Saxon, Uriah Heep at the Pabst Theater (5/22/2024)

“Hell, Fire & Chaos: The Best of British Rock and Metal” That’s what fans were promised and it’s exactly what they received with the latest double bill that’s tearing up the nation, Saxon and Uriah Heep. It’s been five long years since these legends last graced American shores, no thanks of course to that whole global pandemic fiasco. But alas, throughout this rampaging turmoil, personnel changes, and heath scares, both bands have emerged victorious with brand new masterpiece albums to their name (Heep’s Chaos & Colour, Saxon’s Hell, Fire and Damnation) and an arsenal of hits that remains timeless as ever. Headbangers were treated to all of this and more this past Wednesday at the historic Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Uriah Heep

Throughout the course of this jaunt, Heep and Saxon have been playing full 90 minute sets, making this a pure co-headline if there ever was one. They’ve also been taking turns closing shows out. On this particular stop, it was the veteran Heep who opened ceremonies with their unforgettable brand of early metal bliss. That said, as proud of they are of their past, Heep is not a band to be held back by nostalgia. In fact, they opened this weeknight romp with the leadoff single off Chaos & Colour, “Save Me Tonight” and followed it with “Grazed by Heaven”, which was the leadoff single of their last album, Living the Dream (2018).

Heep proceeded to throw in two more new cuts, “Hurricane” and “Hail the Sunrise”, to give the admittedly weary audience just enough to make a judgement call before potentially purchasing said new album. Longtime frontman Bernie Shaw addressed this dilemma, stating how any more would be “too much”, but any less would be “too little” and how the band was eager to show these new tunes off, as they should be. Anyone resigning themselves to the falsehood that Heep’s best days are decades behind them are in desperate need of a reality check and need to pick up Chaos & Colour stat.

As for the hits, those remain as potent and powerful as ever, especially when delivered with the passion of this current Heep incarnation. “Sweet Lorraine” and “Stealin'” remain the obligatory lighthearted singalongs. “Rainbow Demon”, “July Morning”, and “Sunrise” continue to enchant in all their mystical, magickal heavy prog glory. And then you’ve got your no frills, early metal bangers: “Easy Livin'”, “Gypsy”, “Look at Yourself”, the list goes on. The highlight for this Heep diehard was the seldom played John Lawton era barn burner, “Free ‘n’ Easy”, or as Shaw described it, “’70s style heavy metal”.

Musically speaking, the band was locked in from beginning to end. Shaw tackled the vocals of both the aforementioned Lawton and late great David Byron with unbridled tenacity, as he has for 35 years running. The rhythm section of bassist Dave Rimmer and drummer Russell Gillbrook thundered away, adding an extra oomph to these already heavy tunes. Keyboardist Adam Wakeman (yes, son of Rick) did an incredible job stepping in on short notice, proving to be the go-to name for ’70s metallers in need. And holding it all together was “The Wizard” himself, Mick Box, Heep’s visionary from day 1. Despite nearly 55 years under his belt, Box plays with the same energy and hunger as he did back then, faithfully recreating those unforgettable riffs and solos, while simultaneously hiding new tricks up his sleeve!

By the time Heep’s signature hit, “Easy Livin'”, came to a close, the audience were rightfully on their feet and roaring in approval. The times may have changed, and so have the faces playing the music, but the spirit of Heep was as alive and well in the Pabst Theater as it was when the band headlined the old Milwaukee Arena right down the block nearly half a century earlier. If only Mick Box knew he’d be putting the “Chaos” in “Hell, Fire and Chaos” this many odd years later! Then again, knowing his wizardry, he probably did.

Setlist

“Save Me Tonight”
“Grazed by Heaven”
“Rainbow Demon”
“Stealin'”
“Hurricane”
“Sweet Lorraine”
“Hail the Sunrise”
“Free ‘n’ Easy”
“Gypsy”
“Look at Yourself”
“July Morning”

Encore

“Sunrise”
“Easy Livin'”

Saxon

The only way to follow up a powerhouse band like Uriah Heep? With another powerhouse band, of course! If Heep were there on behalf of metal’s first wave during the earliest part of the ’70s, Saxon were representing the movement that followed, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Indeed, it was albums like Look at Yourself (1971) and Demons and Wizards (1972) that spun endlessly on the turntables of aspiring musicians 50+ years ago, musicians who would then go onto form bands like Saxon. Think of it as a heavy metal circle of life, if you will.

Just like Heep before them, Saxon kicked off their 90 minute metal marathon with a new song as well, the title track of their latest affair, “Hell, Fire and Damnation”. It was a rousing opening to a set that could only be described as pure “Heavy Metal Thunder”. Admittedly, anything less from these “Denim and Leather” clad lifers would be unacceptable, if only by their own standards. Saxon is a band who, in a support role, is almost always guaranteed to blow the headlining act off the stage. Their lethal combo of breakneck speed with undeniable charisma is as stupefying today as it was in the early ’80s.

Most notably, this was Saxon’s first American jaunt with new addition Brian Tatler in place of founding guitarist, Paul Quinn. A personnel change this late into a band’s career could mark the kiss of death. In Saxon’s case, it has been the exact opposite, breathing new life into the already lively outfit. It also helps that Tatler isn’t just any guitarist. He did form a little band you might’ve heard of by the name of Diamond Head. As 1/5 of Saxon, Tatler is able to add his signature NWOBHM era fire into the fold while simultaneously paying homage to the nearly 45 year legacy paved by Quinn.

Whereas Heep played three new songs, Saxon one upped them and played four. In addition to the title track, the band threw in “Madame Guillotine”, “There’s Something in Roswell”, and “1066”. Amazingly, those who may not have been familiar with this newer fare found themselves singing along by the second chorus, proving Saxon’s undisputed status as the heavy metal heavyweights of hook writing. Speaking of singalongs, it was one after the next, with no shortage of air guitaring and headbanging to boot: “Motorcycle Man”, “747 (Strangers in the Night)”, “And the Bands Played On”, “Crusader”. While nearly impossible to emphasize the scope of Saxon’s catalog and impact in a short 90 minutes, they did so to the best of their ability.

As the rampaging “Princess of the Night” signaled the end of the evening’s festivities, the crowd found themselves on their feet yet again, in amazement of the scorching display of metallic precision they had been witness to. In the matchup between Saxon and Heep, it was a draw straight down the middle, each band delivering 10/10 sets. With this being the standard set for traditional metal shows this year, I feel bad for any tours to follow in its wake, and selfishly hope for a second leg of Hell, Fire & Chaos sooner than later. Don’t be strangers lads! Us Yanks can use a good ol’ fashioned English ass whooping from time to time!

Setlist