Review, Black Star Riders Heavy Fire Tour at Warehouse23, with support from The Howling Tides

Black Star Riders (BSR) turned up the heat, bringing their Heavy Fire tour to the city of Wakefield at venue, Warehouse23.  Approximately 900 rock fans sold out the show, as they travelled far and wide to support one of the best British/American rock bands.  Black Star Riders feature former members of the revamped Thin Lizzy; with the legendary Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson on guitars and Ricky Warwick on vocals.  Black Star Riders were officially named in 2012 and have three impressive albums to their collection.  Heavy Fire was the latest, which they have recently been touring across the USA, Europe and the UK.

L – R – Damon Johnson, Ricky Warwick, Scott Gorham photo Alex English

Hailing from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, The Howling Tides were the four piece hard rockers providing the support.  Chosen especially by their musical hero’s Black Star Riders for this one off gig.  The Howling Tides play hard blues styled rock n roll.  With an energetic set from start to finish, they entertained a hot sweaty crowd with ten songs, which included all five songs off their self titled EP.  You could tell they loved every second and got the crowd singing and clapping the words ‘your days are numbered’ on closer He told me.  Definitely a great choice for a support act!

The Howling Tides by Louise Swift
The Howling Tides by Louise Swift
The Howling Tides by Alex English
The Howling Tides by Alex English

 

Definitely a great choice for a support act and ones to watch out for! https://www.facebook.com/TheHowlingTides/

The Howling Tides are :

Rob Baynes- Vocals/Guitar
Hayden Kirk – Guitar/Vocals
Luke Lawley – Bass/Vocals
Steven ‘Herbie’ Herbert – Drums

 

Scott Gorham, photo by Alex English

Black Star Riders are no regular GI Joes, coming together on a Saturday night before their gig appearance at Steelhouse festival the next day. BSR drew a sell out crowd, and the only hell that broke loose was all the eager fans, hungry for a good night of rock and nostalgia.  And that’s exactly what you got , no theatrics or gimmicks,  just  ‘five heroes’ of rock performing a first-rate selection of songs including the infamous Boys Are back in Town & Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy.  If you’re familiar with BSR, then you’ll know they maintain an elegance of Thin Lizzy with their musical prowess, which could be heard on their classic Bound for Glory and the notable last single Dancing with the wrong girl.  Ricky Warwick’s vocals are the perfect fit to their style and what a great musical journey BSR have embarked upon and long may it continue.

 

Tonight’s show was a testament that Black Star Riders made the right decision to carry on the Thin Lizzy vibe under a new guise.

Damon Johnson, photo by Louise Swift

Black Star Riders will be touring the UK later in the year click here for details

For more info on BSR  click here

Black Star Riders are :

Ricky Warwick – Vocals/Guitar
Scott Gorham – Guitars
Damon Johnson – Guitars
Robert Crane – Bass

Chad Szeliga – Drums

 

 

 

Chad Szeliga, photo Louise Swift
Ricky Warwick photo Alex English

BSR Set list :

All Hell Breaks Loose
Jailbreak
Finest Hour
Heavy Fire
Soldierstown
Testify or Say Goodbye

Before the War
Dancing with the Wrong Girl
Who Rides the Tiger
When the Night Comes in
Bloodshot
Boys are back in town
Ticket to Rise
Blindsided
The Killer Instinct
Kingdom of the lost

Bound for Glory

 

For more photos from the gig visit https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/43944067162_17f15e4f98_n.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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