Tesla / Diamond Head
28 June 2007
Shepherds Bush Empire, London


Entering the Empire, Diamond Head were ploughing through Lightning To The Nations, the title track from their 1979 debut. For a song so old, the sound is remarkably fresh and when the band follow it with new song This Planet & Me, it`s difficult to believe 28 years separate the two songs.

Brian Tatler`s classic riffs are fleshed out by the second guitar of Adrian Mills and the strength of Nick Tart`s vocals ensures that original frontman Sean Harris is not missed. No doubt thanks to Metallica, it`s the final two songs It`s Electric and particularly Am I Evil that receive the loudest response. Apparently Metallica are encoring with Am I Evil on their Sick Of The Studio tour, so it will be an interest contrast next weekend at Wembley Stadium.

Diamond Head set list:
Mine All Mine / Lightning To The Nations / This Planet & Me / Give It To Me / It`s Electric / Am I Evil


The downstairs of the Shepherd`s Bush Empire was packed with expectant fans for the long awaited return of Tesla. This was my first live experience of the band and by the end it was clear why they had drawn such a large crowd. Opening the set with a shout of "Are we ready?", Tesla were literally Cumin` Atcha Live, with vocalist Jeff Keith bounding around the stage looking no older than in the late 80s promo videos. His energy was infectious, as was his grin which never wavered through the 100 minute set.

Into The Now took us back to Tesla last original studio album from 2004. The combination of an excellent song, crystal clear sound and a band clearly on the money lifted the crowd. By contrast the response to the band`s cover of the James Gang`s Walk Away is more respectfully reserved. Tesla`s new album Reel To Reel, a covers album recalling their varied influences, is not long out and would seem to have not made it into much of this crowd`s cd players yet. To be honest I prefer Tesla playing their own material, so it was a relief that rather than flooding the set with covers, as they have been doing in the States, Tesla dropped in just three covers. The pick of these was an excellent rendition of UFO`s Rock Bottom with Frank Hannon taking on Schenker`s extended solo with gusto.

Early in the set, Keith instructed the band to "Take these guys back to the Marquee Club in 1986", as trump card Modern Day Cowboy caused a mosh to break out and even a crowd surfer. Whilst it was a surprise for this song to feature so early, its effect was akin to a vice like grip on the audience who were now with Tesla for the duration.

Something that is well respected about Tesla is their honesty. They were markedly different back in the 80s for their straight up jeans and t-shirt image when other bands of their ilk where dolled up in make-up with bouffant hair. Tesla have remained true to that spirit and there`s no elaborate show, just a kick-ass band busting out classic rock music. This is not to say that the band aren`t visually entertaining, as in addition to their live wire frontman, Hannon, Dave Rude and Johnny Vegas look-alike Brian Wheat constantly shift places around the stage and individually interact with the crowd.

Signs drew out the expected mass sing-along but it`s left to the rocking Edison`s Medicine to wrap up a fantastic evening. We`re assured Tesla are returning later in the year and an appearance at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Minehead has already been confirmed. Many had travelled considerable distances for this London show and it would appear dates around the country would be well appreciated.

Tesla set list:
Cumin' Atcha Live / Into The Now / Walk Away / Modern Day Cowboy / Lazy Days, Crazy Nights / Little Suzie / Rock Bottom / Love Song / What U Give / Miles Away / Heavens Trail (No Way Out) / Mama's Fool / Thank You / I Just Wanna Make Love to You / Signs / Edison`s Medicine (Man Out Of Time)

LINKS:
Tesla
Diamond Head