Europe

Brighton Dome, Brighton, Monday, September 24

IT SEEMS wrong, so very wrong, that we are living in an age where it is even possible for The Final Countdown to be played in front of a half empty room.

However here, at the Dome, on a chilly Monday night that is exactly the position we find ourselves in.

Europe have graced arenas across the globe, so it is a little sad that they can’t fill the 2,000 capacity venue, but that doesn’t mean they don’t put on one heck of a rock show.

King King kick off proceedings and although the room appears to be half full they certainly get the crowd’s attention.

The British group play some fantastic rock and roll, with lengthy solos and some great riffs.

It’s somewhat of a shame that not more people are in the room to hear it.

They play the Concorde 2 in February and are definitely worth checking out.

A half empty room is normally expected for a support act, but I’m shocked when Europe bound on stage and the concert hall doesn’t seem much fuller than during the band that proceeded them.

According to a very helpful security guard, Europe had sold out Manchester on this tour, and nearly done the same at the Royal Albert Hall in London, so it is upsetting that Brightonians haven’t turned out for this one.

Within just a few songs it is abundantly clear that those not in attendance are the ones missing out.

Europe may not have been the biggest rock band of the 80s - with competition like Whitesnake, Rainbow and Def Leppard it’s not surprising - but if you judge them on the consistency of how epic their songs are they have certainly earned a spot among the elite.

Singer Joey Tempest still has an enthralling voice, time is yet to catch up with his vocal chords as he pounds through 20 stadium-filler songs.

It also says a huge amount about Europe that they can transition so seamlessly between hard-hitting anthems and slower, more rhythmic ballads.

The band’s new material goes down well with the crowd - and there is a fantastic drum solo - but it is the hits that get the best reception.

Rock The Night sounds massive, Carrie and Superstitious encourage great singalong, and Cherokee is the perfect morsel to digest before the big finale.

The Final Countdown is, and will always be, one of the greatest rock songs ever written.

If you wanted a lesson in how to make 1,000 people sound like 10,000 this is very much it.

It seems unfair on Europe that the room isn’t full, they deserve it to be.

But if they were bothered by it then it definitely didn’t show as they gave Brighton a huge amount of love of the last day of their UK tour.

There is a lot of talk about Europe nowadays, what with Brexit and all.

But if you would rather talk about Europe is a more upbeat light, then this is the Europe you should be discussing.

From 1979 to nearing 2019 the Swedish rockers continue to Rock The Night across the world.

Jamie Walker