Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Saga
Label: Ear Music Records
Release: 2016
Rating: 4.5/5
Few art rock bands can boast such longevity and consistency as Saga, the Canadian masters of fusing progressive and melodic rock into an ideal, utterly distinctive sonic blend. »Live in Hamburg« is the title of their latest double live album, recorded ‘live’ on the 2015 tour, when they played the Fabrik hall in Hamburg. Even though their biggest commercial successes faded by the end of the eighties, Saga are still hugely popular on German soil, so it’s no surprise they like to record their live albums right there in Germany, in front of their most loyal fans.
During the show captured on this double set, Saga dished out a pretty interesting selection, including some rarely played live tracks like »Behavior« (1985), the standard »Goodbye (Once Upon a Time)« that opens the show, »Silent Knight« (1980), the treats »Someone Should« and »Time To Go«, and »Wildest Dreams« from the album of the same name, a rather overlooked one. From the latest studio album, »Sagacity« (2014), they played »On My Way« and »I’ll Be« that night. And of course the longtime evergreens were all there, led by »You’re Not Alone«, »On the Loose«, »Scratching the Surface« (merged with »Not This Way«) with keyboardist Jim Gilmour in the lead vocal role, »Don’t Be Late« with an excellent drum solo, »Humble Stance«, »Wind Him Up« and the closing »The Flyer«, to name just a few.
The incredibly charismatic singer and occasional backup keyboardist Michael Sadler, who keeps up great banter with the crowd between songs, is still in superb vocal form after all these years. Meanwhile, the eternally overlooked guitar maestro Ian Crichton delights at every turn with his witty riffs and crafty solos. His brother Jim once again shows off his instrumental versatility on bass and backup keys, and the same goes for keyboard wizard Gilmour, whose distinctive voice has always been something special in those rare moments when he steps up to the lead mic. The relatively new drummer Mike Thorne, a bit younger than his bandmates, has settled in beautifully since joining the band, and with his powerful swings he brings just the right mix of untamed energy and rhythmic dynamics, the kind original Saga drummer Steve Negus once cultivated.
»Live in Hamburg« is a splendid live album that, with its varied song selection, virtuoso playing and incredible atmosphere, will thrill old and new Saga fans alike. It also reminds them why these legendary Canadian art rock veterans, who don’t show their age one bit musically despite almost forty years of making music, are always worth catching ‘live’.
Lineup
Michael Sadler – vocals, keyboards, bass
Ian Crichton – guitar
Jim Crichton – bass, keyboards
Jim Gilmour – keyboards, lead vocals on “Scratching the Surface”
Mike Thorne – drums, percussion
Production
Saga
Track list
CD1:
1. (Goodbye) Once Upon The Time
2. Someone Should
3. You’re Not Alone
4. Hot To Cold
5. On The Loose
6. On My Way
7. Scratching The Surface
8. Time To Go
9. I’ll Be
CD2:
1. Don’t Be Late, Drum Solo
2. Wildest Dreams
3. Ice Nice
4. Humble Stance
5. Careful Where You Step
6. Wind Him Up
7. The Flyer
