On Sunday 8th March, just prior to coronavirus taking hold of the country and lockdown commencing, I got to see Anvil at the Craufurd Arms.
The Gig
The Canadian heavy metal legends were back in the UK and, much like the last time I saw the band in Milton Keynes, the fellas rocked the joint.
Given the virus risk, I was in two minds about whether or not to go, but as I had booked the ticket on the 22nd October in 2019 (which I think was on the day they came out), and had been looking forward to the evening for five months, I decided to take a chance. And, I am pleased I did, it was a cracking gig, I thoroughly enjoyed it … and I didn’t get infected.
On tour promoting the latest album “Legal at Last”, the band was on good form and in good spirits. Unlike the last gig I went to in 2018 (write up available here), the chaps came armed with a luxury tour bus, all their own kit, a crew of roadies and a decent merchandising operation (you could even purchase Robb Reiner artwork/prints).
During the setup, Kudlow, obscured by a black hoodie, was sorting out his kit, shuffling around slowly and looking rather like the pensioner that he is. But BANG, when it was time to start, it was like his lights came on, his spirits soared and he grew a couple of feet in height. Lips is clearly a man that is at his most alive and animated when he is performing.
There were a few new songs in the set (see below) but much of the set list and indeed Steve’s antics and pitch in between the tunes was the same as the 2018 visit. You can read my 2018 post to save me covering the same ground again.
Here’s the set list, or thereabouts anyway, I may have missed a song, or got the order wrong, so feel free to correct me:
During the set, Kudlow asked the audience to put their hands up if they had seen the Anvil movie called “The Story of Anvil”. In 2018, I made a mental note to watch it and at this gig, I made another mental note to watch it.
The Vid.
With lockdown subsequently in full swing and with my job furloughed, I can finally report that I have watched the film. I can also report that it’s a documentary well worth you viewing too.
The story of the band is one of initial fame followed by lots of setbacks and regular rejection. Determination, passion and “keeping the dream alive”, even when the reality was more of a nightmare, is a constant theme. Badly organised tours, hopeless transport, empty gigs, not getting paid, record company refusals, band member arguments, funding albums and tours from their own pockets were all Spinal Tap type moments … but just lacking in the spoof humour.
Seeing Steve “Lips” Kudlow in an ordinary van-based delivery job, living in a thoroughly ordinary house whilst trying to make ends meet, is a salutary lesson in the vagaries of the music industry. Lips is a consummate showman and a gifted guitar player, but it was clear from the film that his finances were on a knife edge and his family, and all that he held dear, were at risk.
In 2018, when the fellas turned up at The Craufurd Arms with nothing but a couple of guitars and some cymbals, and then needed a lift to get to their festival, it left me thinking that life hadn’t moved on much from 2008 (when the film was released).
The film however left me hoping that Steve, Robb and Chris achieve the successes that their commitment, determination and sheer hard work warrant. In March 2020, if the fancy tour bus was any indicator, things must be on the up for the band. Fingers crossed I am right.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic then led to the tour being messed up something rotten. Presumably bands don’t get paid for cancelled gigs?
Still determined to keep some momentum, and no doubt to earn, Anvil resorted to selling tickets for performances of virtual shows instead.
The Gig
At the gig, I bought a copy of “Legal at Last” and I hung around after the show for more than an hour really hoping that I’d get a chance to meet the fellas and get my CD signed. But the chaps decamped from the stage to the tour bus, and by something close to midnight I’d given up hope that they’d come back out (I had work to go to the next day and was still facing an hour’s drive to get home).
I have got used to being able to engage with the bands at Craufurd Arms events, it was a shame that it didn’t work out that time.
The Gig
The Canadian heavy metal legends were back in the UK and, much like the last time I saw the band in Milton Keynes, the fellas rocked the joint.
Given the virus risk, I was in two minds about whether or not to go, but as I had booked the ticket on the 22nd October in 2019 (which I think was on the day they came out), and had been looking forward to the evening for five months, I decided to take a chance. And, I am pleased I did, it was a cracking gig, I thoroughly enjoyed it … and I didn’t get infected.
On tour promoting the latest album “Legal at Last”, the band was on good form and in good spirits. Unlike the last gig I went to in 2018 (write up available here), the chaps came armed with a luxury tour bus, all their own kit, a crew of roadies and a decent merchandising operation (you could even purchase Robb Reiner artwork/prints).
During the setup, Kudlow, obscured by a black hoodie, was sorting out his kit, shuffling around slowly and looking rather like the pensioner that he is. But BANG, when it was time to start, it was like his lights came on, his spirits soared and he grew a couple of feet in height. Lips is clearly a man that is at his most alive and animated when he is performing.
There were a few new songs in the set (see below) but much of the set list and indeed Steve’s antics and pitch in between the tunes was the same as the 2018 visit. You can read my 2018 post to save me covering the same ground again.
Here’s the set list, or thereabouts anyway, I may have missed a song, or got the order wrong, so feel free to correct me:
- March of the Crabs
- 666
- Ooh Baby
- Legal at Last*
- Nabbed in Nebraska*
- Badass Rock 'n' Roll
- Winged Assassins
- Free as the Wind
- On Fire
- This Is Thirteen
- Bitch in the Box
- Swing Thing
- Mothra
- I'm Alive
- Metal on Metal
- Forged in Fire
During the set, Kudlow asked the audience to put their hands up if they had seen the Anvil movie called “The Story of Anvil”. In 2018, I made a mental note to watch it and at this gig, I made another mental note to watch it.
The Vid.
With lockdown subsequently in full swing and with my job furloughed, I can finally report that I have watched the film. I can also report that it’s a documentary well worth you viewing too.
The story of the band is one of initial fame followed by lots of setbacks and regular rejection. Determination, passion and “keeping the dream alive”, even when the reality was more of a nightmare, is a constant theme. Badly organised tours, hopeless transport, empty gigs, not getting paid, record company refusals, band member arguments, funding albums and tours from their own pockets were all Spinal Tap type moments … but just lacking in the spoof humour.
Seeing Steve “Lips” Kudlow in an ordinary van-based delivery job, living in a thoroughly ordinary house whilst trying to make ends meet, is a salutary lesson in the vagaries of the music industry. Lips is a consummate showman and a gifted guitar player, but it was clear from the film that his finances were on a knife edge and his family, and all that he held dear, were at risk.
In 2018, when the fellas turned up at The Craufurd Arms with nothing but a couple of guitars and some cymbals, and then needed a lift to get to their festival, it left me thinking that life hadn’t moved on much from 2008 (when the film was released).
The film however left me hoping that Steve, Robb and Chris achieve the successes that their commitment, determination and sheer hard work warrant. In March 2020, if the fancy tour bus was any indicator, things must be on the up for the band. Fingers crossed I am right.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic then led to the tour being messed up something rotten. Presumably bands don’t get paid for cancelled gigs?
Still determined to keep some momentum, and no doubt to earn, Anvil resorted to selling tickets for performances of virtual shows instead.
The Gig
At the gig, I bought a copy of “Legal at Last” and I hung around after the show for more than an hour really hoping that I’d get a chance to meet the fellas and get my CD signed. But the chaps decamped from the stage to the tour bus, and by something close to midnight I’d given up hope that they’d come back out (I had work to go to the next day and was still facing an hour’s drive to get home).
I have got used to being able to engage with the bands at Craufurd Arms events, it was a shame that it didn’t work out that time.
Another thing that didn’t work out quite so well was the after-show crowd photo, shared here. From most gigs (see the band’s Facebook feed) the images were crystal clear, for my gig, the shot was bathed in a clarity slaying eerie red glow. Still, you can just about make me out.
Regarding getting a signed CD, maybe third time with Anvil will be lucky. Hopefully the fellas will come back to MK in the fullness of time. That’s of course hoping that The Craufurd Arms is able to survive the economic woes it is facing at the moment.
Blog Home
Blog Library
Home
The Craufurd Arms
Anvil
Regarding getting a signed CD, maybe third time with Anvil will be lucky. Hopefully the fellas will come back to MK in the fullness of time. That’s of course hoping that The Craufurd Arms is able to survive the economic woes it is facing at the moment.
Blog Home
Blog Library
Home
The Craufurd Arms
Anvil
RSS Feed
