An idiots guide to an idiot: The Gig.

To Shepherds Bush today with Kevin & Paul to see the great 'Saxon' in concert! Sadly Tara didn't come with us as she was unwell. A terrible shame and it wasn't right without her :(
Met Paul at the Defectors Weld pub for eats first. Kevin & I arrived first & got chatting to a nice fella from Massachusetts called Charles. Strangely enough we got talking to him about beer, Kev & I both had a pint of Young's bitter which was good but a bit light, Charles was drinking a darker ale & I asked him which it was, (Battersea Rye 4.5% a good tawny brown colour with a smoky after taste) . Conversation thus struck up we chatted for a while, Paul joined us and we ordered food all of us going for fish & chips, unfortunately there was only one portion left & rather than arm wrestle for it Kev had ribs and I had steak pie with mash and greens. it was very tasty!
The Shepherds Bush Empire doors were opened half an hour early tonight possibly because the gig was a sell out, I'd found out Girlschool would hit the stage at 7pm, the venue was only a short walk from the pub so we were there in plenty of time.
It's about 35 years since I've seen 'Girlschool' & I have to say they did not disappoint, they were absolutely brilliant & also had good banter with the crowd. They actually seem like a really nice bunch but were not on half as long as I think they should have been! They played a good mix of old barnstormers like 'Race with the devil' & newer tracks off their latest album like 'Come the Revolution' & 'Take it like a band,' everyone a gem & played with mucho gusto. Great stuff!
Second support was 'Fastway' featuring Fast Eddie Clarke formerly of Motorhead, they were good but some of their tracks were abit pedestrian, abit samey, the rockers they played were good but I can't really understand why they were above 'Girlschool' in the billing.
I should say it was definitely a sold out gig, we'd got unreserved seating in the balcony & whilst we certainly weren't late it was filling up fast.
To the main act then which was 'Saxon' and of course they were great as you'd expect, they played for about two hours so very good value as well. The Empire accommodates 2000 people, small by some standards and all the better for that. Plenty of banter from Biff Byford & of course plenty of singing from us. The title track of their latest album 'Battering Ram' got us underway with the great singalong tracks of 'Strong arm of the law,' Never surrender' & of course 'Wheels of steel' following on They played two encores the first one being rather special as Fast Eddie came back out and together they played 'Ace of Spades' as a tribute to Lemmy who both 'Saxon' & 'Girlschool' should have supported last year before his demise they then played the ever popular 747 (Strangers in the night).
Paul left just as the encore started to make sure he got his train back OK, we knew our trains were OK so stayed to the end, as the final chords of 'Princess of the night' finished and the band bid us farewell, Kev & I joyously picked up our ears and headed home.
Another great gig & I will happily see them again! I took afew photos with varying results, some of the effects of not using a flash were quite good so I offer a selection here, also a set list of what the bands played.
Girlschool. Demolition Boys/ Hit & Run/ Come the Revolution/ Take it like a band/ Future Flash/ Watch your step/ Race with the devil/ Emergency.
Fastway. Misunderstood/ All fired up/ Another Day/ Deliver me/ Telephone/ Heft/ Feel me, touch me / Easy Livin'.
Saxon. Battering Ram/ Let me feel your power/ Sacrifice/ Solid ball of rock/ Never surrender/ Crusader/ Stand up & be counted/ The Devils footprint/ Strong arm of the law/ Killing ground/ The eagle has landed/ Queen of hearts/ And the bands played on/ Dallas 1pm/ Wheels of steel.
First encore. Ace of Spades/ 747(strangers in the night) Second encore. Denim & leather/ Princess of the night.