Live Review: Uriah Heep, St. David's Hall, Cardiff
11th October 2022
Words & Photos: Paul Hutchings
It was an evening to celebrate an incredible career, to reflect on a magnificent musical journey and to indulge in over two and a half hours of music drawn from 24 albums. Uriah Heep have been a mainstay of the uk hard rock scene for over half a century. Never fashionable, they have followed their own path, played shows in over 62 countries, and sold millions of records. Tonight, they demonstrated that when it comes to quality, age is no barrier. As they departed, the promise of a new album and tour was one you feel sure will be honoured.
St. David’s Hall remains a fine venue. Home to numerous metal and rock gigs during the 1980s, it may have (thankfully) passed the baton to venues more suited to the rowdier elements in the past three decades (seeing Metallica on the Puppets tour and Maiden’s ‘Powerslave’ Eddie there remain lifelong highlights) but there’s no better venue in Wales for this type of show.
A large white curtain stands at the back of the stage. In front of it a small drum kit, three stools and a keyboard. The lights drop, and the words ‘Uriah Heep – Celebrating 50 years’ is projected onto the curtain. A montage of video clips is played. Congratulations come thick and fast. Alice Cooper, Def Leppard, Rob Halford, Paul Stanley, Deep Purple, and Rob Halford amongst them. The words are heartfelt, fellow legends sending their best wishes and plaudits. It doesn’t feel forced. Ian Anderson plays the joker, wishing Uriah & the Heeps a happy birthday, whilst Biff Byford and Steve Harris receive large cheers. It’s a lovely start.
Out walk Uriah Heep to huge applause. Mick Box, Bernie Shaw, Phil Lanzon, Russell Gilbrook, and Dave Rimmer take their places. We get a stunning 50-minute acoustic set to start. It’s stripped back, relaxed, and amazing. Two songs in and Bernie Shaw is urging the audience up on their feet as ‘Free Me’ increases the tempo. Although there may be many in the audience who’d have preferred the comfy seats, the crowd rise as one, and the party really starts. A beautiful cover of The Weavers ‘Come Away Melinda’ is performed by Shaw and Lanzon; you can hear a pin drop such is the effect and the respect.
Between songs Mick Box tells a few stories, reflecting on the songs and repeatedly referring to Ken Hensley’s writing, the sadly deceased former keyboard player such a key part in the band’s seventies music. It’s delivered with reverence, a huge nod to the band’s past whilst ensuring that the band remain very much in the present. We return to the early seventies throughout the evening though, with a medley of tracks from 1972’s ‘Demons and Wizards’ seeing Box refer to them as being “glued together. The correct word is segued, but I prefer glue” he laughs. ‘Lady in Black’ brings the first set to a close. If that was it, I think I’d have been happy but there is more, much more to come.
As the house lights dim, the second set begins with another montage, this time of pictures and live video of the band throughout the ages. We get snippets of Hensley, David Byron gyrating on huge stages in the seventies, Box shredding, Lee Kerslake, Bob Daisley and Trevor Bolder. Seminal members of the band for decades. It’s tastefully and thoughtfully done. The audience applaud, the curtain drops and the real Uriah Heep blast into over 80 minutes of classics with a powerful and compelling electric set. The band have changed from t-shirts and jeans to their more flamboyant stage wear. Shaw resplendent in red boots, sequined jeans, and shirt. Rimmer all in black save for his white cowboy boots whilst Box and Lanzon favour the black shirt approach. Gilbrook is sleeveless, unsurprising given the workout he endures. He hits hard, a dynamo that constantly powers the band forward. The lighting is impressive. Banks of spotlights swirl, columns of smoke burst from the front of the stage, and the huge 50 banner sports all the album covers in a kaleidoscope of colour.
There are some lesser-known tracks thrown into the set. ‘Against the Odds’ from 1995’s Sea of Light’ and ‘What Kind of God’ from 2008’s ‘Wake the Sleeper’ sit comfortably amongst the legendary songs. The fans are up on their feet from the start. ‘Traveller in Time’ gets the venue bouncing (okay, maybe creaking!), Box and Lanzon renewing decades of duelling. Box the magician on the guitar throws shapes, seemingly pulling notes out of the air. Lanzon is the keyboard wizard. His thick Hammond chords bulk up the songs, bringing heft, depth, and body. It’s hard to not just sit back and admire the master craftsmen in front of you.
But Heep have too many great songs to sit and watch. Shaw has the crowd singing along to ‘Stealin’, reminding the Welsh audience that we’ve already proved our singing credentials during the acoustic set. ‘Too Scared to Run’ from ‘Abominog’ is accompanied by the story of the cover being voted the worst one of all in 1983. Shaw spots a fan wearing a red t-shirt which sports the cover. He demands house lights, points the man out and gives him huge kudos. It’s all great fun.
We hit the home straight and there are huge cheers as the Shaw announces the arrival of ‘July Morning’. A joyous extended workout brings tears to many, it’s just such a magical song that hits hard in the feels. The ultimate way to demonstrate the power that Uriah Heep can bring, it’s possibly my favourite track by the band and judging by the reaction, many others as well. Shaw proves, as he has all evening, that in hard rock no-one has a better voice. The man is incredible.
The band exit but we know there is more to come. Before they return for the encore, we get a touching video run through of every member who has ever been in the band. It’s a simply yet incredibly effective thing to do, with no-one left out. With emotions high, it’s time for the inevitable double finish. ‘Gypsy’ gets those still sitting out of the seats before Box hits the riff to Heep’s most famous song, ‘Easy Livin’ which sees the venue in raptures. It’s an amazing evening of the highest quality. As the band take their bow, we can only hope that they are back soon. After all, as Ian Anderson quipped, “you haven’t got that long left!”
Photo credits: Paul Hutchings
