Dave Hill’s Slade / O2 Institute / Birmingham

Dec 24

Dec 24 Dave Hill’s Slade / O2 Institute / Birmingham

It all started not far from here back in 1963 when a group of lads from Wolverhampton got together to form a band. 52 years later (!) It seemed only fitting we caught their farewell tour at the O2 Institute in Birmingham, and seeing Slade for one last time, the week before Chirstmas, in Brum ? What could be more appropriate.

The Institute is not surprisingly, packed, with a decent crowd in already for tonights opening act the Sons of the Seventies. A four piece consisting of Benjamin Turner on vocals and guitar, Patrick Scott on keys and guitar, Tristan Griffiths on drums and George Campbell on bass.

I’d not heard of the Sons of the Seventies before, but this is a performance I’ll remember for a long time, and a band I would love to see again. As the name suggests, they play songs from the ’70, focusing on the classic rock from those days, and boy….. do they do it well !

Skilled musicians they bring these old classics to life, and Benjamin has an incredible voice, with a great range allowing him to hit the highs as well as the lows.

They started the set with an excellent version of the Zeppelin classic Communication Breakdown which had the crowd dancing away before some old school Deep Purple and Golden Earring. There was a great mix of styles of rock as well, with a cover of the Sweet’s classic Ballroom Blitz which had everyone singing along, and the karaoke favourite Born to Be Wild by Mars Bonfire. For the Birmingham crowd, there was also some Sabbath in the setlist with a great version of N.I.B./Paranoid.

The set ended with a brilliant version of the Queen hit Fat Bottomed Girls which the crowd eagerly joined in. Running out of time for the encore, they gave us one extra, long refrain from the Queen song.

Each track was a classic in its own right, and they didn’t just perform them, but gave them new life and vitality with an infectious, riotous feel. Classic rock, brought right up to date. An amazing set all round.

Setlist

Communication Breakdown (Led Zeppelin)

Hush (Deep Purple)

Radar Love (Golden Earring)

Hole in the Sky / N.I.B. / Paranoid (Black Sabbath)

Highway Star (Deep Purple)

You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC)

The Ballroom Blitz (Sweet)

Born to Be Wild (Mars Bonfire)

Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen)

Having formed in Wolverhampton in 1963, Slade went on to achieve worldwide success during the 1970’s Glam Rock age, achieving 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. They were the first act to have three singles enter the charts at number one; all six of the band's chart-toppers were written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. Their biggest selling hit Merry Xmas Everybody has sold over 1,000,000 copies and remains a festive hit even today. In all, Slade have sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

Many band members have come and gone over the years, including founding members Jim Lea and Don Powell, and most notably the iconic frontman Noddy Holder, and the current line up consists of founding member Dave Hill (guitar and vocals), John Berry (vocals, bass, violin and guitar), Russell Keefe (keyboards) and Alex Bines (drums).

But all amazing things have to come to an end, and Slade are going out in style with a farewell UK tour, and it’s hard to believe Dave Hill is almost 80 as he struts out onto the stage wearing one of his iconic wide brimmed hats.

John Berry does an impressive job on vocals ably assisted by Dave who still has that wonderful mischievous grin on his face, that just makes you smile, eager to chat awa with the audience between songs, who still hang on his every word.

The set was a string of hit after hit, featuring tracks (all with Black Country spellings) such as Take Me Back 'Ome, Look Wot You Dun, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Cum on Feel the Noize and Gudbye T'Jane. Slade are known for their hooks and catchy choruses, and each one is made for the audience to sing along to.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and there was a great mix. Not everyone was an older ‘70’s rocker, there was a good mix and young folk too, showing the lasting popularity of their hits.

Every Slade song is a highlight, but the finale was fittingly, flash, bang, wallop in every sense with My Oh My, followed by the hit Cum On Feel the Noize which had everyone in the house singing along with gusto, and finally, what else on th e 20th December could they end on, but the 1973 Christmas #1 song Merry Xmas Everybody.

For an almost 80 year old, Dave Hill was brilliant. His playing undiminished, and that iconic grin ? Just got bigger and bigger as the night went on. An emotional night for everyone present, and if this is indeed, the final concert tour of Slade, they couldn't have gone out on a better, noizier note.

Setlist

Take Me Bak 'Ome

Lock Up Your Daughters

Look Wot You Dun

Everyday

Coz I Luv You

Run Runaway

My Friend Stan

Far Far Away

The Bangin' Man

My Baby Left Me / That's All Right (Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup cover)

Gudbuy T'Jane