by Emma Jenkins
— Guest Columnist —
October 24, 2023 at De Montfort Hall, Leicester
It seems barely any time ago when a fresh-faced Joey Tempest was gracing our screens with his poodle perm and that song that we couldn’t escape from in the 80s. Now several decades on and an impressive back catalogue, Europe are here in Leicester to enlighten and entertain as part of their 40th year anniversary tour.
Let the time capsule begin….
The show commences with a video documenting the back story to a band who started out as ‘Force’ and through talent, camaraderie, and determination, progressed to the band, that we know and love today. It is an interesting insight but is only when the curtain separating us from the band, comes down that the excitement really builds. This crowd is ready to rock out, and the waiting is done. Europe kick off their set with ‘On Broken Wings’ and ‘Seven doors Hotel’, treasures to be found on their earliest albums. They build on this energy with the excellent and anthemic ‘Rock the Night’. There is great audience participation, fists are pumping and the crowd is singing along. Joey’s vocals ring clear and strong throughout the auditorium and he encourages more singing and more clapping. We are now in the throes of a rock gig.
The evocative ‘Walk the Earth’ is played, the atmosphere is electric, the lighting incredible. Joey then takes some time to slow things down and talk to the audience. He thanks us for our support over the years and jokes that ‘if we don’t play any of your favourite songs, it’s not my fault, it’s these guys’, as he gestures to the rest of the band and comedically tiptoes away. There are no complaints about the song selection though, as each song played is a gem, and the set is brought bang up to date with newest release ‘Hold your Head up High’.
The evocative ‘Walk the Earth’ is played, the atmosphere is electric, the lighting incredible. Joey then takes some time to slow things down and talk to the audience. He thanks us for our support over the years and jokes that ‘if we don’t play any of your favourite songs, it’s not my fault, it’s these guys’, as he gestures to the rest of the band and comedically tiptoes away. There are no complaints about the song selection though, as each song played is a gem, and the set is brought bang up to date with newest release ‘Hold your Head up High’.
Joey Tempest is in fine voice and brings a gravitas to the songs when sung live. He is entertaining to watch and when not working the crowd, he is either jumping around, swirling the mic stand or launching his microphone into the air. He may own the stage, but he shares it willingly, every band member gets the chance to take the spotlight and shine. Be it John Norum with his haunting melodies before ‘Girl from Lebanon’ or Mic Michaeli on keyboards deadpanning to a dramatic time capsule piece. But it is those simple opening notes of ‘Carrie’ that Mic plays, that get the audience cheering with delight and holding their arms aloft. ‘Carrie’ gives way to the thumping ‘Stormwind’ and so the first set doth end.
A continuation of the documentary opens the second set, before the band power into ‘Always the Pretender’ and ‘Ninja’. This half features an acoustic set where Joey & John Norum take to the stools and share some banter. The first bars of smoke on the Water are played and the audience carry the song to the first chorus. At times Joey seems bemused as though he can’t quite remember the lyrics. There is some reminiscence about drinking light beer and playing guitar together when they were just 13 which leads nicely into Space Odyssey by Bowie. The pace is picked up again with the symphonic ‘Last look at Eden’.
Jon Levin gets his moment centre stage with a bass solo before ‘Memories’ and last by not least, Ian Haugland commands the stage with something quite different as he pounds the drums along to the ‘William Tell Overture.’ ‘I hate drum solos’ he growls, probably to the relief of many, before launching into probably one the most entertaining drum solos I have ever witnessed. It seemed short, snappy, skilled, entertaining and you could see an end to it. This was a drum solo that I could actually enjoy.
With the songs flowing we are starting to countdown to the end of the night and ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘Superstitious’ pave the way to the finale. There is always time for some audience participation and a bit of singalong to ‘Here I go again’ is neatly interjected into ‘Superstitious’. It’s a great way to leave the audience clamoring for more and of course, Europe are not going to disappoint. Ian is the first one back, and with drums pounding, the rest of the band take to the stage. It’s all guns blazing for ‘Cherokee’ and the crowd sings along with gusto. And then those memorable notes are played. The place explodes, love it, or hate it, ‘The Final Countdown’ is a song that has paid its due and is here to stay. The crowd fully embrace it, by getting to their feet, dancing along and singing back to the band. The joy in the room is palpable. ‘The Final Countdown’ is where it started for many a fan and it is only apt that it is the song that closes this particular time capsule.
Europe did a stupendous job of bringing their 40 years of music and condensing it into one short evening of excellence. The crowd have been sated and by the tumultuous applause throughout, have fully enjoyed this step back through time. Let the countdown begin to the next time Europe tour.
Set List:
Set 1
(Europe documentary)
On Broken Wings
Seven Doors Hotel
Rock the Night
(Snippet of “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder)
Start from the Dark
Walk the Earth
Hold Your Head Up
Dreamer
War of Kings
Vasastan
Girl From Lebanon
Carrie
Stormwind
Set 2
(Europe documentary)
Always the Pretenders
Ninja
Prisoners in Paradise
Sign of the Times
Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple cover)
Space Oddity (David Bowie cover)
Last Look at Eden
Open Your Heart
Memories
More Than Meets the Eye
Drum Solo (William Tell Overture)
Ready or Not
Superstitious (Snippet of “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake)
Encore:
Cherokee
The Final Countdown
Concert Photo Gallery
Photos appear courtesy of Jadranka Jade.
