Blaze has become quite a regular visitor in our country. Well, either the criteria of people’s choice of whether to attend a live show has changed drastically in the last few years, or the main criterion is what they are going to listen to at the concert. I think that’s a bit odd, doesn’t it?
At that horrible On Stage club in 2009, there were 70 people, while things were a little better with… a meagre three-digit number at Temple, ten years later. But, last year Gagarin was soldout, while last night at the same venue, 700-750 people were there. A similar situation to that of the late Paul Dianno, wouldn’t you agree? Things are simple: when people are going to listen to Iron Maiden, even from a tribute band, venues are crammed. On the contrary, when a solo artist bases his set on his own personal work…it’s ignored. Of course, we can never accuse people, they’re always right. But, thata’s a truth we cannot ignore. On Saturday night, however, Blaze Bayley fully justified the crowd’s decision to go to Gagarin 205.
Initially and for a little less than an hour, the warming up of the audience was once again taken care of by Absolva who are basically Blaze’s band without Blaze and they made a decent appearance. They are a band with good songs and choruses that “stuck” in the ears.
With no introductions, thunders and lightnings, the show starts with “Lord Of The Flies” and Gagarin is shaking. Blaze presents a two-hour set based on his years with Iron Maiden and only five tracks from his last two albums. He sings with incredible passion, living every word like there’s no tomorrow, and speaks to the audience with equal emotion . He is an honest artist and a man who respects himself and his fans, who support by returning the lov. The sound is excellent while one shouldn’t have missed something from Maiden that one would expect. He didn’t fail to honour the recently deceased Paul Dianno with an excellent rendition of “Wrathchild”. Ending his set with “The Angel And The Gambler”, he promised to return soon which will surely bring a big crowd to the venue again.
Closing, I want to praise his move before the show to meet everyone at the entrance of the club, hand out autographs and take a photo with each one individually. Blaze, he’s not interested in selling face but being one with his audience. Respect!
Setlist: Lord Of The Flies, Sign Of The Cross, Judgement Of Heaven, The Call Of Ancestors, Circle Of Stone, Rage, Fortunes Of War, Virus, Warrior, Pull Yourself Up, When Two Worlds Collide, Lightning Strikes Twice, The Clansman, 2 A.M., Como Estais Amigos, Wrathchild, Man On The Edge, Futureal, The Angel And The Gambler
Dimitris Kazantzis
