Airforce – Live at Sin City Swansea 13/01/202
Airforce are:
Flavio Lino – Vocals
Chop Pitman – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Tony Hatton – Bass Guitar
Doug Sampson – Drums
Review: Pete Devine
Live Photos: Tim Pitman
I was lucky to catch Airforce on their recent UK tour, supporting the mighty British Lion with support from Voodoo Six. As it was a three band line-up, getting in early was a must.
Friday nights in Sin City Swansea are always a safe bet for a good turn out and tonight is no exception.
Airforce arrive on stage to a rousing welcome, guitarist Chop Pitman immediately acknowledging the respondent crowd with a thumbs up and a huge smile as the band launch into their set with the opener ‘Fight’. The pedigree of the band is evident as they thunder around the stage. Singer Flavio Lino jumping around and enticing the audience to join in and boy do that do that in abundance.
The set continues with former Iron Maiden drummer Doug Sampson keeping things steady as they continue to impress with Flavio’s operatic vocals putting the likes of Bruce Dickinson to shame as his perfect tones soar over the heads of the ecstatic metalheads below. They look like they are having a great time up there, Tony Hatton raising his bass in victory as they finish each song. These seasoned pros are really showing us how it is done.
There’s a quiet bit in the set now as Flavio introduces the band members to the crowd, making the mistake to ask what the audience want to hear next. There’s a shout of “Play some ABBA” which thankfully gets laughed off as the band, instead play the brilliant ‘Hero’. Chop Pitman’s masterful guitar solo was simply outstanding here.
I notice a number of people arriving late for the gig and heading straight for the stage area, rather than the bar. That’s how great the band were sounding, people wanted to get up there and be a part of it.
The final songs of the set include the epic ‘Finest Hour’ and the stunning ‘Sniper’, both performed with high energy and power. The band leave the stage to cries of “MORE, MORE” from the Swansea crowd who have thoroughly enjoyed the set.
The band are about to embark on a tour of the US and I’m positive that they are going to go down a treat there.
Airforce links:
Band/Artist location – London England
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