Magnum – The Garage Glasgow – 13/04/2011 (Gig)

Magnum are currently touring to promote their new album “The Visitation“. I went to see them on the 2nd night of the tour and was happily surprised with just how great they performed live as I’m not the biggest Magnum fan however they won me over tonight!

The support was from Gwyn Ashton. This combo features Aussie guitarist Gwyn Ashton and British drummer Kev Hickman. Their distinctive bluesy, 60s psychedelic rock style went down well with the crowd. Gwyn had some great banter with the crowd during the set, which had us all laughing along.

Magnum was due to come on earlier than normal 20.15 as the gig had an early curfew of 10pm. This didn’t seem to matter as The Garage, on both levels was nearly full for Magnum taking the stage.

As the band came on with Bob waiting at the side to go up onto the stage I was surprised just how energetic and youthful all the band members seemed. I know all the members of the band are in their 50 or 60’s and it definitely doesn’t seem that way.

They opened with the brilliant Back To Earth from their new album and it went down a treat with the crowd. They had the set list worked out well every new song was alternated with a classic track so we got the best of both throughout the set. The highlights from the main set for me were How Far Jerusalem and the surprisingly heavy sounding Black Skies

Bob sounded fantastic, danced around and pulled off some superb rock poses throughout the set. I wonder where he gets all his energy from? The full band was interacting with the crowd and joking around with each other on stage and looked like they were having a ball.

After a great set. The band left the stage for around 5 minutes before coming back on and finishing up with Kingdom of Heaven & On a Storytellers Night. These are both favourite songs of mine and also the crowds judging by the ecstatic reaction they received.
Once the band went off stage everyone was shouting out for more until the house lights came on.

Tonigh’s setlist
Back to Earth
When We Were Younger
Wild Angels
Brand New Morning
Mother Nature’s Final Dance
How Far Jerusalem
Spin Like a Wheel
The Moonking
Freedom Day
Les Morts Dansant
Black Skies
All My Bridges
All England’s Eyes
Vigilante

Encore:
Kingdom Of Madness
On A Storyteller’s Night

Photos supplied by Neil Henderson