This show is part of Europe's tour to celebrate 40 years since the release of the bands biggest album and single The Final Countdown and unlike the 30th anniversary tour this time they played it in almost the correct running order for obvious reasons, because it opens with that hit.
We arrived in time to see all of The Damn Truths opening set of showy blues rock from Montreal, that opened with Be Somebody that saw them running all over the stage, unable to stand still while Lee-La Baums throaty vocals got across just how much she wants to Be Somebody. Love Outta Luck was a good, bruised love gone wrong song with some flashy guitarwork from Tom Shemer. The Willow reminded me a good bit of Montreal legend Sass Jordan (Who sadly passed away on Friday), with Lee-La soundly suitably aggrieved. This Is Who We Are Now was a good fist pumping anthem to get a crowd going. All Night Long was never going to live up to Rainbow or the Mary Jane Girls songs on the same subject, but thankfully wasn't Lionel Rich Teas cringe fest. They closed a good opening set with Tomorrow that made clear what they hope Tomorrow will bring them; They went down very well indeed.
Next on were Glasgow Brit rockers Gun who I last saw at the launch show for the Hombre's album in 2024, for tonight's show they are back to the classic 5-piece line-up and opened with Lucky Guy that makes clear just how Dante Gizzi and the rest of Gun feel to be able to be in a legendary rock band. Don't Say Its Over took a look at another relationship hitting the rocks, while Jools Gizzi and Ruaraidh McFarlane battled it out on guitar. All Fired Up seemed to have more bite than it did a couple of years ago, it might have been the bigger stage allowing them to burn a bit more. Falling saw Dante working the crowd and getting us all on side to the smooth rock sound they have.
They went back to the old hits for Better Days that went down a storm with a good-sized singalong. Take Me Back Home and coddle them as much as you need too. They then did there always unlikely cover of Cameo's Word-Up, they are nowhere near sleazy enough for this song, despite the lack of sleaze they got most of the audience singing along with them. Dante played up to Shame On You's message getting everyone chanting along with them, making clear how much they mean this song. They closed with Steal Your Fire full of energy and some tasty guitar to let them leave the stage to loud cheers.
Europe opened with Scandinavian Eyes off of the bands latest album Come This Madness sounding like classic Europe with some good heavy guitar from Jon Norum on a Flying V, Walk The Earth made good use of the stage lighting and effects while Joey Tempest was moving all over the stage letting Mic Michaeli's synths and keyboards add loads of texture. Superstitious was the first hit of the set and got loads of the audience singing along with them, while John Norum's guitar solo sounded suitably twisted. One On One from Come This Madness shows they are still unafraid to make political points with blistering guitar and John Leven's super solid bass. Last Look At Eden was greeted like the classic it's become, sounding totally widescreen and full of regret for where things are headed.
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War Of Kings feels more brutally on point than it did 10 years ago when it came out, with Ian Haugland's machine gun drumming ramming home the songs point about the futility of war. Prisoners Of Paradise saw Joey playing second guitar, while looking back to the good old days nicely. New song Cult Of Ignorance is properly angry at the idiocy of our times with Joey's guitar adding texture to John's bitter lead lines. They slowed things down for On Broken Wings that was more built on Mic's keyboards than John's guitar.
The rest of the set was The Final Countdown album in order apart from moving the title song to the end, stopping anyone leaving early. Rock The Night was a massive singalong with Joey working the crowd and getting everyone involved. Carrie was full on lighters or phone torches in the air swaying ballad. They then showed the bands sense of humour on Danger On The Track that Joey claimed was played like they were in the bands old rehearsal room, with the roadies walking on with spare microphone stands, seats, and adjusting the drum kit while Ian was playing it, no matter how much was going on they never forgot to play every bit as tight as the rest of the set, it was a good interlude. Ninja had plenty of old images from the band's trips to Japan.
Cherokee is always a highlight even if the visuals didn't make clear, how this song is about the genocide of the Cherokee people, on the trail of tears the lyrics do, Joey sang this was loads of passion, Time Has Come saw Joey playing acoustic guitar on a song that started acoustic and built to a good peak. Heart Of Stone is something I really don't think Europe have, no matter how bruised the song is, they are having too much fun playing to be indifferent to anyone's suffering. On The Loose was full of youthful energy for those raucous days touring the world going for your dreams. Love Chaser makes clear they indulged in all the passions offered to them, while a young pretty band in the 1980's, before they closed the show with the monumental The Final Countdown complete with massed singalongs, false endings and the full knowledge that the moment they finished the song, half the audience would head straight for the exits, rather than cheer for what would have been a well-deserved encore.
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