Saxon is currently out on tour with Judas Priest and Black Star Riders for their Firepower 2018 Tour. The tour was scheduled to come through the Bay Area on Thursday, April 19th at The Warfield in San Francisco. However, last Wednesday night Saxon booked a solo show during the tour’s off night at The Cornerstone in Berkeley. My brother Tommy loves Saxon and once he heard about this show he wanted to go because since Saxon is headlining, they will get to play a longer set compared to seeing them opening up for Judas Priest.
We arrived to The Cornerstone and once again I was reminded why I love this venue to see live music. Located in downtown Berkeley on Shattuck Ave, not to far from the UC Berkeley Campus (Go Bears!), great setup for the venue. When you walk in through the restaurant they have a huge/long bar and large dining room to sit down to eat and drink. I saw so many metalheads scattered through out the room pregaming before heading into the show. Very nice staff, so many choices of beers on tap, great spot to see live music or just go out for dinner. You have to walk towards to the back to enter through a separate set of doors to go inside the main music room.
I got their in time to catch the end of The Watchers set. I love this band, they recently released their new album “Black Abyss” and was able to take in their heavy hard rock sound. Another local favorite, The Butlers jumped on stage next for a rocking set of covers they are known for playing. I wish I looked and sounded as badass as these guys. I love their look and stage presence which just screams old school rock n’ roll.
Next up were of course the headliners, Saxon and before the band members hit the stage I could tell we were in for a treat. Just looking at all their equipment, including a huge drum kit that rivals Neil Peart’s, sitting on the stage I knew it was going to be a loud show. Saxon hit the stage and immediately were ripping through classic hit song after hit song. My brother Tommy was loving every second of it. I haven’t seen him smile and headbang that much at a show in a long time. I was happy to see how much fun he was having. The crowd was also eating all of it up and were having a ton of fun as well. The best part was that Saxon played a full hour and forty five minute set. We were able to hear every hit song from them and a bunch of songs from their new album “Thunderbolt.” Everyone left the room very satisfied. Thank you to all the bands and the awesome staff at The Cornerstone for an fun night out.
Here is Saxon’s setlist:
1. Thunderbolt
2. Sacrifice
3. Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz)
4. Power and the Glory
5. Motorcycle Man
6. Dallas 1 PM
7. Strong Arm of the Law
8. Battering Ram
9. Sniper
10. The Secret of Flight
11. Never Surrender
12. And the Bands Played On
13. Predator
14. 747 (Strangers in the Night)
15. Sons of Odin
16. They Played Rock and Roll
17. Crusader
18.Princess of the Night
Encore:
19. Wheels of Steel
20. Heavy Metal Thunder
Encore 2:
21. 20,000 Ft
22. Denim and Leather
Here are some photos Baby Huey took from Saxon’s set:
Look at Baby Huey in the background of Saxon’s video.
Here are some videos Baby Huey filmed from Saxon’s set.
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