When a band storied enough to be part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement has played in a city for nearly 45 years, the venues tend to come and go. But the heavy metal thunder remains. In Saxon’s case, that thunderous music just keeps getting better.
On a co-headlining North American trek with fellow NWOBHM friends Uriah Heep, Saxon added another Alamo City concert residence to its San Antonio history by performing at the Tobin Center for the first time this past Thursday night. The “Hell, Fire & Chaos” tour celebrated Saxon’s latest album Hell, Fire & Damnation in conjunction with Uriah Heep’s 25th and newest studio effort Chaos & Colour.
A sold-out four-story crowd of approximately 1,800 relished a Saxon performance that lasted from 9:40-11:12 p.m. following Uriah Heep’s rockin’ set that went from 7:49-9:14 p.m.
After opening with the obligatory title track to Saxon’s new album, vocalist Biff Byford had the fans eating out of his spread-out hands when he quipped, “You know you’re our favorites, right?” The standard company line of many a vocalist playing any city isn’t a load of bullocks as far as Byford is concerned.
Saxon received its first taste of American radio airplay in 1979-80 here thanks to the late legendary disc jockey Joe Anthony. “The Godfather” is the reason Byford, Judas Priest’s Rob Halford and several others mention Anthony by name every time their band plays San Antonio. On this night, Byford dedicated the classic title track to 1980’s Wheels of Steel to Anthony.
“We’ve been playing San Antonio since 1980,” Byford acknowledged to thunderous applause. “We’ve played the (HemisFair) Arena. We’ve played Sunken Gardens. We’ve played everywhere! We even played in a sandwich bar,” he recalled, referencing Saxon’s impromptu gig at Sam’s Burger Joint Music Hall on Sept. 2, 2015, when they were supposed to support Motorhead at the Aztec Theatre, only for that show to be called off due to Lemmy Kilmister’s illness — something Byford discussed exclusively with yours truly in 2017 (watch here).
Saxon and Uriah Heep helped the Tobin Center mark its 10th year, which is also how long ago Byford’s prog metal masterpiece as part of The Scintilla Project, entitled The Hybrid, was released, which Byford also discussed in the aforementioned interview link.
This particular night also made Saxon history in another way. It was the first San Antonio gig as a member of the band for lead and rhythm guitarist Brian Tatler, who was brought in after last year’s surprising departure of original guitarist Paul Quinn.
Tatler, of course, is known for his current stature in Diamond Head — the group made even more popular thanks to Metallica’s covers of their tracks “Am I Evil” and “It’s Electric” — which comes full circle given that Metallica’s second concert was opening for Saxon. Byford also flew from Helsinki, Finland, to San Francisco to perform “Motorcycle Man” at Metallica’s 30th anniversary bash in 2011 (yes, that too was discussed in the interview above).
Tatler had little trouble integrating with Byford, fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, bassist Tim “Nibbs” Carter and the “Bucc-ee’s Tour” T-shirt wearing and Austin resident drummer Nigel Glockler as evidenced below on Alamo True Metal’s footage of seven Saxon tracks including new tunes “There’s Something In Roswell” and “Madame Guillotine” plus oldies “Heavy Metal Thunder,” “Dallas 1 p.m.,” “Crusader” and “747 (Strangers in the Night).”
With so many classics from which to choose while touring in support of a new album, that means Saxon felt the need to omit a couple of its more recent bangers such as the title track to 2013’s Sacrifice and “Age of Steam” from 2022’s Carpe Diem.
But when it comes to the Alamo City in particular, all of that goes by the wayside as it pertains to arguably metal’s most recognizable anthem that does not mention “rock” or “metal” in the title: “Denim and Leather, brought us all together,” which you can also watch below.
Not to be outdone was Uriah Heep, which, unlike Saxon, doesn’t exactly come around to San Antonio every other year.
The group’s lone remaining original member, guitarist Mick Box, is joined these days by vocalist Bernie Shaw, who’s been fronting the group since 1986 — in other words, almost an original himself.
And while Uriah Heep’s debut album came out a year before yours truly was born, they, like Saxon, aren’t hanging their hats on the past. Uriah Heep’s 2023 effort Chaos & Colour spawned three new tracks at the Tobin that are worth checking out — two of them can be seen below in “Hurricane” and “Hail the Sunrise,” which flanked ‘70’s era’s “Sweet Lorraine” and “Free ‘n’ Easy.”
Shaw demonstrated he’s the ideal complement to Box’s playing in both vocal skills and sound as well as stage presence and commanding the Tobin audience. Along with bassist Dave Rimmer, drummer Russell Gilbrook and new touring keyboardist Adam Wakeman — the son of legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman and who also played keys on Ozzy Osbourne’s 2008 Black Rain tour — Box and Shaw also shone on “Gypsy,” and “Stealin’.” The latter was once covered by local rock and blues guitar/vocal thoroughbred Jason Kane of Jason Kane & The Jive.
Uriah Heep’s performance may have been a tad too long for some given rumblings that could be heard by these ears around the Tobin from fans eager to see Saxon. But that sentiment evaporated when UH prepared to unveil its final encore with Shaw declaring, “We didn’t come all this way not to play ‘Easy Livin’!” Similar to the Metallica/Diamond Head relationship with “Am I Evil,” the 1972 Heep hit gained more notoriety to a new generation when W.A.S.P. covered it on its 1986 release Inside the Electric Circus.
But once again, it was Saxon’s hand-in-hand relationship with San Antonio that was the story. Saxon eclipsed the scheduled 11 p.m. end time by 12 minutes, treating the Tobin to a trio of encores.
Byford gave the crowd a chance to show applause for possible extras Saxon would play, warning the Tobin that the eventual first encore, “The Eagle Has Landed,” is a seven-minute song as if to say the show might run long or that playing that song would negate the possibility of hearing other expected ones.
But of course, all rules are tossed out when Saxon invades San Antonio. It doesn’t matter if it’s at a burger joint or on the night of tornadic conditions during a show with Armored Saint at the Vibes Event Center.
So Saxon found room for two more, performing its cover of San Antonio native Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind” before ending with “Princess of the Night.” The latter was once a funny topic of discussion on an episode of “That Metal Show” when host Eddie Trunk poked fun at Lady Gaga claiming she was a Saxon fan, only to have Byford chime in with, “Well, she knows the words to ‘Princess of the Night.’ “
Whether Lady Gaga is a “Northern Lady” or not, she still might have a long way to go, however, before matching the Alamo City’s dedication to Saxon. After all, the heavy metal capital will always take pride in being home to heavy metal thunder.
SAXON SETLIST: The Prophecy/Hell, Fire & Damnation; Motorcycle Man; This Town Rocks; Power & The Glory; There’s Something In Roswell; Heavy Metal Thunder; Madame Guillotine; Dallas 1 p.m.; Strong Arm of the Law; 1066; Crusader; 747 (Strangers in the Night); Denim & Leather; Wheels of Steel (dedicated to Joe Anthony). ENCORES: The Eagle Has Landed; Ride Like the Wind (Christopher Cross cover); Princess of the Night
URIAH HEEP SETLIST: Save Me Tonight; Grazed By Heaven; Rainbow Demon; Stealin’; Hurricane; Sweet Lorraine; Hail the Sunrise; Free ‘n’ Easy; Gypsy; Look At Yourself; July Morning; Sunrise. ENCORE: Easy Livin’