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Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 6083
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posticon Review - UFO - Carling Academy, Glasgow - 19th June 2004



UFO
Carling Academy, Glasgow
19th June 2004



Phil Mogg - Vocals
Pete Way - Bass
Vinnie Moore - Guitars
Paul Raymond - Guitars/Keyboards
Jason Bonham - Drums


I arrived late, just in time to catch the last 20 minutes or so of The Quireboys. They're very entertaining, with some witty repartee from Spike, but the sound does them no favours whatsover. Distorted and far far too loud (or am I far too old?), however they do enough to convince me that I'd like to see them again on their own terms.

This was my first visit to the Academy, and apart from the ear damage it's a pleasant surprise. Converted from an old cinema, it's like a posher Barrowlands. Same great atmosphere, but with much better facilities. It's on three levels - the
main area, a slightly raised area with the mixing desk, and a higher level at the
back. I was positioned right in front of the mixing desk, and got a great view of
the band.

This was my first opportunity to see the new UFO line-up. The last time I saw them (November 2000) was an excellent show, but the signs of the impending meltdown were fairly evident. Michael Schenker was on good form, but spent far too much time off-stage talking to his technician. There was also signs of friction between Schenker and Phil Mogg. Sure enough, the band imploded 2 days later at the infamous Manchester gig. Having managed to track down a bootleg of the Manchester show, it makes depressing listening. The most awful guitar performance I have ever heard, coupled with boos and jeers from an understandably cheesed-off crowd, it seemed like UFO had bitten the dust. But, no, UFO have risen from the dead with 3/5 of the "classic" line-up, new blood in the shape of Vinnie Moore and Jason Bonham, and with a fine new album to promote.

The opening was a bit chaotic (in typical UFO fashion - some things never change!), before starting off with Midnight Train from the Covenant album. The sound was hugely improved from earlier, with all the instruments audible in the mix.

Moore is undoubtedly a great player, moving all over the fretboard but not overdoing it too much. Bonham is, as you'd expect, a big hitter and provides a solid backbone. Nice to see "Kipper" Raymond back, although to be honest the keys/guitarist they had on the Covenant tour was an equally good player. Phil Mogg is in good voice with the usual witty asides to the crowd. Pete Way is, well, Pete Way! The showman of the band, doesn't show too many signs of growing up (sorry, ageing emoticon ).

The set list was well arranged. Last time I felt they played too much new material at the start of the gig, whereas this time the old/new stuff was well balanced. My only complaints re. the set list was the total absence of :-

a. Paul Chapman era material
b. Walk On Water material.

This would surely be a great opportunity to bring back some Chapman stuff (We Belong To The Night, Let It Rain, Long Gone, etc), and why on earth were all the Walk On Water songs left out of the set list? It's by far the best material since the reunion, and the likes of Pushed To The Limit and Venus were sadly missed. I would gladly have dropped Fighting Man from Sharks in favour of one of these gems.

That aside, the set contained 3 or 4 from You Are Here (including Daylight Comes To Town, Wild One and Baby Blue) and nearly all of Strangers In The Night. The only omissions from SITN were Natural Thing and Out In The Street I think.

Vinnie Moore sticks fairly closely to the classic Schenker solos in Only You Can Rock Me and Love To Love, although added a few volume swells to the latter. He comes into his own on the new material. The long solo section in Rock Bottom is the most radically different from the Schenker template, and it was here that I felt Michael's absence most. Vinnie's a fine player, but it's Michael's showcase, and it feels really odd hearing another player taking it over. Which is strange, because I don't remember ever having the same feeling about Paul Chapman?

There were well-deserved encores of Doctor Doctor and Shoot Shoot before the band finally departed.

It was a great night's music, but I left with a niggling feeling that it wasn't quite complete due to Mr Schenker's absence. A friend commented that "it's not the same without Schenker", and I have to agree. Although it would have been crazy to continue with Michael in the sad state he is in these days, his absence does leave a big gap, which is not completely filled. UFO are in the same position as Purple I suppose, with a "classic" line-up fractured by the departure of a charismatic guitarist. But I have never left a Morse-era gig with the feeling that it would have been better with Ritchie. Steve has the presence and charisma to fill the gap, unfortunately I don't think the same can be said about Vinnie Moore in UFO. I don't like to end on a negative note, especially as the guys really couldn't have put more effort in, but that's the way I feel.


Last edited by Big J, 21/6/2004, 13:19


---
Bring back The Opening Salvo!

Celtic Legacy for the opening slot!!
21/6/2004, 12:28 Link to this post Send Email to Big J   Send PM to Big J
 
Christos Gatzidis Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2517
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Re: Review - UFO - Carling Academy, Glasgow - 19th June 2004


quote:

Big J wrote:

Although it would have been crazy to continue with Michael in the sad state he is in these days, his absence does leave a big gap




Reports from the last MSG UK tour (only three dates but still!) last year seem to indicate he's behaving himself recently, apparently he had many problems with his ex-wife which resulted in him being practically homeless and with alcohol-related problems! People say he's got himself together after his divorce so you never know, maybe yet another UFO reunion is in order! emoticon

21/6/2004, 15:47 Link to this post Send Email to Christos Gatzidis   Send PM to Christos Gatzidis
 
REAL JOHNMCCOY Profile
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Registered: 06-2004
Posts: 522
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Re: Review - UFO - Carling Academy, Glasgow - 19th June 2004


Do they ever play "Beladonna" live? It's absent from "Strangers..." which was a big surprise for me. If UFO ever comes to Russia they better play it since it's their signature song here, well known even by people who never heard of the band and covered by every bar and restourant band in the Soviet Union since 1976! emoticon
21/6/2004, 23:49 Link to this post Send Email to REAL JOHNMCCOY   Send PM to REAL JOHNMCCOY
 


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