Stand Up and be Counted (part 1)

Saxon at the Astoria on 23 April 2006.

The first band I ever went to see live back in the very early eighties was Saxon and I can still remember what an anadrenaline rush this new experience was. Here we are 25 years later and can Biff & the boys get anywhere near that level of excitement? They actually came so close it made no difference.

Starting off with a clarion call of Motorcycle Man and ending with the iconic Denim & Leather they played a set given over almost entirely to their eighties output, the only exception being Lionheart from the 2004 album of the same name dedicated earlier on in the set to England & St George for St Georges Day.

In a set including Dallas 1pm, Frozen Rainbow, To Hell & Back Again, And The Bands Played On, Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law, Crusader, 747 (Strangers in the Night), 20,000 Feet, Princess of the Night, Power & The Glory, The Eagle Has Landed, Heavy Metal Thunder & Suzie Hold On, all delivered with fire & conviction the band once again show exactly how it should be done. If you are into metal/hard rock and have never been to see Saxon, get yourself down to the front and Stand Up and be Counted.