Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: Munich / Muffathalle / Germany
Concert date: November 17, 2012
Attendance: 1600
Ticket price: €35.00
The last time we got to admire Saga, the cult progressive rock quintet from Toronto who are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, live was at Munich’s Muffathalle on December 5, 2007 (RockLine report HERE), when the charismatic Welsh-born singer Michael Sadler was (temporarily) saying goodbye to the band. Back then, of course, we had no idea that Michael, who took the break mainly because of the birth of his child, would get bored, get invited by longtime Saga keyboardist Jim ‘Jimbo’ Gilmour to do some music together, watch that collaboration quickly outgrow its modest beginnings, and be back with his old buddies in less than four years. In between, we caught them on April 28, 2009 in Wörgl, Austria (RockLine report HERE), when they played with singer Rob Moratti (Final Frontier), who did a great job, especially in the studio, but the live magic just wasn’t the same as with his charismatic predecessor and founding member Sadler. That’s exactly why Saga’s return to the stage with the irreplaceable Sadler back in the lineup, at the very venue where they recorded the live DVD and live CD titled »Contact – Live in Munich« (2009), was all the more fascinating. And let’s not forget the earlier comeback show with Sadler in Munich on November 11, 2011, where Saga played alongside British art rock heavyweights Marillion (RockLine report HERE).
In exactly the same fashion as last time we visited this concert venue, which is practically a second home for certain Rockline members, this was the final date of their tour, in the middle of which they were presenting their latest studio album »20/20« (2012). During that time, right before the album came out, longtime but sadly rather sickly drummer Brian Doerner (ex-Helix) left Saga, replaced by the younger and fitter Mike Thorne. These days, despite more or less excellent albums, hardly anyone commercially gives Saga a second look on their home turf in Canada, let alone in the US, except for the most devoted fans, who don’t lose sleep over it, while in Germany they still enjoy near-star status. So it was no surprise that the Muffathalle, just like last time, was bursting at the seams. As expected, gray-haired heads dominated, though they’d brought along some much younger family members to teach them what good music sounds like.
For the stage design this time, Saga picked a big backdrop showing the cover of the album »Full Circle« (1999), specifically their longtime mascot – the sci-fi grasshopper with stolen Einstein brains. That one last appeared on their covers on the album »Trust« (2006), while ‘good old uncle’ Albert is the main character on the »20/20« cover. Despite the different hint given by the stage backdrop, Saga didn’t play a single song from »Full Circle« that night, but nobody was too bothered, since it would be hard to imagine a better concert setlist.
The opening »20/20« bomb »Anywhere You Wanna Go« made for an authoritative start to the show and a sign of just how proud Saga still are of their latest studio album, from which they played three songs that night. The setlist held quite a few pleasant surprises, especially songs they hadn’t played in years, like the epic »Images At Twilight« masterpiece »Mouse in a Maze«, where they thrilled above all with their synth multi-harmonies. Gilmour, bassist/occasional keyboardist Jim Crichton and Sadler all ended up behind their own keyboards at the same time, and Sadler sang the whole thing with an extraordinary amount of emotional pathos, hitting one of the peaks of his vocal abilities.
Besides some very pleasant surprises and highlights from »20/20«, the night of course had no shortage of long-running classics, mostly from the first five ‘classic’ Saga albums, such as the splendid versions of the standards »Careful Where You Step« and »The Perfectionist«. During »Careful Where You Step«, Gilmour had an awkward moment right at the start, coming in a bit late with his synth line and trying to fix it on the fly. Most of the crowd noticed that he’d, as we’d say in plain speech, ‘screwed up’. Luckily, it was the only obvious slip of the whole night.
»You’re Not Alone«, the most beloved Saga classic among most fans, which they usually play toward the end of the set or as an encore, was surprisingly played already in the first part of the show. As per tradition, Sadler called on the crowd to sing the chorus and set up a ‘competition’ between the male and female voices, ultimately, as expected, handing the victory to the women. It was really interesting to see and hear how different Sadler was this time: much more relaxed and in a joking mood, compared to the one we saw almost five years ago, who couldn’t hide a bit of nervousness, seriousness and, in the end, tears at his impending farewell.
With the somewhat darker-toned »Spin It Again«, Saga returned once more to 2012, when all tears have long been in vain and the only solution left is to laugh at the absurdity of everyday life. That was followed by probably the biggest surprise of the whole night, the progressive rock instrumental »Corkentellis«, originally from the album »10,000 Days« (2007), which is always quite a challenge because of its technical difficulty. At that point Sadler temporarily left the stage, while Gilmour, both Crichton brothers and drummer Thorne conjured up unforgettable improvisational magic. Special mention goes to the stunning guitar improvisations of the eternally overlooked guitar legend Ian Crichton.
Even though they count most of the biggest names in the genre among their main influences, Saga have never been a prog rock band in the strict, traditional sense of the word: in their career they never created a single epic longer than 15 or 20 minutes, nor did they indulge in a heavy dose of improvisational complexity. They were definitely a progressive band from the very beginning, but alongside prog rock they always brought in a range of melodic elements usually found in more radio-friendly new wave, melodic rock and even hard rock, so the best label for their music is simply art rock.
»Corkentellis« is that rare instrumental moment in their career when they dared to dive deepest into traditional, improvisational prog rock with a fusion influence. The hugely popular »Heads Or Tales« (1983) evergreen »The Flyer«, where the crowd once again eagerly helped out with the chorus, made for a really neat contrast and highlighted their longtime commitment to the melodic side of music. The fiery »Six Feet Under«, one of the better achievements of the new album »20/20«, reminded us once more that Saga are still a force to be reckoned with in their field, while the unexpected performance of »The Cross« from their concept masterpiece »Generation 13« (1995), another big surprise of the night, set off a wave of roaring enthusiasm in the crowd. This time Sadler was especially impressive, accompanying his vocal performance with theatrical gestures and completely immersing himself in the role of the lost boy Sam, the main character of that concept magnum opus.
After a captivating solo spot from new drummer Mike Thorne, only Sadler and Gilmour stayed on stage, and they pulled off a superb version of the »Worlds Apart« (1981) classic »Time’s Up«. Then Sadler left the stage and handed Gilmour the role of the central ‘star’, both on keyboards and lead vocals. After a short solo spot on electric piano, ‘Jimbo’ confidently sang the cult ballad »Scratching The Surface«, one of the few Saga evergreens featuring his lead vocals. When Michael came back on with the other three comrades, he allowed himself a little tease, playing the intro arrangement of the legendary »Images At Twilight« epic »Images« on keyboards, before ‘changing his mind’ and playing the opening arrangement of the »Worlds Apart« classic »No Regrets«, making the crowd’s mouths water.
On the third try, with Sadler’s joking finally over, the whole band jumped in and confidently surprised with the »Saga« (1978) evergreen »Tired World«, fittingly followed by its ‘companion’ »Humble Stance«, on which Michael also picked up the bass guitar. Along with »It’s Time« and »No Regrets«, which weren’t ‘on the program’ that night, it’s one of the few moments when he decides to play bass. But the show wouldn’t have been complete without at least a few more songs from their most commercially successful album »Worlds Apart«, namely the expected longtime favorites »On the Loose« and »Wind Him Up«. After thunderous applause they left the stage briefly and soon returned for the first and sadly also the last encore of the night, in which they first surprised with »Framed«, yet another »Worlds Apart« classic, and finally, pretty much as expected, since it can’t be missing from any Saga show, played the »Silent Knight« (1980) evergreen »Don’t Be Late«.
In the mighty atmosphere of the Muffathalle, Saga proved once again that with Michael Sadler in the lineup they’re a rock-solid monolith of live perfection, and an ideal setlist won over even their most demanding fans. Besides Gilmour, who has been in their ranks since 1980 (though he temporarily left between 1986 and 1992), the three original members, namely Sadler and both Crichton brothers, are still the main engine of these Canadian prog rock legends, both in the studio and live. That gives them maximum consistency, even though with every new album they try to bring something new to their music (which is of course commendable), so every Saga show is a special experience for any lover of good, spiritually fulfilling and intelligent music. And one last thing: our fourth encounter with Saga will be immortalized for the second time on the upcoming live DVD/CD!
Setlist
1. Anywhere You Wanna Go
2. Mouse in a Maze
3. The Perfectionist
4. Careful Where You Step
5. You’re Not Alone
6. Spin It Again
7. Corkentellis
8. The Flyer
9. Six Feet Under
10. The Cross
11. Drum Solo
12. Time’s Up
13. Scratching the Surface
14. Tired World
15. Humble Stance
16. On the Loose
17. Wind Him Up
—encore
18. Framed
19. Don’t Be Late
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