British Lion roars in Brighton. Gig report!

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

British Lion / Voodoo Six / Airforce; Concorde 2, Brighton 15/01/2023

Overall, it was a great gig! British Lion showed their teeth and roared! Excellent support bands Airforce and Voodoo Six. A great venue I really can’t recommend seeing this tour enough. It was damn loud, of course, but being so close to top bass man Steve Harris, I left feeling privileged to have been there.

The review will go in reverse order. Smaller photos can be clicked to enlarge.

British Lion

Oh my, I gotta feeling tonight is going to be a rocking all out head bangers ball. Its gonna also be a bit special as we all gathered to see British Lion. This band was formed up by a well-known bassist, Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris! Yep, you read that right. And also tucked at the back for Airforce was Iron Maidens former drummer Doug Sampson. He played with them from 1978 and 1979. Ok, no more mentions of Iron Maiden, we were here to see British Lion!

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

This extraordinary band have released two albums, the first as a Steve Harris solo project, ‘British Lion’, the second ‘The Burning’ eight years later in January 2020, as the band British Lion. Think more along the lines of UFO (a member of that band was backstage) and the classic rock bands of that era.

The crowd arrived early and as British Lion took to the stage Mr Harris waved as he strapped himself in, with many in disbelief it’s actually him! Saying that, other various band members from British Lion had been spotted around the venue earlier in the night.

Steve Harris comments

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

“We’re excited to be touring the UK again especially as we’ll be visiting many places we’ve not had a chance to play before. We’re happy to have our old mates Voodoo Six and Airforce back out on the road with us too. Everyone is really looking forward to this tour and we can’t wait to see everyone.” 

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The band have released two albums, the first as a Steve Harris solo project, ‘British Lion’, the second ‘The Burning’ eight years later in January 2020, as the band British Lion. Think more along the lines of UFO (a member of that band was backstage) and the classic rock bands of that era.

The band squeezed on the stage, and thankfully no smoke! British Lion are Richard Taylor (vocals), Steve Harris (bass), David Hawkins (guitar/keyboards), Grahame Leslie (guitar), and at the back on the sticks is Simon Dawson (drums). So good to see Mr Harris Steve Harris had donned his shorts, very brave as it was pretty chilly in Concorde 2 to start with. He was sporting his Whale Oil Beef Hooked T Shirt and, naturally, sporting his West Ham coloured guitar strap and matching wrist/sweat bands. Tonight, he was the bass player in a rock and roll band.

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Harris had first met Leslie in the early 1990s after Leslie sent him a demo tape, and Harris mentored the careers of Leslie and Taylor for several years until deciding to include them in the British Lion project.The band’s tours are typically scheduled after the conclusion of Iron Maiden tours, when Harris becomes interested in playing in clubs and theatres as he did in Iron Maiden’s early years.

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The album British Lion, released in 2012, was marketed as a solo album by Harris with the other musicians described as his backing band. The project was then re-positioned as a self-contained band with most songs written by Harris, Taylor, and Hawkins. Their second album The Burning was released in January 2020. The album was voted Album of the Year by Paul Stenning for BraveWords.

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The band took up their places, but not for long as they switched around places for the entire gig, they fired up to open with This Is My God and the ripping City Of Fallen Angels. That’s how to start a metal gig! Screaming guitars, thumping bass lines and gut moving drum power wrapped up in damn fine vocals. Yes, at last British Lion were here, and they were hungry!

There is a communal joy that can be only achieved by being in the same room as hundreds of other music lovers who share the same obsession as yourself, rock and roll and metal!

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Up next was Judas and Taylor picks up an acoustic guitar, it starts off slower, a slow burner with a simple steady beat from the drum kit, Taylors vocals were sublime washing us down and the guitars wind it up to fire in a startling finish. Only a couple of songs in and it was clear that this is a well-orchestrated and immaculately rehearsed show. Nothing is left to chance, and oh yes, did I mention Steve Harris?

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I quite like a bit of banter or chat during a set, not much of that  tonight. British Lion were here to nail us to the floor with a set jam packed with 17 Impressively good, at times blistering songs. And also worth noting no covers played.

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The songs have a British Lion sound, very much their own style and only occasionally did we get a familiar guitar sound reminiscent of ‘Wasted Years’ at the start of the track The Burning. Great to see such a crowd joining in with almost every song, lots of hair and devil horns being thrown. You really can’t beat a good rock and roll/heavy metal ball, and with British Lion as MC’s, it’s a night you are not going to forget.

As I promised no further mentions of that band, this was British Lion, a wonderful Spit Fire was up, with a recognisable style of a slow teasing intro taking us into even more ear blistering riffs as Steve just, well, let it rip with a thumping bass line.

Closing down the set tonight was Eyes of the Young, and the packed in Brighton crowd showed an enthusiastic appreciation for a brilliant and lively night of rock. It’s nothing short of a blistering end to a fantastic evening’s entertainment.

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

British Lion still have few dates left for this UK tour, so I would suggest you go see them. For your ticket price you get three bands!

British Lion: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

British Lion are on the WWW – right here!

Voodoo Six

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Second outfit up tonight in Brighton was the London based Voodoo Six. Another new band for me and they burst onto the Concorde 2 stage, following the theme from The Great Escape with set opener Something For You. They then proceeded to tear a new one into Concorde 2 for a fiery 45 minute set.

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

My god, these guys have it and what a stage presence! A solid set. Again the crowd seemed to know the material as Falling Knives fired up the crowd, a hard driving rock song. Fairly recently signed up singer Nik Taylor-Stoakes would stop every so often for a bit of chat and the shout of Brighton! Telling us it had been a while since they had been out!

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

There is a general gathering of Iron Maiden support on view tonight with band family members featuring offspring and/or road crew. Voodoo Six served up a mouth-watering mix of brilliant rock and performance.

Tonight Stoakes showed us everything and piled it on for the 45 minutes, a top front man on display as the band rattles fires up a mix of old and newer material.

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Huuuge shout to bass player Tony Newton! You fired it up Sir and provided us in the pit with some fabulous photos opportunities; it really was a photographers dream! Also a shout to the wonderful Joe Lazarus, almost out of site (as were most of the drummers tonight) as he showed off his skills with some top percussion work and some astonishing patterns and fills. Great drum work!

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Other songs in this stunning set (I think), included Lead Me On, Sink or Swim, Electric and closed with Your Way. Voodoo Six are definitely putting their stamp on the world of rock and metal.

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

After their set tonight, I have no doubt that Nik and the Voodoo Six guys had rounded up some new fans. Voodoo Six showed tonight a real strong prowess, and have to be rated as a top live outfit. An incredible display of power from these guys and just exactly how Nik didn’t collapse afterwards is beyond me, he didn’t stop for a second!

The band have a headline tour in February so go and check them out live, you will not be disappointed.

Voodoo Six: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Drop in on Voodoo six: catch up here!

AIRFORCE

AIRFORCE: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

First out of the doors tonight was Airforce. The band Airforce is made up of original founding members, Chop Pitman (guitar), Tony Hatton (bass) and Doug Sampson (drums) and they were joined in 2019 by vocalist Flavio Lino. We were in for a treat, this band were great to watch while pouring out a short albeit sweet set.

AIRFORCE: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

A lot of the crowd in here tonight were Airforce fans and knew the words to the songs. Although it’s very difficult not to hear Iron Maiden or Judas Priest in Airforce, they are unique and not some sort of tribute outfit. They poured it on for us with a storming set of their own songs, each one a really good strong song. No fillers, all killers from Airforce.

AIRFORCE: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Setlist: Fight; Life Turns to Dust; Son of The Damned; The Reaper; Heroes; Band of Brothers; Finest Hour; Sniper

Fight lights the fuse to open their set, it was loud, it has a thumbing hooking riff, What an opener, never seen these guys before, but you know, I think I’m going to revel in their sounds. Together AIRFORCE form a formidable outfit, and up on stage that really shines through. There’s a certain magic that weaves effortlessly through the songs, the sheer power of the delivery, guitars searing, soaring vocal work all underpinned by a thunderous bass. This was class!

AIRFORCE: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Damn that was a thoroughly enjoyable set, it was closed with Sniper where, as he had done throughout the set Flavio ended it with a Rob Halford styled scream. Brilliant stuff. Their time together encapsulates a bond and musical brilliance, quality metal tunes, riffs and songs, superb vocals and showmanship, and it’s a joy to watch!

I said to Flavio after the gig, how much I had enjoyed their set. He seemed genuinely thrilled with the feedback. Damn they were good and I hope they head back down here again soon.

Airforce join up the rock and roll dots and specialise in a delivering driving, contemporary rock sound with an undercurrent of searing vocals and a fist crammed with cut through killer riffs. This is classic rock and roll. You got a new fan – right here!

Take off with Airforce on the WWW right here!

And Finally…

Overall, it was a great gig! British Lion showed their teeth and roared! Excellent support bands Airforce and Voodoo Six. A great venue I really can’t recommend seeing this tour enough. It was damn loud, of course, but being so close to top bass man Steve Harris, I left feeling privileged to have been there.

Thanks to:

BRITISH LION,
VOODOO SIX,
AIRFORCE,

Sonic PR and the always superb team at Concorde 2!

Words and Pics: Ian Bourn.

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