin remain today. Bob is 66 now but the voice is still going as strong as ever even if he is starting to look a little frail.

As I expected and hoped the set kicked off with 'Live ‘Til You Die' from the new album. In fact pretty much all of my favourites featured including, The Spirit , Kingdom of Madness, Vigilante , Les Morts Dansant, Sacred Hour and How Far Jerusalem. The first part was loaded with new stuff and the odd track or two from the previous album 'On the 13th Day'. The rest was a really good mixture from across their history with only one or two favourites missing from tonight’s set, including On A Storyteller’s and 'Just Like an Arrow but the crowd care not. As the veteran rockers prepare to leave the stage, Catley holds up his bottled water to cheers and rapturous applause. Now time to find that Weatherspoons pub and maybe a burger to finish the night off?