Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
I do love a bit of classical before a concert kicks into full swing. Don’t you? And tonight’s sequencing see’s classic 80’s, but still banging out tunes in late 2020’s, Europe, take to the stage.
Being a pretty tiny venue, the stage is big enough to be seen, but small enough to be controlled. With the 5 screen backdrops, and neatly positioned drum riser and keyboard stand, framed by a simple dual amp cab system, the crowd is twitching to get going.
Whilst the last roadie stumbles about in torch light, it isn’t long until ‘Scandinavian Eye’s’ kicks off with the epic of descending guitar riffs. Accompanied by the keys, it’s a cracker of an opener of this pretty lengthy 19 song set list. Blending into more keys, the thumping of ‘Walk The Earth’ keeps the crowd moving. Already, that typical blue hue and dimming concert lights bring a familiar feel and homely touch to that arena style voice of Joey Tempest. Would I be shot down in saying he’s defo got a touch of the Steve Tyler’s about him? Pretty spritely for his age, and his uncanny ability to avoid his flowing scarf getting caught in the mic stand is a skill only some can master where many fail.
The familiar blue turns to red as the band crack out ‘Superstitious’. Impressively, Joey’s ‘mic tossing’ skills are also put to the test as he’s juggling mic’s with music. Very clever. The set list is moving at pace, with no let up for crowd interaction… yet.
I must admit, I feel somewhat guilty having only seen Europe once before, and even then, I can’t say I’ve seen them do a full show. Coming in late when they supported Alice Cooper at Wembley, probably around 2012 I think it was, I only caught ‘The Final Countdown’. But, what a track to catch when supping your first pint of the evening.
So for me, despite being around the block the bit, this is a first for me, and a welcome addition to the rock n roll experiences. ‘Last Look at Eden’, ‘On Broken Wings’, ‘Rock The Night’ are of course the set list staples that you’d be disappointed not to hear, but, there are another 15 or so wonderous rock songs to be heard.
I’m loving John Norum’s guitar noodling. The Stratocasters and flying V’s look great on stage, and this guy can play! Dualling with both the keys and bass, Norum captivates the excited, and surprisingly varied crowd. Ok, granted, most of the crowd has the odd grey hair, if they have hair at all, but, it’s always an eye opener when you see the teens with their parents attending gigs. Let’s just hope its ‘cause the younglings are loving the rock and it isn’t just due to a lack of babysitters! I think the junior sized denim suggests a genuine interest.
‘Rock The Night’ supports this theory, when the backdrop video’s affectionally show families, and even the family pet cats, singing along with the well-known rock anthem. Oddly, this track was also the soundtrack to a snowboarding video that I was in the early 2000’s. Irrelevant for this review, but interesting, nonetheless.
‘Time Has Come’ is a nostalgic, and slightly sad venture into the bands, and audiences past. ‘It’s been a long journey, but just the blink of an eye’. One can’t help but draw parallels to life itself. With a few tears in the crowd, Europe are giving a master class in gratitude and emotion.
The band always hold the stage, and the crowd have been engaged from the get-go. At the foot of Norum’s, well, feet, I was crammed into the right of the stage just in front of the monitors. With the yellow strat flickering in the orange glow of the stage, I was lucky enough to catch Joey’s eye as he and John rocked out together in true ‘Status Quo’ style.
Finishing with what most people paid to hear and see, ‘The Final Countdown’ is just one of those songs. There’s probably 10-20 songs, from millions, that literally ring in everyone’s head, that everyone knows. Be you a hard-core raver, a country twanger or the hardest of metallers, you can’t not know this keyboard ladened tune. Accompanied by the coolest of solo’s, it gets etched into your head for life.
Europe. A band that has survived, thrived, and been as steady as the clouds in the sky. If you can get to any of their current run of shows, treat yourself, you really should. As part of rocks furniture, you owe it to yourself and the band to ensure you experience one of the influencers of this most big haired of genres.
Photography by Haluk Gurer for MPM
