MOTORHEAD

September 15, 2015
Toyota Oakdale Theater
Wallingford, Connecticut

Over the last two weeks I had been waiting for the return of Motorhead to Connecticut, I was going to shoot and review one of Rock and Rolls biggest legends, Lemmy and Motorhead.

Finally after countless shows over the years at so many different venues. The Sting in New Britain, Tuxedo Junction in Danbury, Mohegan Sun Arena, The Webster. I finally got a chance to shoot one of the hardest working bands out there. Over the week or so before their scheduled appearance I was watching with trepidation as shows were cancelled and news of Lemmy’s health came out.

My excitement was palpable the day of the show as none of the shows in the days leading up were cancelled.

The crowd in the Oakdale this evening was huge, rambunctious and the largest I had ever seen for them here in Connecticut.

The roar of the crowd reached a fever pitch as Lemmy strode across the stage to his trademark elevated mic and announced to the crowd….

“WE ARE MOTORHEAD, AND WE PLAY ROCK AND ROLL”

The crowd roared their approval and then the band launched into “No Class” followed by “Stay Clean”, “Metropolis” and “Over the Top”, where Phil Campbell,who has been Guitarist with Motorhead since the mid 80’s, stepped up to the plate and delivered a blistering guitar solo.
On another note, Phil really did step up to the plate. I have never seen Phil move all around the stage like he did for this show or work the crowd as much as he did, and it made the show that much more special.

“The Chase is Better Then the Catch”, “Rock It”, “Lost Woman Blues” lead into another Motorhead classic, “Doctor Rock” the Highlight of which was Mikkey Dee’s thunderous drum solo, a drum solo that had the crowd mesmerized. “Just Cuz You Got The Power” was another singalong for the crowd and then came a song that Lemmy said they haven’t played live in a long time “Bomber” then an old standard even the first timers to a Motorhead show knew the words to, “Ace of Spades”.
As they walked off the stage the crowd started chanting “Motorhead Motorhead Motorhead”

A few moments later Lemmy and crew walked back onto the stage to a crowd roared their approval and “Overkill” was the song that would end of the evening’s show.

It was a great show, with a hiccup or two of feedback here and there and I am not sure if it was Lemmy’s voice or his just his microphone needed to be turned up a bit, but most of the night it was difficult to hear him. Even though this show was shorter by 3 or 4 songs then the ones I have seen in the past the one thing that was certain was that Phil and Mikkey both stepped up their game and put 110 percent into this show, playing like I have never seen them play.