Next up was ‘Survive’, with its anthemic chorus, followed by ‘Going To Hell’ and then the potent and punchy ‘Fight’. After all these explosive tracks it was time for a change in tempo with the slower-paced ‘I Don’t Know About Love’, which weaves a story of poignancy and redemption. It’s a great track, showcasing not only Steve’s vocal range but also his storytelling skills, and included an excellent saxophone solo from Johnny Sax (John Wolfenden). ‘Never Leave A Lover’ followed, with its great riffs, and then the ballad ‘Northern Star’ completed the songs from the debut album.
However, Steve had a surprise in store with the premiere of his latest track, ‘Everything They Said’. Penned by the legendary rock icon and music composer John Parr, known the world over for his Grammy-nominated hit song ‘St Elmo’s Fire’ and his duet with Meat Loaf on the US hit track ‘Rock n Roll Mercenaries’, the track was originally penned for Meat Loaf back in 1982, but was never recorded. John Parr offered the track to Steve after hearing his recent work. It’s a stunning track, drawing a rapturous response from the audience, and it looks likely to form the centrepiece of Steve’s next album, due for release in 2022.
With the applause still ringing in everyone’s ears, Steve brought the show to a close with a trio of Meat Loaf covers: ‘All Revved Up’, ‘Anything For Love’ and ‘Bat Out Of Hell’. He was joined by Emily Clark for the duet in ‘Anything For Love’, whose stunning voice was a perfect fit for this iconic song.
It was a stunning gig, and it was no surprise that Steve and the band were rewarded with a standing ovation. Recording his own material has already proved a massive success, and it can only be a matter of time before his work draws interest from a major label. We already have album number two to look forward to in 2022, and in the meantime his debut album is available via all the usual download and streaming providers.
Photography by Andy Houghton for MPM
To see the song lyrics, please click on the song title below.
