Journey, Whitesnake & Thunder - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

 

Thunder/Whitesnake/Journey - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

 

20th May 2013

 

A Triple bill at Sheffield Motorpoint arena promised to offer a fantastic evening of rock by three mainstream bands, with Thunder beeen revived (again) to participate in this UK tour.

 

After a few hours in the afternoon at Meadowhall shopping and eating, we arrived at the arena fairly early (doors open was an early 17:30!)

 

Our seats were in elevated block 1 stage right, and close to the side of the stage. Excellent!

 

 

THUNDER

 

The lights dimmed, and AC/DC Thunderstruck belted out with Thunder taking the stage. Danny Bowes instantly encouraging the crowd to cheer as he launched into the intro of Dirty Love, his golden voice clearly going down well with the many Thunder fans in the audience.

Good to be back! 

 

Thunder : Set List

1. (Intro)Thunderstruck (AC/DC)
2. Dirty Love
3. Backstreet Symphony
4. Higher Ground
5. Low Life in High Places
6. River of Pain
7. The Devil Made Me Do It
8. Love Walked In
9. I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll

 

 

With good sound, good banter with the crowd, Thunder were as good as they have ever been, despite been away from regular gigging for a few years. good to see them back from semi-retirement as a functioning band, even just for this tour (and Download/Xmas gatherings). 

Love walked in was belted out in the usual fashion, the crowd joining in loudly.

Could Whitesnake or Journey follow this?

 

It was all over FAR too soon, with Thunder on stage around 45 mins.

Very enjoyable.

 

 

WHITESNAKE

 

Thunders gear was soon cleared from the front part of the stage, and a larger stage area cleared for Coverdale & Co., with the full works of projection backdrops and side video screens.

 

We had seen Whitesnake on many occassions over the last 15 years, the last outing been Newcastle City Hall in 2011. That gig had been a little dissapointing, mainly centered around Coverdales voice, and inability on that occassion to "hit the notes", compared with not that long ago previous gigs. Was tonight going to be more of the same? 

 

 

The Whos "My Generation" played, we could see Coverdale standing stage right ready to make an entrance.. The band readied themselves on stage, and straight into a storming "Give me all your love".

"Heres a song for ya!!"............ Coverdale entered onto stage, and we were not dissapointed.

Within just a few songs it was apparent this was going to be significantly better than the previous Newcastle outing.

Sure...... the voice is not what it was years ago, but thats expected, and song choices, timings etc.... no doubt picked to allow for this.


Whitesnake: Set List

1. My Generation (Who Intro)
2. Give Me All Your Love
3. Ready an' Willing
4. Can You Hear the Wind Blow
5. Don't Break My Heart Again
6. Is This Love
7. Gambler
   (dedicated to Mel Galley, Cozy PowellPowell and Jon Lord)
8. Love Will Set You Free
9. Pistols at Dawn
   (Guitar Duel by Doug Aldrich & Reb Beach)
10. Steal Your Heart Away
    (incl. Drum Solo by Tommy Aldridge)
11. Forevermore
12. Best Years / Bad Boys / Children of the Night
13. Fool for Your Loving
14. Here I Go Again
15. Still of the Night
16. We Wish You Well 

The crowd seemd to lap it all up, when encouraged to participate (regularly)

Who is the headliner tonight?

The band thmeselves were as tight as we have ever seen them. Sure, David had a long rest in the middle as the duelling guitars and long drum solos were wheeled out. But again, not unexpected.

A mix of the old with the new, but more of the good old eighties barnstormers, kept the crowd pleased.

The 100 mins or so , went by too quickly, and it was not long before the (for me) highlight "Still of the Night" was over, and the usual finish "Wish you well" saw the band exit to raptuous applause. FOLLOW THAT..... JOURNEY!!

JOURNEY


A bit longer break, and the "headliner", (though it was touted as a equal headliner billing) hit the stage.

Seperate Ways..... Worlds apart was very apt........ Journey were exactly that.......

Worlds apart from the preceding 2 bands, but not in a good way!

Sure, Arnel Pineda is a young guy with plenty of energy and a good voice, but his audience and band integration/interaction skills did not really seem to be there.

Here were Journey, we saw them at MEN as headliners with Foreigner/Styx a few years back.

Same frontman, same set (pretty much), OK set list a bit more traditonal (more crowd pleasers) . This should have been better.... it was not!

Foreigner were leagues ahead then, as Whitesnake and even Thunder were tonight.

Journey : Set List

1. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
2. Ask the Lonely
3. Only the Young
4. Guitar Solo
   (Featuring God Save The Queen)
5. Stone in Love
6. Keep on Runnin'(Deen Castronovo on lead vocals)
7. Edge of the Blade
8. Lights
9. Open Arms
10. Dead or Alive
11. Escape
12. Wheel in the Sky
    (extended guitar into)
13. Be Good to Yourself
14. Faithfully
15. Don't Stop Believin'
16. Any Way You Want It

It was all very much the band going through the motions, a lack of energy or something missing to excite the crowd. The sound was not that good either to my ears.

The most interaction from Arnel, was "Hello Sheffield" and the like really, though hats off to his energy, like a whirling dervish around his almost static band-mates.

Rock music is supposed to instil excitement in an audience, trepidation upon what song the band may play next, and gaining some form of enjoyment from the bands performance.

I did not, and nor did the many people we observed leaving the arena early, a few half-way through the set.

 

 

We stuck it out till near the end. Only "Don`t stop believing" seemed to get the crowd a little more excited. The "Glee" version of this song woould probably have instilled as much excitement as here.

 

Sorry Journey, two chances, and now I have stopped believing!

 

My opinion of the Journey show at the MEN several years ago was the same as my opinion tonight, and the show did little to excite me.

 

Thank god, for Whitesnake and Thunder!!

 

Thunder: 8/10 (higher if set was longer)

Whitesnake: 9/10 (best performance)

Journey: 4/10 (Poor!, points for Arnels energy)



Lake District 1st,2nd,3rd May 2013

Ashness Bridge Wednesday 1st May 2013

3hrs, 30 mins, 7.2 Miles

A mixed weather forecast suggested possible showers, so we elected to do a low level walk, as the weather was set to improve for Thursday for something longer and higher level.

We set off from Tendoose around 09:30, walking into Keswick and the start of the walk to Ashness Bridge which we found in a leaflet in the house.

Above, the centre of Keswick and the "Moot Hall" landmark. Quiet at this time in the morning and a bit out of season.

Heading along the footpath alongside the B5289 towards Borrowdale, saw us into more open countryside away from the town. Good low level views across to the higher fells.

 

Into woodland for a while, then narrower tracks alongside and above Derwentwater.



 

Easy going tracks below Walla Crag, and eventually leading us to the old stone Ashness Bridge.

The day was colder, but this spot would be great for a picnic on a nicer warmer day, bet it gets busy though!!

Head further through the car park here, and through wooded areas for better views across the lake.

Heading back down the roadway, we descended down to the lake shore, following this for a mile or so.....

 
The rain showers came but not for too long.

The way back into Keswick was along easy pathways and we arrived at the familiar jettys near the theatre on the lake, before heading back to the house around 13:00. A bite ot eat at the digs, and another walk back into Keswick for a mooch around shops and to pick up essential supplies saw us good for the remainder of the afternoon.

 

 

 

Our Walk Score:6.5/10

 

 

 

 

Skiddaw Round Thursday 2nd May 2013

 

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District Guide

(Walk#32 Ullock Pike,Long Side,Carl side, Skiddaw Little Man, Skiddaw & Bakestall from Bassenthwaite)

 

(11.5 Miles, 8hrs, 30 mins) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A weather froecast for potentially the best conditions of the week, saw us up early and looking at blue skies and thoughts of Skiddaw.

 

One of the more common routes up Skiddaw is directly from Keswick following the main path upwards past Jenkin Hill, and a straight slog up and back down the same route.

 

However, we had different ideas, following a still fairly common concept of starting from the village of Bassenthwaite, and including another 5 Wainwright fells, making the route far more interesting.

 

 

Parking adjacent the village green in Bassenthwaite, we set off around 09:20 along a vergeless lane crossing into pastures at a near hidden stone flag stile at the lane corner.



 

 

The morning was warm and after about a mile or so of slowly ascending pasture land we stopped to rest and admire the views ahead to our destination.

What Bull!!

The slow rising pasture soon gave way to slightly stonier narrow tracks and we could see the ever inceasingly rising ascent to Ullock Pike getting nearer. The views ahead were stunning.

 

After a little slogging up these paths, the ridge up to Ullock Pike was ahead of us with spectacular view down to Keswick and Dewrentwater

 

The Summit of Ullock Pike (2264ft) marked by a small cairn, but big views all around on this wonderful clear day.

Long Side was soon passed at 2405ft



 

This led us on to the flat top of Carl Side (2448ft) and we rested here to eat lunch and contemplate the best route up to Skiddaw. The obvious path looked to be very rocky slate and VERY steep at one point, a good (or very bad!) scramble. We watched a few go up, and it did look to be a bit of a scramble. A couple of others came down on a less distinct, but still very steep slate "path". We then saw one person coming down further across nearer the Little Man side, and across the slatey side of the mountain. From a distance it looked very difficult, but use of binoculars saw there was no struggle using poles and a green light was given for that route between the two of us.

 

Half-way across the slate scree, which was not as loose as it looked, good job with that drop!

 

 

Past all the slate screen Susan, makes more rapid progress up the grassier slopes up to Skiddaw Little Man. Go, Sue, Go!!

 

Theres a Little Man Ahead!

 

Skiddaw Little Man (2838ft) and an even more amazing view!

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the nasty Scree stuff we crossed

 



 

Another rest, and we then descended back down Little Man the way we ascended, and then began the relatively short ascent up to Skiddaw summit.

 

Flat but Slatey at the top of this one.

 

 

 

 

Looking back across to the ridge of Ullock Pike & Long side where we started.

 

 Phew, Made it here - Skiddaw (3054ft)

 

 

 

 

Heading over the top of Skiddaw to begin the descent down to Bakestall

 

Looking back to Skiddaw summit and then the long slow descent down to Bakestall.

Near Bakestall (2208ft) and the 6th Wainwright of the day.

From here we finally hit flatter ground and long track out of the valley back to Bassenthwaite and the greener pastures and lanes.

 

 

 

We arrived back at the car around 17:50, having had a tiring and full mountain day (for us anyway!)

 

 

Our Walk Score:9/10

 

 

 

 

Lords Seat, Broom Fell, Barf 4th May 2013

 

 Pathfinder Guide North/West Lakeland

Walk #14 adapted to include Barf (8 Miles) 4hrs,45mins.

 

 

 

 

After rain overnight and early morning it turned into another reasonable day so with a later start we drove the short distance to Whinlatter forest, heading through Braithwaite village, past the entrance to the forest visitors centre and onward to the edge of the forest at Spout force car park. (Small, free gravel parking area along track road)

 

 

 
Setting off at 11:15, the forest tracks were quite wide and smooth and we followed  it into the valley of Aiken Beck for a good mile or so. Keep an eye out for deer here, as Sue saw 3 between the outward and return along here. I missed 2 of them though!

Slowly climbing and forking left the wide trak led us adjacent to Ullister Hill, and then a fork left onto a narrower ascending grassy track through the trees.

 

From here the track then opened out and a path left led us upwards again to the small cairn (pile of stones) at the top of Lords Seat (1811ft). 

 

It was rather windy though, so we did not hang about for too long. 

 

 

 

The picture above shows the easy desent, and then slight ascent up to Broom fell ahead.

 

 

Above, the large stone cairn at Broom Fell (1676ft). Still windy, but we found a little shelter against a stone wall the other sie of the cairn and ate aome well deserved fruit and enjoyed the views.

 

Be aware though that despite the large stone cairn, the true summit marked on the OS map is actually easily passed and missed the other side of the fence/stile that can be seen in the picture before the cairn and off to the right by about 50M or so. We headed back the way we came and the GPS confirmed this and it was marked by a less impressive pile of stones as seen below.

 

 

 

We headed back the way we came towards Lords Seat, but taking a left hand path diverting away form the summit to take us on to Barf, a fairly easy slight desent and ascent up to the summit at 1536ft, and our 3rd Wainwright of the day.

 

The wing was a little less now and the views  down to Bassenthwaite even better than the previous 2 fell tops.

 

We followed thwe same route back down from Barf, and rather than ascend all the way back up Lords Seat, we found a way across a very indistinct and boggy track that avoided going all the way back up. There was even a small stile across the fence line which then brought is back to the original path just after the narrow tree track.

Following the tree track back down, we arrived back on the wider forest tracks and back to the car by 16:00.

A pleasant walk with not too much effort for 3 Wainwright fells, though the wind had been quite blustery the rain held off.

Our Walk Score: 8/10