Live Review: Europe With Gun & The Damn Truth

Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, October 3rd

Photographer / reviewer – Phil Honley

This was always going to be a class affair with two choice support bands helping Europe to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the album that kick started the band’s career, their third studio album ‘The Final Countdown‘.

When you hear Grace Slick’s dulcet tones with ‘White Rabbit‘ you know that Canadian rockers, The Damn Truth, are about to grace the stage. This band loves playing dates in the UK and are regular visitors. They tend to play the smaller venues around the country when headlining but are more than capable of playing the larger venues as they proved tonight.

The Damn Truth are Lee-la Baum (lead vocals/guitar), Tom Shemer (lead guitar/vocals), PY Letellier (bass/vocals) and Dave Traina (drums/vocals). A fabulous band that always gets a great response whether they be headlining or supporting.

They went down an absolute storm with a thirty minute set that opened with ‘Be Somebody‘ from their most recent album and also included the excellent ‘The Willow‘ from said album. The band deservedly getting some high profile gigs like this and the band’s performance on the night reflected why.

The Damn Truth Setlist:

1. Intro – White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)
2. Be Somebody
3. Love Outta Luck
4. The Willow
5. This Is Who We Are Now
6. All Night Long
7. Tomorrow

The current line-up of Gun has two of the original members, Dante Gizzi (vocals) and Giuliano Gizzi (guitar). The band continue to tour continuously. 

A great set with some real bangers like ‘Better Days‘, ‘Word Up‘ and ‘Shame On You‘. It was a fully seated gig and Dante Gizzi asked the crowd to kindly stand for the final two numbers, ‘Shame On You‘ and ‘Steal Your Fire‘. The crowd were obviously keen to oblige.

Gun Setlist:

1. Lucky Guy
2. Don’t Say It’s Over
3. All Fired Up
4. Falling
5. Better Days
6. Take Me Back Home
7. Word Up (Cameo cover)
8. Shame On You
9. Steal Your Fire

Swedish rockers Europe are currently performing their The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour, playing 19 concerts across 12 countries, including the UK, Netherlands, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. 

The current line-up is Joey Tempest – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, John Norum – Lead guitars, backing vocals, John Levén – Bass guitar, Mic Michaeli – Keyboards, piano, backing vocals and Ian Haugland – Drums, percussion, backing vocals.

A career retrospective set list followed by the complete 1986 ‘The Final Countdown‘ album played in its entirety. A fair selection from the new release and their 12th studio album, ‘Come This Madness‘.

‘The Final Countdown‘ hit the number one spot in the UK singles chart in December 1986 and at that time they were only the second Swedish artist to top the UK chart, in the footsteps of none other than Abba.

As good as ‘The Final Countdown‘ is, I preferred the more bluesy 2012 offering ‘Bag Of Bones‘ but new album ‘Come The Madness‘ (review here) tops the lot for me. There was no room to include anything from the former album but they opened with the powerful ‘Scandinavian Eyes‘ and also ‘One On One‘ and ‘The Cult Of Ignorance‘ from the new album. It really rocks and Europe are still very much on top form and delivered both the new stuff with the classic album played in its entirety in real style.

Great back drop reflecting some great photos of the band in their younger days.

Joey is brought a chair and lyric sheets to what I initially thought was to assist his memory of the lyrics of some rarely played tracks but it was in fact some kind of performance during ‘Danger On The Track’ re-enacting the scene in a Europe rehearsal room, with their long-standing crew getting a moment to shine on stage. It was a little silly but the band and crew obviously enjoyed themselves so that’s cool.

The grand finale was of  no surprise of course as the band played out with a cracking version of the hit that brought the band to this point in their career, ‘The Final Countdown‘. Joey didn’t have to remind everyone of the lyrics as I reckon everyone in attendance joined him in ‘The Final Countdown‘.

Europe Setlist:

1. Scandinavian Eyes 
2. Walk The Earth
3. Superstitious
4. One On One 
5. Prelude
6. Last Look At Eden
7. War Of Kings
8. Prisoners In Paradise (Joey Tempest: Additional electric guitar)
9. The Cult Of Ignorance (Joey Tempest: Additional electric guitar)
10. On Broken Wings
11. Rock The Night
12. Carrie
13. Danger On The Track
14. Ninja
15. Cherokee
16. Time Has Come  (Joey Tempest: Acoustic guitar)
17. Heart Of Stone
18. On The Loose
19. Love Chaser
20. The Final Countdown

In summary, this was a cracking evening enjoying the music of three bands that just love putting it out there. All three bands are happy in their own skins and although two are still waiting to release the song that will keep them solvent for the rest of their lives they still love the life they have chosen and we are grateful beneficiaries.

©All photographs are copyright of Phil Honley – Gigsnapz. They may not be altered or used without express permission.