Hawkwind / Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
Chepstow Castle, Chepstow
28/08/2023
Live Review by Paul Hutchings
Perched high on limestone cliffs above the River Wye, Chepstow Castle dates back over 900 years with a history that reflects the grandiose ambition of its owners. The good folk at Castell-Roc have been rolling out programmes of summer events for several years, with the stage set out in the Lower Bailey. Acts are varied, catering for all tastes. This year those of the hard rock persuasion have seen Massive Wagons and Cardinal Black headline shows alongside the likes of Jason Donovan, Midge Ure, and several high-quality tribute bands. The vibe is friendly, welcoming, and typically Welsh, despite the proximity to the English border.
The last Bank Holiday before Christmas sees a sold-out show to finish the 2023 events. It’s a big one. After a few drinks and food in the centre of the town, which is full of black t-shirted fans, we make our way up to the entrance of the castle. There is an air of anticipation, made even more intense by the silent walls that greet us as we arrive. The castle is an imposing structure, one of the best maintained in the principality. The weather is dry; it’s looking good.
With Son of Man having to withdraw at short notice, the event organisers have decided not to get an opener but to rely on the two bands on the bill to bring it home. They do that with style. Mere days before their third album “Kings of the Asylum” is released, it’s Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons who open the evening. We’ve covered them before here at Ever Metal, most recently last year when they provided opening support for the Black Star Riders. Tonight, they are imperious, road hardened after 21 festivals across Europe during the summer. It must be great for them to play a local show.
We get a 45-minute set, with a sprinkling of Motörhead songs, ‘Going to Brazil’ and the inevitable ‘Ace of Spades’ to finish. A cover of the Pistols ‘God Save the Queen’ is my low point, but that’s because I can’t stand the song, nothing to do with the band. The rest of the set is a collection of tracks from their previous work, opening with their anthem ‘We’re the Bastards’ from their 2021 album of the same name. The first single from the new album, ‘Schizophrenia’, fits neatly into the set. We get some audience participation, with singer Joel Peters now firmly ensconced in the band leading the challenge between Team Phil and Team Timmy Mallett (that’s Todd!).
There’s a good number of the Bastard Crew here tonight, and they make their voices heard. ‘These Old Boots’ gets a cheer when Phil introduces it and name checks Dee Snider, while the bluesy ‘Dark Days’ allows opportunity to draw breath and watch Phil’s sublime guitar work. It’s a fine show, from a band who are getting better at each viewing. By the time ‘Ace of Spades’ gets the venue bouncing, the Bastard Sons know their work is done. Well and truly warmed up, the crowd show their appreciation.
https://www.facebook.com/PhilCampbellATBS
Formed in 1969 by Dave Brock, who remains very much at the helm of the starship, Hawkwind continue to deliver albums on an annual basis and with alarmingly good quality. Their live shows are memorable, and tonight they deliver a show that’s as good as anything I’ve ever seen by the band.
They have the right equipment for the location. Their light show is always spectacular, but against the castle walls their lasers are given a new lease of life as they light up the sky around the great venue. The band arrive with no ceremony, plug in their instruments and lock into the opening bars of ‘Levitation’. It’s the start of two hours of flowing space rock which transports you to another dimension.
They are fluid, extending each song into freeform, expansive movements. There’s so much choice from their discography that one wonders how they manage to select their set list, but they get it spot on with a mix of songs from their latest album “The Future Never Waits” and a collection of classic Hawkwind. They hit top gear early, and ‘Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)’ from 1974’s “Hall of the Mountain Grill” makes me very happy indeed. There’s the inevitable singalong to ‘Spirit of the Age’ where most of the audience are happy to join in with all the words.
There is onstage banter which is always fabulously entertaining. Powerhouse drummer Richard Chadwick jests with Magnus Martin, while keyboard player Thighpaulsandra doesn’t stop grinning. Brock sits a couple of songs out, unsurprising given his age, yet he remains the riff master of the band, the driving force behind everything they do, and he takes great pleasure in thanking all the crowd and the event staff for a great evening. After the pumping ‘Assault & Battery’, it’s a sonically perfect and naturally lengthy ‘Brainstorm’ that sees the older fans push down to the front for a bit of a pogo. An encore of ‘Born to Go’ from “Space Ritual” brings the evening to an end, with smiles all round. They may be past the veteran stage, but there seems to be plenty more fuel in the Hawkwind engine, and that’s a brilliant thing.
https://www.facebook.com/HawkwindHQ
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