Whitesnake
Hammersmith Carling Apollo
London
20 October 2004
Last night saw Coverdale and Co. deliver bluesy hard rock at the highest level. It was a sheer triumph of music ability and master showmanship. The fact that Whitesnake have such a treasure trove of songs to call on does not hurt, either. Coverdale covered all aspects of his career from the storming version of Deep Purple's Burn, through acapela versions of some of his solo material as requested by the audience, through hits from all eras of the band. With few exceptions the sell-out audience knew every word to every song and loved every minute of this tour de force. The stage set was simple, and David was dressed as the elegant louche. Coverdale, the ever consumate showman, looked completely at ease as he held the stage, completely not non-plussed the gig was being filmed for a DVD. I did not expect this to exceed Whitesnake in their late 80s prime. I was proven wrong in extremis. Not only was it the best Whitesnake gig I have ever seen, it just might be one of the best gigs I ever attended. Coverdale may be over 50, but boy has he still got it.
Rating: 5/5
Article comments
1 - Alexandre Freitas
Yes !!!! I was there !
You Are RIGHT
2 - Andrew Ian Dodge
I hope you got home and didn't get drenched!
3 - Tim Hall
What was the setlist? How much from the early 80s blues-rock incarnation of the band, and how much from the late 80s hair-metal version?
4 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Both, as I said he did hits from all eras.
5 - Tim Hall
I always thought Whitesnake's albums tended to have two or three killer tracks and a load of filler, making them a hard rock equivalent of a singles band. I guess their back catalogue is long enough now that they can play a set made up from the the killer tracks from each album.
I remember hearing a show broadcast on the BBC in the late 80s, which almost completely ignored the pre-Steve Vai years. Sounds like they've avoided that mistake this time around.
Who's in the band now? Their earlier sound, when Jon Lord was in the band, was very keyboard-heavy, and the later stuff had virtually no keys at all.
6 - Stephen Umney
Many reviews can be found at whitesnake.com and a short video of a recent concert at davidcoverdale.st
SET LIST WAS: Burn / Bad Boys / Love Ain´t No Stranger / Ready n´ Willing / Is This Love / Give Me All Your Love / Judgement Day / Snake Dance (guitar solo) / Cryin´ In The Rain / Ain´t No Love In The Heart Of The City / Don´t Break My Heart Again / Fool For Your Lovin´ / Take Me With You / Still Of The Night
It truly was a magical night - the best night of my life :)
7 - Stephen Umney
Not forgetting the acappella versions David did of Time & Again, Only My Soul (as requested by the audience) and he finished of the conert with the beautiful Soldier Of Fortune.
8 - Stephen Umney
All in all, songs ranging from 1974 to 1987+ I might add :>
9 - Stephen Umney
oh my, I missed off Here I Go Again out of that lot...must be tired. Enough posts from me now. ;)
10 - lop
your mom