Concert review - Magnum at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Magnum

Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Concert review and photos by Ian Harvey

On an unseasonably warm St George's Day it was only fitting that Magnum, that most thoroughly English of rock bands, should raise the temperature even higher at their hometown gig.

And incredibly for a band about to celebrate four decades, the classic melodic rockers just get better with every live outing.

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Digging into the vaults they kicked off with the non-album crowd pleaser Back To Earth in a set which leaned heavily on their 16th and most recent album The Visitation.

Of late Magnum have come under criticism in some quarters for ignoring in concert some of their older classics in favour of the body of work they have created since reforming in 2002.

But songwriter and guitarist Tony Clarkin's faith in the band's current direction was more than vindicated last night, with songs including Wild Angels, Freedom Day and Black Skies standing shoulder to shoulder with favourites like Vigilante, All England's Eyes and How Far Jerusalem.

There was no room for anything from Magnum's biggest-selling album, Wings Of Heaven, but When We Were Younger, The Moonking and, of course, Kingdom Of Madness, kept the Wulfrun crowd singing along with Bob Catley, whose magnificent voice shows no sign of age.

Clarkin remains a stoic figure on stage, leaving Catley and bassist Al Barrow to pull all the rock shapes as keyboard player Mark Stanway and drummer Harry James complete the sonic fireworks.

Technical issues meant that the set had to be trimmed on the night but it will be fascinating to see how Magnum decide to celebrate their 40th anniversary next year. In the meantime fans can look forward to a DVD from this tour, being filmed at Shepherds Bush Empire in London on April 30.

Music photography by Ian Harvey / RocktasticPix