Scorpions & Extreme - Wembley Arena, London (8/6/24)

Scorpions are up there as one of the best bands I've ever seen. I saw them a number of years ago supporting Judas Priest (one of my favourite bands) and they blew them away. They just seemed so vital. 'Blackout' is probably the greatest song I've seen played live. They played it with an urgency which was frightening yet exhilarating at the same time.

The reason I'm here tonight though is probably because of Extreme. As I may have mentioned before, they are my wife's favourite band and if they weren't supporting then she probably wouldn't have suggested coming.

Extreme open with 'It('s A Monster)'. It's decent enough but it does seem like a struggle to fill the huge venue. It doesn't help that my view is completely blocked by a solitary couple standing. 'Decadence Dance' is much more like it and has much more energy. Gary's voice seems a bit off-key and it probably isn't helped that he is so much louder than the rest of the band. 'Rebel' continues in the hard rocking vein. Even this early, Nuno is really flexing his guitar muscles. They do their 'Will Will Rock You' intro to a great 'Play With Me' and Nuno's solo is excellent. 'Hole Hearted' is electric and really gets the crowd involved. Nuno's acoustic solo is jaw dropping and leads into a delightful 'More Than Words'. The funky 'Cupid's Dead' falls a bit flat as it isn't really the audience for leaden funk rock (but then again, what is?). Nuno's show off piece 'Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee' is fucking spectacular. In fact, I've never heard it done better. 'Get The Funk Out' is as anthemic as ever. The man behind me is actually asleep but it is actually much better than that. 'Rise' is a great hardrocking closer and Nuno's solo is still jaw dropping. It's just a shame you can't hear it in its full glory, such is the sound. It isn't a perfect performance but their quality (especially Nuno who is phenomenal throughout) just about shines through.

Tonight is the first time I have ever been to Wembley Arena and it doesn't make a good impression. Huge, soulless, congested everywhere and difficult to get anywhere. Also, the ground seats are all on the same level of elevation meaning that it's very easy to have your view completely blocked if you have an absolute unit stood in front of you.

Scorpions are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 'Love At First Sting' album and the album promises to form a large part of tonight's set. 'Coming Home' is a great punchy opener. The chugging 'The Zoo' sounds positively malevolent and Matthias Jabs' talkbox solo is fascinating. Rudi Schenker looks in unbelievable shape for a man in his mid-seventies and he is still every inch the rock star. 'I'm Leaving you' sounds really dynamic. In fact, all the 'Love At First Sting' material sounds really fresh. Mikkey Dee does a phenomenal job holding down the military rhythms of 'Crossfire'. 'Bad Boys Running Wild's guitars sound more grinding and mechanical than usual and it is great. Midway through the set is ballad time. 'Send Me An Angel' shows that Klaus has still got it vocally whilst 'Winds Of Change' is very powerful. What once seemed cheesy now seems profound. 'Tease Me, Please Me' sounds like a Motley Crue offcut but is still enjoyable even if the poledancer graphics on the big screen seem a little outdated. Drum solos are pretty unnecessary these days but it is Mickey Fucking Dee, the guy is incredible. 'Blackout' is as incendiary as ever, and it is still one of the greatest songs ever written. Rudi looks ridiculous though as he replicates the album cover. 'Still Loving You' is powerful and affecting whilst 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' closes the show on a high. It doesn't reach the high water mark of the previous time i saw them but it is still a very good show.

Scorpions ****

Extreme ****

Black Pyramid, Son Of Boar, Ironrat, Loyd's Trip & Yetii - Star & Garter (1/6/24)

Yetii are a two piece who make quite a racket. They play stoner rock in the vein of 'Blues' era Kyuss mixed with a little Sleep. The singer's voice is powerful even it sometimes veers off key but, to be honest, this just adds to the charm. One song is quite epic, with the band painting eastern influenced desert rock vistas which change and become quite bludgeoning. It's like Kyuss shifting back and forth between 'Blues For The Red Sun' and 'Sky Valley' within the same song. Some of the guitarwork is excellent too, showing little sublime bluesy touches.

Loyd's Trip are a heavy blues rock band with a classic metal look. The singer looks like prime Dave Wyndorf but sounds like he's been beamed in from the 70s. Everything authentically seventies rock is added to the mix from Detroit garage rock to Hawkwind style space rock as well doom, blues, southern rock, boogie and heavy rock. They are clearly very good musicians and good at what they do, but they don't quite hit inspirational levels. It's akin to watching a very good tribute act and yet they undeniably have something. Over the course of the night and the days following, I find myself thinking about them a lot and wanting to see them again. A new track with the working title 'Alabama Chokeslammer' sounds like a heavier Black Crowes covering 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia'. Intriguing.

Ironrat are somewhere  between High On Fire's take on metal and Black Cobra's heavy doom. They are pretty good but I can already feel myself running out of energy so I retire downstairs to the bar for something full of sugar to see if that helps. They do have a nice satisfying Tony Iommi guitar tone though.

Son Of Boar plough the same style of material as Orange Goblin or maybe even High On Fire, a doomy biker rock style of heavy metal. They have decent riffs and they're heavy enough but it just comes across as competent, nothing more. They occasionally touch on Conan levels of heaviness, only without the same ear-splitting volume. 'Satanic Panic (Revelations)' is fairly dynamic and has a decent amount of energy though.

Right from the start, headliners Black Pyramid lay down heavy, hypnotic grooves. The bass is low tuned with a delicious tone, as it should be for their brand of stoner doom. Fast or slow, and they are a combination of both, they are mesmerising. 'The Paths Of Time Are Vast' swings like God's own dick, as Monster Magnet used to say. The track is EPIC (they play all three parts), covering 25 minutes and travelling through a number of different movements with multiple riffs and grooves. Tremendous.

Black Pyramid ****

Son Of Boar ***

Ironrat ***

Loyd's Trip ***

Yetii ****