Mark Stanway's Kingdom of Madness - Sunday 8th December - Underworld, Camden

Brief review:  Mark Stanway and KOM play classic Magnum. I wasn't sure if I could make this and so only bought a ticket on the night, but was glad I made the effort. The vocalist had changed since last time I saw the band (continuing the heavy rotation of musicians), but the quality was still high. Even as a keen Magnum fan, I struggled to identify a couple of the more obscure songs that started both sets and as the empty spaces in the venue suggested, I wonder if Mark is gong to find an audience for this type of show. I genuinely hope he can. Maybe any night but a Sunday would be a good start.

Venue and View:  Stand wherever we wanted. We chose left of centre, a few yards back.

Setlist
So Cold the Night
Back to Earth
Just Like an Arrow
Vigilante
Wild Swan
The Prize
Need a Lot of Love
Les Morts Dansant
Love's a Stranger
All England's Eyes
+
If I Could Live Forever
Soldier of the Line
Only in America
Drum Solo
Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)
Red on the Highway
On a Storyteller's Night
Kingdom of Madness
The Lights Burned Out
Sacred Hour

Mark Stanway - Friday 7th September - Fairkytes Live, Hornchurch

A new venue and an interesting format. Ex-Magnum keyboard maestro and all round nice bloke, Mark Stanway with "an evening with..." type event with a radio DJ prompting the questions and script. Lots of chat and stories with a few videos thrown in. There was also a Q&A and raffle(!), but the highlight was definitely a few snippets of highlights from his career so far played on the keyboard setup. And a couple of Magnum numbers with wife Mo on vocals. The hall itself was tiny - and with only 50-60 filling the seats it was the true definition of an "intimate venue".

Like his entertaining first book, it's fair to say this wasn't a highly polished affair, but that actually added to the charm.  A couple of exceptionally drunk characters at the front threatened to dominate the evening (until told to shut up by others). By the end, one was almost unconscious in his seat and was seen throwing up outside the venue later. What is the point!? But that thankfully didn't detract from Mark. He obviously has a treasured collection of audio tapes and recordings from his career with Magnum, Phil Lynott's Grand Slam, Robert Plant and Whitesnake M3 - let's hope some see the light of day officially sometime.

He was also kind enough to meet and greet afterwards, pose for photos and sign momentos. Looking forward to a full music show with his new band "Kingdom of Madness" next year.