Although the current line-up only features guitarist
Mick Box as an original member,
Uriah Heep
still manages to create their exciting seventies sound. Because lead singer
Bernie Shaw and keyboard player
Phil Lanzon have played the Uriah Heep songs for 30 years. And because the latest additions, drummer
|
Mick Box and Bernie Shaw (r) |
Russel Gilbrook (who replaced
Lee Kerslake in 2007) and bass player
Dave Rimmer (successor of the legendary
Trevor Bolder, who passed away in 2013), are more than capable musicians.
This evening we could enjoy Uriah Heep in the new, very crowded venue Victorie, with the focus on the 'Classic
Heep Era', from the propulsive opener
Gypsy (strong new arrangement) to the catchy final encore
Easy
Livin' (the 'stage favorite'), "wow", what an inspired band! And what grateful fans, they were blown away
by excellent renditions of
Look At Yourself,
Sunrise (goose bumps, it evoked the unsurpassed Live
73 heavy prog sound),
Magician's Birthday, the epic and compelling
July Morning (one of the highlights),
Bird Of Prey (a pleasant surprise) and the melancholic
Lady In Black (Mick on the acoustic guitar
and Bernie was the conductor of the 'community singing'). A very special moment was when Mick did his long and
wah-wah drenched guitar solo, embellished with psychedelic looking purple light, magical!
To be honest, I prefer the more elaborate and progressive Classic Heep Era compositions, rather than the harder-edged
and more straightforward melodic rock of the later years. But this evening the excellent frontman Bernie Shaw
and Mick Box, with his powerful guitar work, gave newer tracks like
The Law,
Can't Take That Away
and
One Minute (all from their latest album
Outsider from 2014) live an extra dimension. During
the concert Bernie told us that later this year Uriah Heep will go into the studio in order to make a new album,
this news was received with cheers and clapping.
So the Uriah Heep story will continue and, like
Rush, the fans are treated with a great blend of old and
new songs, everybody happy! Thanks Uriah Heep, it was an awesome gig, you know how to please and respect your fans!
Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)