Magnum - Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa - April 25 2014 (Live Review)
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Written by Gemma Johnson
Photos: Thomas Hastings
Coming on like a young Geddy Lee, Neonfly singer Willy Norton certainly knows how to entertain. The London-based five-piece look like they’ve been doing this for years and that should come as no surprise, for this isn’t the first time they’ve toured with Magnum.
The bands were first acquainted on a European trek back in 2012 and Neonlfly were bloody good back then, but with an armoury of deceptively tricky melodic metal songs that scream ‘stadium’ and the reception they receive tonight, it’s clear that they are starting to make a mark in prog circles.
Anyone who saw Magnum way back when will know that, apart from the fact that they’ve aged, not a lot has changed. Now in their fifth decade, they might not have moves like Jagger, but singer Bob Catley certainly has the pout and, beneath his shy demeanour, he’s quite the mover once he gets going.
He’s no talker either, but that’s not a bad thing because gathered here tonight are a legion of devotees who think talk is cheap and, at £20 a ticket, prefer to let the music do the talking.
From opener Live ‘Til You Die, to encore Too Many Clowns, Magnum’s latest album, ‘Escape From The Shadow Garden’, is readily received as each and every word is belted back at Catley, who’s shuffling and shimmying about the stage.
It takes a special band to sound the same live as they do on record, but what you see is what you get with Magnum. It’s striking just how many memorable tracks they wrote during their pomp, with the likes of Vigilante and the proggy Kingdom of Madness getting an airing, while new ones Unwritten Sacrifice and Falling For The Big Plan add a refreshing dimension.
There are some favourites missing from tonight’s set, including On A Storyteller’s Night, but the crowd care not. As the veteran rockers prepare to leave the stage, Catley holds up his bottled water to cheers and rapturous applause.
Magnum Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue April 29 2014 - GLASGOW Glasgow Garage
Wed April 30 2014 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Fri May 02 2014 - HOLMFIRTH Picturedrome
Sat May 03 2014 - WOLVERHAMPTON Wulfrun Hall
Sun May 04 2014 - LONDON Islington Assembly Hall
Click here to compare & buy Magnum Tickets at Stereoboard.com.
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
![Bad Omens Detail 26-Track 'Concrete Jungle [The OST]' Project, Share New Track The Drain](http://cdn1.stereoboard.com/images/artistimages/50/tn_bad-omens.jpg)
