Recently I went to Bilston’s The Robin 2 to see a classic rock tribute double headliner featuring Rainbow Rising and Whitesnake UK. I’d seen Rainbow Rising a fair few times already: their Tarot Woman and Stargazer really do bring back the atmosphere of the classic album that is Rising. Whitesnake UK (formerly Slip Of The Tongue) I hadn’t seen and was looking forward to. I was not disappointed…

Rainbow Rising were up first and right from the intro to Kill The King sounded the best I think I’ve ever heard them. All of the songs they played are personal favourites and were excellent.  Gates Of Babylon was a nice surprise, a song I hadn’t heard them play before.  Tarot Woman takes me to a special place and Stargazer is just wonderful.  To hear them played so well is a delight.

“Classic” Rainbow was well served - Catch The Rainbow and Sixteenth Century Greensleeves were played as well - but so were the chart hits All Night Long, I Surrender and the classic Since You Been Gone.  A Rainbow had indeed risen over a well attended Robin and left people Rainbow struck on a cold night.  When are you guys playing locally next?

Boy, the Whitesnake guys were going to have to go some to match that.

I’d just come down from that beautiful place Stargazer takes me to when Whitesnake UK came on stage.  Burn and Stormbringer, just like on Live In The Still Of The Night CD & DVD (which is excellent and well worth getting, btw).  Excellent sound, excellently performed and Jamie’s heading to a happy place again

Playing favourite after favourite they truly gave sweet satisfaction.  There aren’t too many singers who will suddenly say “I feel like a walk!” and come down from the stage into the audience and get people to sing with them.  Carl Wooton does just that.  Thanks for not exposing Bilston to my dubious voice!

Anyone doubting Carl’s voice should hear him singing Soldier Of Fortune.  Doubters will then be silenced.  A voice in the crowd shouted for it and Carl duly obliged.

Highlight of the set (just one?  That’s not fair!) for me was the bluesy version of Mistreated.  The classics were there - Fool For Your Loving, Still Of The Night, Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, Is This Love, Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City and Love Ain’t No Stranger.

As the final strains of We Wish You Well faded away, I bounced home.  Was that a video camera I saw by a corner of the floor?  I hope so

This is a band I will be seeing again. If you get the chance to see Rainbow Rising or Whitesnake UK then do.