The Robin 2, Wolverhampton – 10/02/23
I have to say, I was very impressed by the great opening set from Tytan on Friday night. Not a band I’m familiar with at all, but singer Tony Coldham has a fantastic set of pipes, Almost Graham Bonnet level and bass player and founding member Kevin Riddles was great and kept the audience amused between songs. I must make an effort to listen to some Tytan!
So, after a cracking opening set, it was time for the main event – the co headline tour. Tonight it was Alcatrazz who were on first, the band came on and launched into their first song. Right from those opening notes, I was hooked.
Guitarist Joe Stump, let’s face it, had big shoes to fill. Previous Alcatrazz guitarist s include Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen, but he well and truly rose to the challenge unleashing every guitar move in the book. Danny Merton on the bass was drafted in a full 24 hours before the tour kicked off last week and completely nailed it.
Completing the line up is drummer Larry Peterson, founding member and keys player Jimmy Waldo and vocalist extraordinaire, Dougie White.
Kicking proceedings off with ‘Grace of God’, the band isn’t holding back! This is a display of true power! Dougie White’s voice is incredible and possibly even better than the album, it sounds like it’s on top form! Joe Stump instantly impresses the crowd with some guitar acrobatics, hitting the strings with his guitar lead and using the railings at the side of the stage for ‘feedback’!! The poor guitar, but my god it was impressive!
Next up, an old Alcatrazz track, ‘Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live’ and this again is spectacular! I mentioned earlier how Joe Stump had huge shoes to fill, well this song was originally sung by Graham Bonnet, so no pressure Dougie!! Well, he nailed it! Bloody hell this guy can sing!
We’re into Rainbow territory for the next song, Doogie was afterall the last vocalist to record anything in the studio with Rainbow and we get three songs from the aforementioned album Stranger in us All; Wolf to The Moon is the first offering, then later on ‘Ariel and ‘Too Late for Tears’. Joe Stump sounds pretty much on point delivering a strong essence of Blackmore throughout!
Surprise guest Blaze Bayley is shoved, quite literally, on stage just before the band launch into ‘Dont Get Mad, Get Even’ much to the amusement and shock of band and audience! What followed was a very impromptu rendition of Alcatrazz’s latest single. Two powerhouses sharing the stage! Great!!
Dougie White also served time with Michael Schenker, so of course, some Schenker stuff was on the cards too! Take Me To The Church, and my personal highlight of the evening, ‘Vigilante Man’, an absolutely stunning rendition.
The set came to a close with a very biblical rendition of ‘Temple of the King’, Doogie White calling for the crowd to cheer for the great Ronnie James Dio, the crowd raised the roof!
Alcatrazz put on one hell of a show, it was a perfect display of Rock and Roll and I can’t wait to listen to the rest of their new album when it comes out later this year.
A quick change over and then Girlschool explode onto the stage. Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kim McAuliffe is absent tonight and Girlschool have enlisted the talented Nikola Kandoussi from the band The Agony. Nikola is an amazing vocalist. She brings so much energy to a band who already give it 110%!
Kicking off with ‘Demolition Boys’, the band rocketed through their set at 200 mph! One of my favourites came next, ‘C’mon Let’s Go’, Denise kicking the song off with that unmistakable drum intro, the crowd instantly start clapping along.
The band are absolutely loving it up there, and Nikola looks like she’s having the time of her life. I later learned that Girlschool were her favourite band and the reason she formed her own band The Agony.
The hits keep coming, the energy on stage is great, and the audience are loving it. ‘Action’, ‘The Hunter’, ‘kick it Down’ all make it into the set and any of these could be a show highlight.
Half way through the band launch into ‘nothing to loose’, a great opportunity for Jackie to get the crowd chanting the chorus back to her! ‘Race With The Devil’ is a great addition to the set, first seen on Girlschool’s debut album Demolition and a song that I only learned wasn’t by the band that night – it was originally penned by a band called ‘The Gun’ in the 60’s
Girlschool and Motörhead had such a great friendship, Lemmy discovered the band and really championed them. He was a great supporter of them, so it’s only fitting that they include a Motörhead cover, ‘Bomber’ was stunning and again, Nikola absolutely nails the vocals. I must say, I really enjoyed the guitar tone right the way through the set, ya can’t beat That Marshall fizz! Stunning!
Emergency followed by encore Screaming Blue Murder followed and as the final song came to an end tge crowd were screaming for more! Even drummer Denise was reluctant to leave the stage, but sadly, that night at least, that was it!
What a night of awesome rock and roll. Tytan were great, I need to listen to some more Tytan, and co headliners Alcatrazz and Girlschool were mind blowing! I loved every second of it and with new albums on the way from both of these bands I can’t wait to see what is coming next, and I have to congratulate Nikola – she did such a great job of filling in. All in all; a stunning night
