Today was Wishbone Ash live at the Phoenix. This was the 6th time I have seen them, with the tour being billed as an extension of “Live Dates.”
The support was Firekind. A 3 piece from Torbay. There were a good number of people who had seen them before, and from the first track, Revelation , an instrumental, it was easy to see why.
They were very tight, yet relaxed. They have a punchy indie sound, which I loved. The guitarist and bassist are brothers.
One Thing and Ego followed. They talked about how they’d supported Wishbone Ash a few years ago and that they had been bought up with the band’s music as their dad was a fan. Coming out alive, their next track, was dedicated to their dad. I don’t think it was accidental that there were WA vibes to it!
Another instrumental followed, The Hero closely followed by Burns Like the Sun.
Living Days, Sound of Rain and Desolate closed out the set.
I really enjoyed them. Hopefully get to see them again.
Then the main event. The band came on stage and straight into the instrumental Real Guitars Have Wings. This is off the 1987 album Nouveau Calls. That was followed by a very recent track, one I really like, We Stand as One off the 2020 Coat of Arms album. It was a strong start.
Then the first of the fans “favourite” tracks. Argus (1972) was the album that put the band on the map. It’s still regarded as a classic, quite rightly so, it’s virtually faultless. It’s really a concept album with tracks that develop musically.
The three of the most popular tracks off the album were played straight through. The King Will Come, Warrior and Throw Down the Sword. Superb. The dual guitars of Andy Powell and Mark Abrahams were nailed down, as usual!
Then back to more up to date material with Deep Blues, off Blue Horizon (2014).
Runaway off New England(1976) was next and straight into the instrumental FUBB. That appeared on the album from 1974, There’s the Rub. Actually an excellent album.
The popular Standing in the Rain off Strange Affair was next followed by Jailbait, one of my favourite tracks. It heralds back to 1971 off Pilgrimage, the album before Argus. I love the bluesy rock, and as usual, it was performed brilliantly.
Living Proof was followed by a return to Argus and Blowing Free. These tracks finished the set off.
We waited for the encore and I suggested to my mate that it would be Phoenix, probably my favourite track by the band. They returned and I wasn’t disappointed! Phoenix played live at the Phoenix!
The track is from way back, off the self titled first album released in 1970. The album version takes half of side two of the album - and is just over 10 minutes long.
The encore was a fantastic they did a 15 minute version of the track. Plenty of riffs and leads building up, slowing down, then building up again. It’s a masterpiece.
We were done. A very good night. Unusually there wasn’t as much chat from Andy this time. They have almost finished a 34 date tour, so he must have been knackered!
It didn’t spoil the night though, until next time, thanks guys.
