KK’s Priest & ACCEPT
Tannahill’s Tavern
Fort Worth, TX
Photos and article by Artur Brakhman
I arrived at the venue about 30 minutes before show start time. The venue looked about half full. Once I got settled in, the first band was ready to hit the stage. As soon as the first notes were played, the venue filled to the max. The show was completely sold out.
First on stage were ACCEPT, a band that I’ve been a fan of for a few decades, thanks to my uncle who introduced me to their music when I was barely a teen.
Last time I saw the band was in 2012 for their Stalingrad tour after which I caught a drum stick and got it signed by Stefan Schwarzmann, the band’s drummer at the time. That was one of the more memorable concerts of my life. I also took selfies with Wolf Hoffmann and Stefan Schwarzmann that night as well.
The band came on stage swinging. They kicked off their set with “The Reckoning” from their latest album “Humanoid”, followed by the title song of the same album. The crowd went wild as soon as the first notes were played. Everyone was headbaning, throwing fists up in the air and screaming the lyrics. The metal assault continued with a mix of classics and brand new material which included “Restless and Wild”, “Straight up Jack” and “Midnight Mover” among others. The band got the crowd to clap and raise their fists for the classic “Princess of the Dawn”. Headbanging continued and a sing-along ensued for “Metal Heart”, followed by “Teutonic Terror”. Then the stage went dark. The whole place went insane as soon as they heard a familiar intro to one of everyone’s favorite songs – “Fast as a Shark”! The set was finished with everyone’s favorite classic “Balls to the Wall”.
Throughout the set, the whole band was on an incredible adrenaline rush. They were all over the stage, headbanging and interacting with the whole crowd. Wolf Hoffmann, as always, was making faces, smiling and just having the best time, some of which is captured in the photo gallery below. This was an incredible, high energy set and everyone – the band and the crowd, gave their 110%.
Setlist:
The Reckoning
Humanoid
Restless and Wild
Straight Up Jack
Midnight Mover
Southside Of Hell
Medley: Demon’s Night / Starlight / Losers and Winners / Flash Rockin’ Man
Princess of the Dawn
Metal Heart
Teutonic Terror
Fast as a Shark
Pandemic
Balls to the Wall
Next on stage were KK’s Priest. The band that doesn’t need much introduction. The lead guitarist is the one and only K.K. Downing, who was a founding member of Judas Priest and was part of the band until he departed in 2011. The lead vocalist is none other than Tim “Ripper” Owens, who was also part of Judas Priest from mid 1990s until 2002. He was also a vocalist for Iced Earth, Dio Disciples and Yngwie Malmsteen. The rest of the band members are A.J. Mills (guitar), Tony Newton (bass) and Sean Elg (drums).
My first time seeing Judas Priest live was when they were on their Demolition tour. So seeing K.K. Downing and Tim “Ripper” Owens being part of the same band once again, kind of brings it full circle for me. I’ve been following both musicians for decades and even got K.K’s signed autobiography.
The venue lights dimmed and a huge screen on stage was playing the band’s intro, after which the band jumped on stage. The drummer and K.K. Downing were on a riser which was covered with the band’s logo, right next to it were a few huge spot lights. The rest of the band was all over the stage, interacting with the crowd. The set was kicked off with “Hellfire Thunderbolt” from the band’s debut album “Sermons of the Sinner”. Next two songs – “Strike of the Viper” and “One More Shot At Glory” were from their second album “The Sinner Rides Again”. Then Ripper asked the crowd “what’s my name?” to which the crowd replied “the ripper” and the band kicked off a Judas Priest classic with the same name. The crowd was headbanging and raising their fists. The setlist continued with high energy material from the band’s two albums as well as Judas Priest classics. The band was all over the stage, A.J. Mills and K.K Downing were exchanging solos on every song. Ripper and Tony Newton were running from one part of the stage to the other, interacting with the crowd. Then they kicked off “Burn in Hell” and the crowd went crazy, everyone was screaming out the lyrics and throwing their fists in the air. Right before the band started playing another Judas Priest classic, Tim “Ripper” Owens asked the crowd “Do you mind if we slow it down?” The crowd yelled “NO” then he replied “well, too bad, we’ll slow it down, but you all have to help me with this, you all know this song”. The crowd obliged and every single person was singing their hearts out to “Diamonds and Rust”. Next on the setlist were a few more Priest classics which included “Breaking The Law”, a Fleetwood Mac cover – “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and my favorite “Hell Patrol”. The crowd loved every one of them. At one point Ripper said that there is one song that Judas Priest never played live. He asked K.K Downing if they could do it. The song is “Before the Dawn”. The whole venue got quiet while the band played the beautiful song. The set concluded with yet another Priest classic “The Sinner” and “Raise Your Fists” from the band’s debut.
Overall this was a night full of pumping adrenaline, high energy classics and new tunes that are loved by everyone and both bands giving their all on stage, not a drop of energy spared.
Setlist:
Hellfire Thunderbolt
Strike of the Viper
One More Shot at Glory
The Ripper (Judas Priest cover)
Reap the Whirlwind
Night Crawler (Judas Priest cover)
Sermons of the Sinner
Burn in Hell (Judas Priest cover)
Diamonds & Rust(Joan Baez cover)
Hell Patrol(Judas Priest cover)
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Before the Dawn (Judas Priest cover)
Breaking the Law (Judas Priest cover)
Sinner (Judas Priest cover)
Raise Your Fists
