Uriah Heep Workington Carnegie Theatre 29 Jan 2011
More and more I realise just how much old rock bands like Uriah Heep mean to me. Its a pity that we don’t seem more of them in the UK, and when they do play here it tends to be in smaller venues, and not in major cities. I saw a few weeks ago, to some surprise, that Uriah Heep were playing at the small (300 seater) Carnegie Theatre in Workington as a warm-up for an appearance at a rock show at Butlins Skegness. I decided that it was worth the 100 mile drive to see them again, particularly in such a small theatre. My only hesitation came from thinking about the possible winter weather, and how that might affect driving over to see them. As it happened; when the day arrived the weather was OK, with some frost and snow flurries, but no real problems on the road.
I set off at around 4.30pm to give myself plenty of time to drive over to Workington. The drive was pretty uneventful (except as usual I got a little lost in the centre of Carlisle) and I arrived in Workington just before 7pm. A visit to the local fish shop was in order, and after scoffing off fishcake and chips (not that nice actually) I wandered into the venue. When I got inside the place was pretty empty; everyone was still in the very packed pub which was just over the road from the theatre.
The Carnegie Theatre is a lovely little theatre with an adjoining bar (Munroes Bar I think) and community centre. Its pretty small with around a dozen rows of seats downstairs in the stalls and about 8 rows up in the balcony. I’d bought my ticket quite late and my seat was in the second from back row of the balcony. The show had apparently been sold out for a few weeks.
I took my seat in the balcony for the support act who were Hammerhead. They are a Cumbrian rock band who started in the 70s, and played a set of great melodic rock. Well worth checking out. During the interval I wandered downstairs to the bar which was now completely packed.
Uriah Heep took to the stage at around 9pm, opening with Wake the Sleeper from their recent album. Wake the Sleeper is a pretty good opening song, with the trademark Heep screaming harmonies. The next songs I recognise are Return to Fantasy (great) and Bird of Prey. Hearing Bird of Prey takes my mind back to an early tour at Newcastle City Hall (Magician’s Birthday tour perhaps?) where I swear they announced Bird of Prey as “an old song, that we won’t be playing again”. After Bird of Prey I decided to wander downstairs to see if I could get a better view. Everyone was standing up in the stalls, and there didn’t seem to be any security at all, so I managed to make my way to the very front of the stage. We were then into all the great old songs: Stealin’, the Wizard and Gypsy. It was nice to hear the full keyboard intro to Gypsy again; the last couple of times I’ve seen the band they’ve missed it out and gone straight to the riff. Mick takes centre stage and is clearly enjoying himself. Bernie Shaw is a great front man and vocalist and has the crowd with him on every word; singing along at the top of their voices. They finish with July Morning and Easy Livin’ (always my favourite). Encores are Sunrise (I’d forgotten how good that one is) and we all sing along to Lady in Black. I don’t usually sing along but couldn’t help myself. On the way out I hear a guy next to me say to his friend “that was awesome” (and it was!).
Easily the best gig I’ve been to in a long long time. You can’t beat a recipe of vast experience, great songs, small venue, enthusiastic crowd.
I leave around 10.45pm and get home just before 1am; ears still ringing. When I get home I tell Marie how great it was but she’s half asleep, and she turns over and goes back to sleep.
website: http://www.uriah-heep.com/
Setlist: Wake the Sleeper; Overload; Return to Fantasy; Only Human; Book of Lies; Bird of Prey; Stealin’; The Wizard; Free an’ Easy; Gyspy; Look at Yourself; Angels walk with you; July Morning; Easy Livin’
Encores: Sunrise; Lady in Black
ticket
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Posted by rondon on May 15, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Hi Peter,
Great review. I saw them the next night at Butlins in Skegness and they were terrific, putting on a full stadium show with light show to die for. Like you I realise now how great and important these bands from our youth can be.
My quick and cheerful review can be found at:
Cheers
Ron