Saxon @ Jailbreak 2023

90 tons of thunder lighting up the sky

So we couldn't get around that damn rain any longer. It'd been on the forecast for several days, and of course it has to hit right before the main name of the whole festival. And yes, look at the clever music journalist talking about the weather. I know. Shut up.

Anyway, I don't give a hoot about the rain. Right now, as in my life in general, the majority of the hoots I give are reserved for heavy metal.

And here's the thing about life in general: It comes with certain guarantees. The three biggest ones being 1) death, 2) taxes, and 3) that Saxon delivers iron-solid heavy metal shows and tunes in the British style of that then-new wave that made metal what it is. And that they deliver said shows and tunes with a ferocious joie de vivre and a conviction nothing short of inspiring.

"We're from England", ever-majestic singer Biff Byford exclaims; "We don't give a shit about a bit of rain". Giving zero shits about said rain, then, Barnsley's finest grab us by the reproductive area and pull us through a trimmed-down, no-moments-wasted version of their current "Seize the Day" set. And yours truly, giving zero shits about how said rain is gonna affect my poor locks tomorrow, lets down the hood of my rain cover and thrash around said locks to a "Motorcycle Man" as aggressive as it's ever been played and heard.

Take it from a guy who's seen Saxon 12 times now: Today, the band's aforementioned conviction and joie de vivre are somehow more tangible than most others. No idea why. But it might have something to do with the fact that, instead of touring guitarist Brian Tatler, someone's nephew seems to be currently handling those duties, bringing some new blood into the almost 50-year-old metal machine.

But it's not just that young axe-stand-in, although seemingly having the time of his life, that exudes an infectious, virile energy. It's the whole band. Guitarist Doug Scarrat seems enlivened by having a fresher counterpart than founding member Paul Quinn who recently resigned from touring.

But as I've said in every goddamn Saxon review I've ever written, the band's true joker remains borderline-manic bassist Nibbs Carter, constantly headbanging, jumping on monitors, and making damn sure that every single attendee is rocking the Hell out. If I ever had any doubt, I'm now 100% convinced: Carter is simply metal's coolest bass player ever.

If you're truly into real, original, unspoiled heavy metal, you're into Saxon. Whether you like it or not. But of course you do.

"Do you wanna hear "Crusader"? Or "Ride Like the Wind"? Or "Never Surrender"?". Byford has his usual way of giving the crowd some influence. And while, for some reason, we don't seem very set upon the latter, there seems to be a tie between the two former. "Fuck it, we'll play them both. We got plenty of time", he then chuckles.

I don't know if he's done this at every 2023 show so far, but it works. Not only is it a pleasure that they've gotten "Crusader" back in the set – likr with its preceding fellow classic "Power and the Glory" – but this is actually the first time I'm hearing "Ride Like the Wind" live. And though but a cover, it is one out of sadly few justified ones, infusing the original with equal parts vigor and grandeur.

And sure, apart from that and the initial tracks from last year's splendid "Carpe Diem" album, this is a showcase of the band's greatest hits more than anything else. And sure, while "Dallas 1 PM" was never their most interesting tune, it does make that damn rain stop for a bit, paving the way for an almost premature "Denim and Leather", so vital and strangely ever-relevant even at 42 years that it's perfectly moving. And the crowd, as per the adage, goes bananas, conceding a singalong as loud as any on Jailbreak this year. That is, if we're not being louder in the ensuing bashers "Wheels of Steel" and "747 (Strangers in the Night)", as enticing as they're mandatory.

The thing here is, when you know and love the band like I do, there's actually not a lot to say about the steel-studded row of classics concluding any Saxon show, much like they tend to do for the band's fine countrymen in Iron Maiden. But there doesn't have to be. All you need to know is, if you're truly into real, original, unspoiled heavy metal, you're into Saxon. Whether you like it or not.

But of course you do. Because Saxon is one of the most amazing bands of not only NWoBHM, but of metal in general. And once again, they just demonstrated this fact with the emphasis of those 90 tons of thunder lighting up the sky that they anthemize in the concluding "Princess of the Night".

Rating: 5.5 out of 6

Genre: Heavy fucking metal
Venue: Jailbreak, outside stage
Date: Sat., 12/8/2023

Setlist:

1. Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)
2. Motorcycle Man
3. Age of Steam
4. Strong Arm of the Law
5. Heavy Metal Thunder
   
6. Power and the Glory
7. Crusader
8. Ride Like the Wind (Christopher Cross cover)
9. Dallas 1 PM
10. Denim and Leather
11. Wheels of Steel
12. 747 (Strangers in the Night)
13. Princess of the Night
    

Photos by Magnus Jørgensen. And I can't think of any more copyright jokes now. Go away.