Classic Rock’s week of special awards shows began in fine style last night (November 1) when Europe played at the Relentless Garage in London’s Islington. Come inside for a hot-off-the-presses report…

It would be so easy for Europe to coast along for most of any gig, knowing – as we all do – that they’re gonna saddle up The Final Countdown as the finale, sending everyone out into the cold with massive smiles, and a feelgood factor going through into overdrive.

Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t know this song? Even those Green Day fans queuing outside for their heroes’ post-midnight secret gig must have heard this on countless occasions. And, sure enough, it is the farewell flourish from the Swedes.

But if anyone thinks that the rest of tonight is anything other that a soaraway triumph then they just were not at the Relentless Garage. Because those of us who were packed inside knew we were part of one helluva performance.

Part of it? Yep, because it was as much the connection between the five men on stage and those on the floor that drove the set as the music itself. This is the smallest venue Europe have ever played in Britain – and they were doing this in order to be part of the week-long series of landmark gigs complementing the Classic Rock Awards. But unlike many other big bands who play such events through gritted teeth, seizing the moment for self-absorbed opportunism and making very little effort, this lot really embrace the occasion.

With no place to hide, Europe have no option but to prove just how powerful they really are as a live entity. This is a thrusting, dynamic, pulsing hard rock set. It’s 90 minutes when Joey Tempest and co. have the chance to prove worthy of those who inspired them in the first place: UFO, Def Leppard, Rainbow, Deep Purple. And they don’t disappoint. No, let’s go further, much further… this is a truly towering night.

The foundation of the set comes from new album Last Look At Eden. But is anyone complaining? The whoops of delight at Last Look At Eden itself and Gonna Get Ready throw the switch suggests everyone’s up for the crack. Superstitious allows Tempest to throw in a brief snippet of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry, while Love Is Not The Enemy and Sign Of The Times are pure gold.

There’s only one ballad tonight – and that’s New Love In Town from the recent record. Tempest briefly teases everyone by suggesting this is a prelude to a laid-back, sit-down series of softer moments, something met by someone in the crowd shouting out: “We wanna rock!” Whether the band heard this or not, what follows is a galactic climax. Scream Of Anger blasts out, before guitarist John Norum leads the band through an almost jazz-rock interlude, before Seventh Sign, Let The Good Times Rock and Start From The Dark set up Rock The Night for the killer set closing strike.

But Europe are far from finished, Norum straps on a Flying V, Tempest announces that, “It’s about time we gave something back” to the country that gave them so much inspiration, and UFO’s Only You Can Rock Me is lovingly crashed out. And then…it’s time. Mic Michaeli’s unmistakably stately keyboard waft is the prelude to the whole place erupting as The Final Countdown pours on the magic.

It’s a sensational ending to what was a glorious night. Europe are still among the very best melodic hard rock bands around, and everyone here knows it. Now the bar’s been raised – as well as a few glasses – for the Classic Rock week of gigs. Follow this!

– Malcolm Dome

Click here for more info about Classic Rock’s week of special awards gigs – with shows from Uriah Heep, Ginger Baker and Paul Rodgers still to come!