Fates Warning – Underworld 2007

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In the quite unbelievably long time since Fates Warning last played in the UK fans have come and (mostly) gone, and this was a very telling fact at the not-even-half-full Underworld, a small venue at the best of times. Around 150 tickets were sold for the progressive metal giants’ first show in London for a good number of years, during which time they’ve been far from inactive, but have just not properly supported their releases.

That such a highly regarded and acclaimed band has to play to such a small crowd is, of course, a travesty, but it’s something that’s not really anyone’s fault but their own. The band have admitted that they probably need to put in some more touring to build the fan base back up again, as many have lost touch with their activities, and the show they put on tonight certainly made a statement of intent.

And they got the payoff from the crowd to match. Everything vocalist Ray Alder said or asked the crowd to do met with 100% enthusiasm and every track was greeted like a number one hit that’d never been played before. The setlist covered a wide spectrum of their back catalogue with parts of the massive A Pleasant Shade of Grey separating other regular songs, of which One and The Eleventh Hour were two of the most well received.

The encore was set to include a cover of Scorpions‘ In Trance, but persistent calls from the crowd, who given the intimacy of the show were able to directly interact with the band members throughout, for Eye To Eye saw it played instead. The reception and sheer adulation of the die-hard audience was clearly thrilling the band who seemed not to be able to thank everyone enough. Guitarist Frank Aresti’s previous absences from the touring line-up seemed a distant memory, and the addition of Bobby Jarzombek on drums breathed a new freshness into the songs.

The last release from the band was the Live In Athens DVD two years ago, and watching that made me doubt their attraction as a live band, particularly Alder, but this show dispelled all such thoughts. Fates Warning are the complete article and hopefully they’ll keep the momentum of this short tour going into 2008 and we can look forward to more live shows and maybe a new album.

“ sheer adulation ”

Setlist: One / A Pleasant Shade of Grey III > A Pleasant Shade of Grey IV / Another Perfect Day / Life In Still Water / Island In The Stream / A Pleasant Shade of Grey VII / The Eleventh Hour / Point of View / Still Remains / Stranger (With A Familiar Face) / A Pleasant Shade of Grey XI // Silent Cries / Eye To Eye / Nothing Left To Say / Monument

Photo(s): Andy Lye

Written by Andy Lye
More: Gigs, Progressive, Fates Warning