June 22nd - Springfield,
Virginia
You
can see pictures of this show at my website,
which can be accessed at
http://users.erols.com/sthomas72/sanctuary.
Select - The"www.uriah-heep.com"
Tour.
I witnessed the "Total Recall" USA
tour of 1993 three times, and it was mentioned
by the band that they would return a year later!
Well, that was eight years ago!!! They
have finally returned, and this show at Jaxx
Nite Club in Virginia was my attempt to
experience their live performance once
again.
After a two-hour drive from Pennsylvania, I
arrived in town by Noon. I did not reserve
a hotel yet, so I searched for one after
checking out the location of the venue. It
was a choice between Motel 6 and the Holiday Inn
Express - I chose the latter. After
securing my room reservation, I saw the infamous
Maroon Tour bus, but the band was nowhere in
sight. After a trip to Starbucks and
Subway, I traveled back to the venue to see if I
could find Dave Owen. I had offered
through email to help with distributing flyers
for the website, so I was hoping I could speak
with him before the show. To my surprise,
the entire band arrived shortly after for the
soundcheck! One by one, they exited the
Holiday Inn shuttle bus to enter the venue,
which confirmed that they were staying at the
same hotel. After meeting with Dave, I was
invited to stick around for the soundcheck -
what a great experience!!! I had read that
the band usually jokes around during this
time, but it seemed more ! serious to me.
Perhaps there was a problem with the equipment
again?
Every
now and then, Mick and Phil stopped by the
merchandise area to chat.
The soundcheck ended with a loose jam to
"Return To Fantasy."
After 8pm, the crowd was starting to arrive, and
many website flyers were handed out while they
entered. I was also able to help Dave with
selling the merchandise, which I was more than
happy to do since it was to benefit the band.
Many "Heepsters" had also arrived... I
met so many people, especially
"Madman" and Lannis. What a
great bunch!
The opening bands were Electric Warrior and The
Road Ducks. Both bands were great...
Electric Warrior performed many glam covers,
especially music from David Bowie and T-Rex.
I particularly enjoyed "Gudbuy T'Jane"
by Slade. The Road Ducks featured the Jay
Nedry, the owner of Jaxx, on the drums. I
believe he also played with members of Molly
Hatchet many years ago. I was also able to
speak to him before the show, when my vinyl copy
of the first Toe Fat LP impressed him. He
also mentioned that his band opened
up for Blackfoot while Ken Hensley was with the
band. What a great guy!
Finally, Uriah Heep arrived onstage after
midnight, opening with "Return To
Fantasy." I will not go into complete
detail of the setlist, because I believe it's
common knowledge by now, but I was ecstatic when
"Sunrise" and "Traveller In
Time" were performed. Of the new
tunes, "Universal Wheels"
and "I Hear Voices" received a great
response from the crowd. Dave Owen
mentioned that Mick had changed the solo during
"Look At Yourself," so I wasn't sure
what to expect. When it finally occurred,
I was blown away!!! No disappointment here!
As usual, every member performed "July
Morning"
with passion. The encore was comprised of
"Bird of Prey" and "Easy Livin'."
During the show, a lot of merchandise was sold,
and website flyers were filled out for the e-Heep
service. I was able to speak with many
fans about the band, but the knowledge of
"Dave Owen" far surpassed any detail
from myself. I certainly can keep up with
the trivia, but Dave is a walking Heep
encyclopedia! There were a lot of
questions about former members, especially about
Ken Hensley, David Byron, and Gary Thain.
There was also great interest in the current
lineup. Many people did not realize that
this is the strongest lineup in Heep's history -
15 years!
After the show, I was able to get my collection
signed. I brought mostly new items by the
current lineup, but couldn't resist getting my
original copy of "Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble"
signed by Mick. One person brought the
entire Heep catalogue on CD to be signed by the
band - each member signed every copy!
Heep's dedication definitely shows through their
determination to sign everything before leaving!
At 3:30 AM, I was finally able to arrive
back to the Holiday Inn. As I mentioned
earlier, it was confirmed by Dave, that the band
was staying at the same hotel! We all
arrived at the same time, where I was able to
speak to Bernie while riding the elevator to our
rooms. The next morning, I ran into them
again, just to be able to say farewell as they
were off to Pittsburgh, PA.
Thank you, members of Uriah Heep, for a great
show - I look forward to seeing you again in
Scranton, PA during the second leg of the tour!
Thank you, Dave Owen, for allowing me to help
out with promoting my favorite band! As for
everyone reading this, if you have a chance to
witness Uriah Heep
Live, you won't be disappointed!!!
Steve "The Hammer" Thomas
(Photos
by Ed Heffington)
URIAH
HEEP ROCKS!!! My wife and I went to the show
with some good friends of ours from North
Carolina. I have been an avid fan for nearly 30
years (whew! I must be getting old). The night
was very dark and stormy setting the mood for a
very Magical night&An evening with URIAH
HEEP& Friday night in Springfield, VA,
just give us about 2 minutes to tune the
guitars, the moogs, and voices and things, and
well be right with ya .
The
storm raged like a lion, but the anticipation of
the experience we were all about to behold was
more than enough to part the clouds and scatter
the storm. The excitement grew more with each
passing moment, while we waited for the magic to
begin. The storm sent the show into a 1.5 hour
delay, but we all knew we would not be let down
and the wait was more than worth it.
Finally,
it was curtain time around 12:10. The stage was
set, and the electricity was enough to create
lightening. Heep came onstage and ripped off
Return to Fantasy in classic HEEP style, and the
rest of the night was absolutely ass kickin`.
They tore through tune after tune 
with
Mick riffing off some fantastic searing licks on
guitar smiling like a Cheshire cat, as usual.
Mick added to the already mystic and magic
moment with his ever-present hand gestures. Lee
beat the drums like 
an
animal, but with the dynamics of a butterfly
(what a drummer!). Trevor made playing the bass
look like it was zero effort, and he had one BIG
sounding bass, I might add. Phil has a distinct
style and professionalism hard to find in a
keyboard player anymore. Last, but not least,
Bernies vocals were just outstanding. He
has his own style that fits very well with the
HEEP tradition, all the while keeping the crowd
roaring.
Overall,
the show was really much more than I had
expected. After all, it's not everyday you get
to see the greatest band in the world up close
and personal! I know it's a show my wife &
I, our friends, and
the rest of the crowd will never forget. It was
awesome having them come out after the show to
spend time with everyone that stayed to meet and
greet them. Thanks to JAXX night club for
booking the show!
Thanks
MICK, LEE, TREVOR, BERNIE, and PHIL for all the
years of music and dedication. You keep touring
and playing, and I promise well keep coming
to give you the love and respect all of you
deserve.
Ed
& Sabrina Long live URIAH HEEPJ
(Photo's
by Ron Mann)
"I want you all to know how proud I am just to have Uriah Heep
playing at my club, you Heepsters are invited back anytime you want
to come hang out and enjoy the shows." These are the words we were
greeted at the door with by Jay (owner of Jaxx in Springfield, VA) on
June 21, 2001.
Heep has proven themselves in all forms of music. After they convinced
me they ruled the acoustical setting, I set out on this journey to see how
good this lineup could rock, energize, and control a power crowd hungry
for a dose of classic lightning.
We were staying about six miles from the venue, but from what else we
endured on this trip, it was certainly within' walking distance! :-)
After meeting up with the other Heepsters on hand, Hiro, Todd, Bob,
Mark, and our NC Traveling Band of Gypsy's we had a few beers and
mingled with the band. We should save some questions and answers for
a later trend after the tour is over so I'll keep that to myself.
We all sat in the same dinning area with Heep themselves, just as the night
before. The Madman and myself ordered four baskets of hot wings to split.
Should have been a great snack, ayh-ah! After each finishing our first
basket, we had Tears In Our Eyes, the whole gambit, I even remember hearing in the
distance, "I got chewing gum on me boots." Neither of us was able to finish
what we started as we stopped a little over half way through our second
basket of wings. We couldn't even find anybody to give them to. I guess the smoke
from our ears gave us away.
I went inside the venue itself, we saw the Mega Heepster himself, Mr. Dave
Owen setting up as per usual. He gave me my VIP pass then and I made some
sort of comment of about the wings being so hot as I wiped my eyes!
The two cover bands passed the time pretty well as we geared up for the main
course. I preferred the glam rock of Electric Warrior to the other southern
rock cover band myself. Both had to play in-between the sound of Heep playing
on the speaker system between sets, hard act to follow I'd say. In-between
sets I went into the bathroom and passed Bernie coming out, I didn't even speak
to him this time. Certain privacy in life is unspoken.
About midnight (I didn't even know about the power outage until Bob's post)
Heep was introduced by the owner. From the opening of Return To Fantasy
they blasted the crowd of under a thousand to the edge of their mother's
innocence. I was about three people deep from stage, so this time I could hear Bernie
for a change. The only time in three shows I was able to get that pleasure.
This guy
can control the crowd, belt out some powerful vocals and hit notes that make
my inner soul quiver with childlike smiles.
Upon the end of the set, I went to the very back of the venue and stood
where
Lannis was perched on
a step lining the back right wall. I just wanted to
see
the reaction of the crowd for myself as the classic Heep track Easy
Livin' over
took the spaces as time stood still for just a few short minutes.
With my ears ringing and a smile that covered ear to ear, we wondered around
and talked to everyone that would listen how this was so special. I was so
happy, just the fact of knowing I would see them again in less than 24 hours kept
me on my toes. By this point I was starting to appreciate the other Heepsters as
much as the band themselves. The fellowship (no religious pun intended here)
helped to highlight these three shows.
Two great shows down, I knew the next one would be just as good. You don't
get let down with these guys. Complete professional showmanship, great
respect for their fans and they make extra effort to meet those who make the effort
to meet them.
Ron Mann
Jaxx Club
Springfield ,VA - June 22, 2001
We made pretty good time from Cleveland to Springfield. We had actually
gotten off the beer and pretzel diet a little( Lannis stopped and let us
eat! :-).
The first person we ran into at the Days Inn was Bob Winabago and his
girlfriend, Susan. In a little while, we were heading out to see thesoundcheck at Jaxx. Jaxx was very inconspicuous in a shopping center.
However once we were inside we found it was surprising large. Jaxx is a very
nice club/restuarant with a separate concert hall that is comparable to a
House of Blues venue. We were met at the door by the owner who kidded around
with us a bit... He said he didn't need our kind
(Heepsters)in his establishment but then he told us he was also a big Heep fan. We found out
later he was the drummer in one of the warm up bands for Heep. The band
included former members of Jesse Bolt and Molly Hatchet. After Heep arrived
we got a chance to listen to their soundcheck. Slowly all the Heepsters began to show up...Hiro, Dave C, Ed
Haliburton, Todd Pence, Mark Dinardo and, of course, Merrick, Ron, Lannis & me. We settled into
the bar and had a nice meal. I think I saw smoke coming out of Ron's ears
from the hot wings. The other warm up band, Electric Warrior, was a power
trio doing T. Rex, David Bowie and Slade covers among others. When one of the members
mentioned to Trevor his hair resembled the David Bowie bass player's do, he
was informed that they were one and the same. I thought the guy was gonna
kiss Trevor's feet! :-> "We're not worthy! We're not worthy!" LOL!
The venue played Heep albums continuously before the concert began. Finally
Electric Warrior led of the festivities.The band was made up of some pretty
young guys and I thought they were good. They played an assortment of
material that a little outside of mainstream Top 40 Classic Rock and I
especially enjoyed that aspect of it. Their guitarist was very talented and
I also thought the vocalist was pretty job. Actually they were about as
authentic 70s shock rocker as you could get! Next the owner's band came out
and they played music more in the Southern Rock vein. They also did a good
show and winded it up pretty quickly. I ran into a woman from on -the i.com
and was informed that tonight's concert would be the first live webcast from Jaxx. I tried to call Debbie to
pass it on to the list but just got the answering machine. I understand she
did pass the info however.
At last it was time for Heep! Most of the Heepsters got out of their seats
and went down to the stage. This was another one of those impressive
concerts where the crowd was really into it and certainly it was an ideal
show to webcast! The setlist was very similar to the Blind Lemon except The
Wizard was back in. I recall Mick really cut loose on some of the solos and
I think it was the Look at Yourself exchange with Phil that really got kind
of wild. Once again Bernie was really interacting with the audience. He was
even picking out people who weren't clapping and prodding them into getting
involved. July Morning was the last song of the regular set and the owner
came out and said a few words about how he had worn out the Look at Yourself
album as a teenager. I could definitely relate to that. He ended up by
saying "Let's hear it again for Uriah Heep! Uriah Who? Uriah F*cking
Heep!!" Heep came out and did Bird of Prey and Easy Livin' and left the crowd
exhausted from a overwhelming night of Rock...Heep style.
Heep came back in Jaxx one by one and signed the fan's memorability and
another great night was over. Once again it was after 3 am before we
returned to the motel room.
More to come...
Mac Steagall
LONG
LIVE URIAH HEEP!!!!!!!
The
show on June 22 in "Jaxx" was the BEST
rock concert me and my wife have ever seen!
Finally the dream to meet my favorite band came
true.Uriah Heep is without question the Best
rock group in the world.
The
exceptional guitar playing of Mick Box, the wide
range and strength of Bernie Shaw's voice, the
virtuoso bass playing of Trevor Bolder, the
polyphonic structure of Phil Lanzon's keyboard
work and the powerful drumming of Lee Kerslake
make the sound of Uriah Heep unmatched!!!!
We
can't wait to see them again!!!!!!
Love:
Krassimir
Ivanov
Petia
Kassarova
The show was AWESOME!!!!!
I saw them play at Jaxx night club in
Springfield VA, June 22nd. The ticket said the show was going to start at
8 pm, but, due to some VERY heavy rain that Washington DC and Springfeild
were getting, the opening acts didn't start till close to 10, Heep actually
didn't take the stage until just after midnight. Me and my friends and
been at the club since 7, so you can imagine that by that time we were
ready to see them play! And man was it worth the wait!!
From the
moment they stepped on the stage till they the final bow it was
truly magical (as Heep always is). We were about three rows back from the stage, pretty
close, could see everyone very clearly. I know that a few times during the
show Bernie saw me singing along with some of thier newer songs (the new to
be classic Uriah Heep as he would say) and smiled, I doubt he expected
someone as young as I am, in the States, to be able to sing along with
their new songs. My friend yelled out of turn at a few places which made
Bernie look and smile in our direction.
The
performance was amazing though!!! They new we (everyone in the night
club) had been waiting along time to see them play and man did they make it
worth it! They played with such heart and soul! Laughing and smiling at
each other the whole time, simply put, it was pure joy to watch them play.
July Morning, my favorite song, ever, was so strong and powerful!! When I
started listening to Heep in 11th grade I didn't think I would ever get to
see them play live, at that time I didn'' even know they still played, but
I did finally get to see them play (after listening to the 73, 74, and the
2000 concerts that are on cd hundreds of times) and it kicked ass! After
the band finished, before the encore, the owner of the nightclub came out
to thank Heep again for playing for us and then he said that, and i have to
agree completely, seeing them play tonight "..has been a religious
experience", and it was! Finally getting to see them play music that I
care about so much was more than I could ask for!
Heep kicked ass that night, they've kicked ass their whole
careers, and I know they'll just keep on doing it! I hope I get to see them play again
sometime, but if not I can at least say that I saw them once, and is more
than I ever hoped for!
So if you see them anytime soon, tell Heep that I (even though they won't
know who I am) thank them deeply for all the music they've made and for one
hell of a show at Jaxx!!
Eric Tanks
I can proudly say Heep was spot on at Jaxx!! The band itself played
tighter and with more enthusiasm than the show I had seen the week before
in Ohio!!
I arrived at the hotel in VA around noon, but alas a quick search of the
parking lot for a certain bus proved fruitless!! So Susan and I checked
in and hung out at the pool. Some people commented on my Heep tshirt and
asked if they were still around. I gave them the whole
enchalada!! Shortly after, Mark Dinardo and friend Randy pulled up. Around 3 Todd arrived
and introduced himself to me, but asked if I was Ron Mann. The ultimate dis
on the Mannster, hee hee!! Much later the NC contingent and Madman arrived,
and I knew the party was about to begin. We soon left for Jaxx, but could
not find the place. It turns out we were right in the parking lot, but
there was no sign, and no bus. It looked at first to be a hole in the
wall in a strip mall. Once inside we met one of the owners Jay, who was a huge
Heep fan. We were pretty much allowed to go or do whatever we wanted, it
was great. The owner had Heep music playing continously, except for when
bands were playing and the soundcheck. I talked with Trevor for a spell
about his Cybernauts project and told him I ordered the cd. He was all
excited and wanted me to let him know how long it takes to get. The whole
time we were talking, Lee was hollering "Trevor come on, we gotta do the
soundcheck". I thought that was cool that Trevor took the time to talk
with me, and was interested enough in the discussion to endure Lee's badgering.
I also remember a couple of guys from the first band who were really
into Bowie, they brought the Spiders From Mars lp up to Trevor to sign and
said "you're a god to us"
The soundcheck was different than the one in Deerfield, less horsing
around and more business like. After that the band ate dinner at Jaxx in the
same room as the rest of us. That is very cozy!! After dinner the first band
came on, a glam rock tribute band that played Bowie, T Rex and Gary
Glitter songs. Then came Road Ducks, an awesome Blues-Southern Rock band, they
smoked. I probably would have enjoyed them more, if I wasn't so badly
wanting Heep to play. After Road Ducks, the stage was being prepared for
Heep. Just before Midnight the power went out, because of a storm. I
thought, ut-oh, Heep may have to go accoustic.
Shortly after Midnight, Uriah Heep came onto the stage. The crowd was
small, but really pumped up for Heep. Heep did the same setlist as
Deerfield, 15 songs, and they opened with Return To Fantasy. Then a
killer version of Universal Wheels, Only the Young, then Stealin'. When they
got to Look at Yourself, they did all the awesome solo's and jamming. It was
incredible the sound effects Mick did with the guitar, and alternating
with Lee banging out some machine gun rolls. Heep finished with the best
version of July Morning I have heard to date. I did not hear the Land of Hope and
Glory, so I knew they would be back. And back they came with Bird of Prey
and finally Easy Livin'.
The sound system was a little antiquated, and it made Bernies vocals sound
muddied and overmodulated. But as a whole the band played tighter and
with more enthusiasm then the Ohio gig the previous week. What can I say about
Mick, he is very entertaining with his hand qestures, and he now thumps
the bottom of the guitar with this thigh, and it makes the coolest sound. His
solos were wild and unrestrained, yet perfect!! Lee was a powerhouse on
drums, I have never seen a faster or more powerful drummer. Phil played
a dynamite show on the keyboards. He is technically proficient, and while
maybe lacking some of the emotion Ken used to put in the music, Phil plays
with more finese and diversity. A truly skilled musician. I noticed at
times during the show, one of the crew, Welchie, kept flashing a spotlight
on Phil, and worked to make him laugh!! On vocals, Bernie is without
equal (now) live. He soars with incredible range and nows how to prance around
the stage and entertain the audience with the best of them. I save the
bass for last. Trevor is one of the tops in the world. He plays with so much
energy and feeling, and lays down the low notes that drives the Heep
rockers. He has been with Heep 25 years, and gets better like a fine
wine.
I am sure Entwhistle and Papilardi would cringe to be on the same stage
with
him. I remember a couple of guys in the audience saying "Gary Who"?Many
of the folks who were not in the know, were disappointed to hear about
Gary and David, but not disappointed with the current lineup. The crowd went
nuts the whole show.
This was an incredible show!! And it is beyond description, the joy of
having Heep back in the United States!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob Winward
