UFO
in Friday, 16 April 2010 at Fuzz Club
by Panos Pagonopoulos

There are really few words that can describe what UFO have achieved in their career and how important this band is to Hard Rock and Rock music generally. UFO are legends, one of the greatest Hard Rock bands of the 70s, having influenced hundreds of musicians not only in Rock music but also in Heavy Metal. Someone could easily say that they are among the best Rock bands ever. Since 2004 with Vinnie Moore becoming their lead guitarist UFO have released 3 very very good studio albums together with the excellent “Showtime” double DVD, they have re-invented themselves and managed to totally reborn their career reminding us of their glorious past. So when it was announced that UFO would perform live in Athens for the second leg of their “Visitor World Tour” I knew there was no way I was going to miss it.

At20:30 when I arrived at Fuzz Live Club only a few fans where inside, so I grabbed a beer, went to the front row, found a good spot (in front ofwhere Vinnie Moore was going to play) and waited patiently for the gig to start. As time passed more and more fans were coming but Fuzz Club was far from being crowded. At around 21:35, as it was pretty much expected, UFO came on stage with their two classics “Let It Roll” and “Mother Mary”. There just couldn't be a better way to start their live performance. UFO carried on with two songs from their Vinnie Moore era: the beautiful Rock/Blues “Saving Me” from their new album “The Visitor” and “Daylight Goes To Town” from the “You Are Here” CD. To my big and pleasant surprise many fans knew the lyrics and enjoyed the songs which means that they had heard and loved the new albums and that shows the band has done a great job in the recent past. “Out In The Street” and “Cherry” returned to the 70s period of the band while the new ones “Stop Breaking Down” and “Hell Driver”(combined withthe old “The Kid's”) were warmly welcomed by the fans.

But the party had not even started yet! The instant classic “Only You Can Rock Me”, the wonderful “Love To Love” and the unexpected by the fans “Ain't No Baby” marked the beginning of an incredible ending. “Too Hot To Handle” followed up and we couldn't believe our eyes. Vinnie Moore accompanied by the band did an unbelievable and full of virtuosity guitar solo/improvisation extending the song's duration over 10 minutes. An incredible Hard Rock solo, adding progressive elements, tapping and even played for much time guitar behind his back (something that Barry Sparks did with his bass guitar also)! In the ““Lights Out” or “Doctor Doctor”?”questionthe fans chose without hesitation the second one and with this classic the gig ended temporarily. In the usual encore UFO ended their performance with an extended version of the great “Rock Bottom” with another beautiful improvised solo by Vinnie Moore. In the end the band left the stage under a huge applause by the fans.

UFO really performed every song in excellence. Andy Parker on drums and Paul Raymond in keyboards/rhythm guitar put on a consisted and solid performance. Barry Sparks(ex-MSG, ex-Ted Nugent ,ex-Malmsteen) was full of energy and put on an impressive performance. He has stated in the past that he is a huge fan of UFO and their bassist Pete Way (who is not touring with the band due to health issues) and he showed enjoying every minute on stage with the band. On vocals Phil Mogg is a great frontman. We all knew that he hasn't got the voice range he used to have in the 70s but he adjusted the songs in his current voice (which is still really good) doing a really good job and left all the fans totally satisfied. As for Vinnie Moore,what can I say…? A stunning performance, incredible small or big improvisations in many songs…he was simply magnificent.

In the end, none expected such an excellent performance by UFO. They really exceeded everyone'sexpectations. Another thing that I really loved in this gig was the small and big improvisations in many songs which were really good. I can't remember since when I have seen a band live improvising so much and so good. One thing is for sure; everyone in Fuzz Club had a great time seeing one of the most historical and legendary Hard Rock bands live.

UFO setlist:

"Let It Roll"
"Mother Mary"
"Saving Me"
"Daylight Goes To Town"
"Out In The Street"
"Stop Breaking Down"
"The Kid's/Hell Driver"
"Cherry"
"Only You Can Rock Me"
"Love To Love"
"Ain't No Baby"
"Too Hot To Handle"
"Doctor Doctor"
"Rock Bottom"

copyright 2010 - view photos

"How is this not what you like, it likes what has happened" - says the old adage that accompanied me for the last few days before the concert. Although there is not composed of Michael Schenker, Pete or Waya, but they are still Phil Mogg, Andy Parker and Paul Raymond. 3 / 5 of the classical composition is still more than half of the concert and the poor probably could not give. Fortunately, not wrong. Their performance was great.

Tightly filled a small room Picturehouse'u Edinburgh, excitement and thrill of anticipation. Any classic rock concerts make me weird reactions in the form of carefully looking at the audience. Well, because let's be honest, because my late birth date of their presence is usually clearly underestimates the average age of the participants live (unless you record a concert by the Moody Blues prior year and a half in the local theater Playhouse, where among several thousand attendees only spotted a few people in my age .) Fortunately, yesterday evening the weight podtatusiałych, graying metal shirts Saxon or Iron Maiden, it was a little younger generation of players, so I did not feel so strange as usual.

Maybe now the same concert ... The newer songs we heard only two songs from the last album ("Saving Me," "Hell Driver") and one from "You Are Here" from 2004 ("When Daylight Goes To Town"). The rest of the setlist filled UFO-wa classic from the golden 70's. They were all the most famous motor tracks like "Only You Can Rock Me ',' Too Hot To Handle" and the immortal "Doctor Doctor". Diversions in the set was not too much, there have been more subdued, like "Love to Love", "Cherry" or "Out In The Street", but they sounded pretty tight.

Which pieces came out best? First of all, thundering "Lights Out" - played with the same incredible, "Paler" like on the album "Strangers In The Night" from the late 70's. Would mention it, "This Kids" and I think above all, "Doctor Doctor", who led the entire room for the tremendous rage and boil.

On stage, the musicians presented themselves little by way of contrasts. New bass player (Barry Sparks) tried, with better or for worse, to replace the absent dignity due to liver disease Pete Waya, both in terms of technique and spontaneity of playing and showiness. The new guitarist after yesterday Vinnie'go Moore viciously in the end I managed to convince. After hearing the last few panels of UFOs in his presence I felt that Mogg and company made the same mistake as Deep Purple, Blackmore Steve zatępując Ritchie'go Morse'm - choose a good guitar tech, which can quickly dress fingers on the fingerboard but absolutely not having their own style. Vinnie has the style and happiness (as opposed to Morse) is not trying to change the predecessor of guitar solos on the strength (usually with poor results) trying to prove that zagrałby it better. Moore did not experiment, but could leave a little space on their own interpretation ("Rock Bottom"). The group was decidedly more static three remaining classic. However, the champion in itself has remained Phil Mogg. Do not kid ourselves, the oldest, but I tried to give his all, so far as vocally he can not be accused of anything, it kondycyjnie 60-year-old body is not able to cope with the spontaneity of hard rock concerts, and often withdrew into the shadows by giving scope for the younger colleagues.

Although the concert I remember very warm. Is probably not easy teams to the likes of UFO keep a balance between the number of decibels, and the creation of magic and incredible atmosphere. They are still going, and praise them for it. Let us play for as long as possible.

Setlist: Let It Roll, Mother Mary, Saving Me, Out In The Street, When Daylight Goes To Town, This Kids, Hell Driver, Cherry, Only You Can Rock Me, Love To Love, Is not No Baby, It's Too Hot Handle, Lights Out, Doctor Doctor. Encore: Rock Bottom, Shoot Shoot

2010-04-27 copyright 2010

Thanks to Mark for the review:

UFO were outstanding in Sheffield last night.

The band were firing on all six, and the sizeable audience responded in kind. I got myself down the front in the second row and sang every word. The band played for 1 hour 45 minutes and I must have needed to pee for about 1 hour 15 but I wasn't moving for anything. The set was excellent - thanks to the band for playing Stop Breaking Down. Highlights for me included Out In the Streets, Cherry, and a stonking Ain't No Baby. Special thanks to Barry Sparks whose top-notch performance evoked the spirit of the sadly absent Mr Way in no uncertain terms.

Mark Birdsall

Let It Roll
Mother Mary
Saving Me
Out In The Street
This Kids
Cherry
Stop Breaking Down
Only You Can Rock Me
Love To Love
Hell Driver
Ain't No Baby
Too Hot To Handle
Lights Out
Doctor Doctor

Rock Bottom
Shoot Shoot

Cardiff - Having got some rest, I can now give you a brief review from Cardiff in South Wales.

The band were in superb form and without doubt it was one of their finest performaces that I had witnessed. UFO were enjoying every moment, interacting with each other constantly (including Andy). Barry Sparks really fits into the mix like a glove, his playing and stage presence is superb. This is a great UFO line-up. The crowd were fantastic and UFO seemed energised by their reaction. From the very first moment that Vinnie created the feedback loop from guitar to amp (link is from HMV Picture House, not Cardiff by the way) as 'Let It Roll' cut through - an excellent choice for the opening number - the fans went wild. Another great classic followed, 'Mother Mary' ensuring that the atmosphere was electric. The three tracks over the evening which were played from 'The Visitor' got an amazing reaction from the crowd and these now sit very comfortably within the set-list. 'Stop Breaking Down' was performed live and I was really knocked out by the performance. FANTASTIC. I hope this becomes part of the set. 'Love to Love' was immense - beautiful. 'Ain't No Baby' from Obsession is such a great choice but I would lreally ove to see 'Pack It Up and Go' from the same album, maybe one day. 'Lights Out' and 'Rock Bottom' were brilliant. The night was magical and the band played two encores. Looking forward to 'High Voltage', London in July. Tris

Set list

Let It Roll - Mother Mary - Saving Me - Out In The Street - This Kids - Cherry - Stop Breaking Down
Only You Can Rock Me - Love To Love - Hell Driver - Ain't No Baby - Too Hot To Handle - Lights Out

encore 1 - Rock Bottom

encore 2 - Doctor Doctor

UFO spotted rolling back the rock’n’roll years in Cardiff

THE evening’s openers Voodoo Six played an energetic, well-received set.

A London-based five-piece, their twin guitars and up-front bass formation laid down some seriously heavy riffing. They’re evidently one band to watch.

It’s 25 years since UFO’s last Cardiff gig but the years dissolved away when they took to the stage.

Opening with a kicking Let It Roll, they had the crowd roaring them on from the off.

Paul Raymond’s keyboards have always lent texture to UFO’s best songs, as demonstrated on Out In The Street, the epic Love To Love and the crowd led, call and response anthem Only You Can Rock Me.

This had audience bellowing out the words: “You ain’t with us, then it’s just bad news”, which was ironic, given there was no danger of that situation developing. Singer Phil Mogg was beaming throughout, obviously in his element; the consummate frontman amusing the crowd with his banter and keeping the Welsh fans happy by quoting from Dylan Thomas’ poem, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

The rest of the band were equally on form. Drummer Andy Parker was a powerhouse at the back, bassist Barry Sparkes substituted in fitting style for the absent Pete Way, while guitarist Vinnie Moore is now a well established member of the band, standing up to previous legendary UFO axe-man Michael Schenker.

With an unstoppable momentum the set built to a crescendo with live favourites Too Hot To Handle, Lights Out, Rock Bottom and Doctor Doctor. “It’s been a pleasure,” shouted Phil Mogg, as the band took their front stage bows and thanked the audience.

The feeling was definitely mutual.

Chris Sutcliffe

©2010

All six above photos of Vinnie Moore, Phil Mogg, Andy Parker, Paul Raymond and Barry Sparks - Nicolas Gaire - © 2010.

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