Just got back from seeing the latest incarnation of UFO at The Cambridge Junction last night. Having not seen this version previously I was intrigued to see how good they could be, considering the 3 original members are all pushing 60.

Well, they played a blinder, bit of a slow start with some newer material which was to be expected with a new album out this week. I'm sure most of the crowd, while supportive of newer songs, were there to hear the classics and a few numbers in they came thick and fast.

Phil Mogg was on great form both vocally and the between song banter, even going so far as to explain why the doors were so late opening and the bands running behind time...due to a broken fan belt in the van on the way to the gig !

I'd never seen or heard Vinnie Moore with UFO and as a confirmed Schenker fanatic wondered how he'd do. He was fantastic, kept the expected noodling under control and delivered all the classic solo's note for note although there was space for some improvisation which showed how well he fits the band.

All in all a top night and hopefully it bodes well for a few more tours / albums to come.

Thanks to Ian who posted this on the CLASSIC ROCK forum

The Visitor - finest UFO album in years?
WHEN UFO touch down at the Spring & Airbrake on Friday night, it will be on the back of what just could be their finest album outing in years. The Visitor hit the shelves last week, with classic rock magazines touting its white-man's blues credentials. Occasional slide guitar and a honky tonk vibe it is an easy comparison. Opening tracks Saving Me and On The Waterfront lay down a slick blues sound.

But this is an album with more depth than a little slide guitar.

Last outing, Monkey Puzzle, was a solid outing, but one in which the band were looking over their collective shoulder at a 40-year back-catalogue. There was a whiff that if they stuck to the same formula their next CD should come with free pipe and slippers.

With The Visitor they have shrugged off any such delusions with ease and shifted just far enough away from the comfort zone the band could have become stuck in. Vinnie Moore provides the soulful licks without ever letting go of the fact that UFO are one of the definitive British hard rock acts. For every blues tinged solo there is a hard edged riff. Stop Breaking Down, Hell Driver and Stranger in Town tap into the classic sound, but still manage to sound fresh.

UFO have always managed to mix the pipes of Phil Mogg with a mix balanced between riffage and subtlelty. For all the headbanging fun of a Doctor Doctor there has always been the balance of the likes of Looking After NO. 1 (Obsession album). Here that balance is on Forsaken - a tale of loss and heartache that can only be told through bitter personal experience. This isn't emo, this is real emotion.

This is a band that could be collectively seen as a bunch of old codgers. But even grumpy old men can stretch arthritic limbs and touch a vibe that the Johnny-Come-Latelys would struggle with.

Listen to the aforementioned track On The Waterfront. For any of us who have sat in the fading summer sunlight on the beach at Ballyholme, the promenade at Carrick, of the shores of Loughs Neagh or Erne, this is a track to raise that can of beer or bottle of cider in sweet memory.

Yes, two listens to The Visitor will make you want to toast these legends of hard rock.

Importantly, sounds from The Visitor sit perfectly comfortably with the rest of the UFO back catalogue. They will be the balance, the foil and the counterpoint to make old and new songs alike sound fresh.

UFO play the Spring & Airbrake on Friday 12th June. Tickets are still available at Katy Daly's and at the door, priced £20.
The Visitor is out now in SPV/Steamhammer.

©2009 Belfast Metal Heads

Evening,
Just back from Glasgow, 3-'n-a-bit hours drive, excellent gig! Great venue and very good turn out - I'd guess 2.5K people. Similar set list as previous gigs but no Baby Blue. Mogg had a cold and appeared to be suffering 3 songs in (Saving Me, Daylight, Mother Mary) but held it together. Barry Sparks was very, very good and Parker is such a powerful drummer (he lost a stick during Rock Bottom!).

One other thing I noticed was that there were four band members up-front and visually making contact with the crowd, hence, Paul was stuck behind his keyboards. Barry Sparks did lots of backing vocals - the ooos-and-aaahhs of Aint no Baby were magic.

No Baby Blue though, I think this was due to Mogg's cold. The roadies amended the taped-down set lists prior to start and (now I'm remembering more!) Barry Sparks was set to start Baby Blue but then realised it was going to be a different song - Mogg apologised and said he'd changed the list but not told anyone. Baby Blue seems to be "D" tuned on the bass so he had to quickly notch it back to E.

Only one other track from The Visitor, Hell Driver.

Bed now and Newcastle tomorrow.

Oh yes, the bus driver who looks remarkably like someone, was on stage taking photos!

Dan McCafferty of Nazareth was there and I said Hi to Battttttty too.

Good night,
Mark

Vinnie - Phil - Barry

Vinnie - Phil - Barry

Phil - Barry - Paul

Goodnight...

...and Thank You

Five photos ©2009 - Mark Coles

...Rockers UFO graced the stage of Newcastle Academy last night (Sunday 14) and showed why they are still going strong thirty eight years on. No wild leaps for Mogg now but what a stunning voice this man still has. The band has paid their dues in full and are well-deserved of the adulation they got during their two hour plus set. Culminating with Doctor Doctor and Shoot Shoot Val and myself singing our little cotton socks off but were put to shame by a group of lads to our left who knew nigh on every line to the majority of UFO classics. Mogg and the lads did themselves proud and not one profanity passed his lips all evening. A laid-back but quality performance by a much-respected and classic rock band. An absolute pleasure to be in attendance.

copyright 2009

@ Newcastle o2 Academy, June 14 2009

Predictably magnificent; magnificently predictable.
Few who witnessed UFO’s blistering 100 minute set would disagree with the first sentiment yet the predictability of their set list continues to split opinion.

Scouring message boards last week, I confess to being slightly disappointed on discovering that once again, the band had once taken a conservative stance in choosing which songs to play or perhaps, more pertinently, which ones not to omit.

The Visitor is arguably their finest studio album since The Wild, The Willing and The Innocent back in 1981. They kicked off with Saving Me, the opening track on it yet we were treated to just one more from The Visitor, the stand-out Hell Driver.

We were lucky because Hell Driver was only a late inclusion, having not been played at the opening concerts of their UK tour. Making way for it was Long Gone, from the aforementioned TWTWATI, which audiences over here haven’t heard live since the Paul Chapman days in the early-80s.

Baby Blue from You Are Here was also omitted which left When Daylight Goes To Town as the only song played which doesn’t come from the current album or from the pre-1980 era featuring Michael Schenker.

Yes, there were a couple of surprises, namely Cherry and Ain’t No Baby from Obsession, the last studio album to feature the German axeman.

The core of the set, however, was from Strangers In The Night, which regular readers of this website will know I rate as the greatest live album ever recorded.

Beforehand, had I been asked, I’d have urged UFO to drop stables such as Mother Mary, This Kids and I’m A Loser for newer material yet these three were among the highlights of the night.

And there lies the crux. The atmosphere visibly lifted whenever the opening chords of a song from SITN kicked in.

Indeed, it could have been the Chicago Amphitheatre 30 years ago as the band played a glorious 40 minute finale of Only You Can Rock Me, Love to Love, Lights Out and Too Hot To Handle before encoring with Doctor Doctor and Shoot Shoot.

Yes, we’ve heard it all before but would the night have been any better with more diverse material being aired?

The honest answer is no…80 per cent of fans demand they play 80 per cent of SITN and UFO deliver in rousing fashion.

Afterwards, Phil Mogg complained he had a problem with his voice yet you’d never have guessed it with the 61-year-old singing beautifully throughout.

And his patter in between songs was almost as entertaining as the music itself. Pete Way’s showmanship was missed though replacement bassist Barry Sparks’ musicianship more than compensated sonically.

Andy Parker back on drums and the versatile Paul Raymond on keyboards and rhythm guitar are quintessential components while Vinnie Moore is now confident enough to inject his own unique style to guitar parts made famous by Schenker.

If he fails to match the crisp, clean sound of the latter on Rock Bottom’s famous solo, his fretwork nevertheless brought gasps of admiration from the audience.

The night was helped by a near-perfect sound system and mix which also allowed support act Fable’s Last Stand to make the most of their time in the spolight.

The local band weren’t overawed by the occasion and unlike so many of their peers, they allow their music to breathe. There’s a touch of The Faces about them and on this evidence FLS are worth keeping an eye on.

2009 - Ian Murtagh

Another magic one last night in Newcastle. Same set as Glasgow, no Baby Blue but it's hard to please everyone! Good turnout again and a great venue. The Newcastle and Glasgow Academys are almost identical in shape, layout and size, great sound too, although my mate was complaining that modern PA sound is too compressed...I'll leave that there as I don't what I'm talking about.

Parker and Sparks shared man-of-the-match for me again. Sparks fits in so well and Parker is a powerhouse. Parker must be knocking on 60 but he's in good nick and he makes the UFO sound - listen back to live recordings of Simpson, Edwards, Wright and Bonham and it's very evident.

Mark

UFO in Newcastle

UFO Double header – Glasgow/Newcastle

It all started with a 15 min taxi journey from my home in Dubai to Dubai airport. Subsequently, 8000 miles, consisting of; 2 flights, 2 car journeys, 3 taxi rides, train journey and a Metro journey were required to assist me in seeing the greatest rock band of all time for a 14th and 15th time respectively.

As a huge fan of UFO since 1978 and having followed them live [on and off] since 1980, the thought of 2 gigs in 2 days still excited even this 40-something!!

Glasgow – Sat 13th June

Meet up with 2 of my mates, Keith and Gary from Fife, to attend this one. We take up a space around 5 rows from the front, great spot in front of Paul Raymond, in the almost full to capacity hall.
UFO enter the stage to a rousing reception and kick off with a great rendition of Saving Me, a brilliant track from the superb new album. Everyone is in good form and as a special bonus – sober, although Phil does seem to have a bit of a cold. Daylight is next, another crowd favourite and the place is jumping!! This is my first look at Barry Sparks, filling in for the ill Pete Way, and I have to say what a fantastic job he did. He looked completely at ease with the rest of the band, his crowd interactions were great and the boy can sing too, with excellent backing vocals thrown in. Great to see Andy behind his new drum kit also, he performed superbly giving 110% on the kit during the 100 minute set. All the classics were played with Hell Driver, Cherry, Ain’t No Baby thrown into the mix. Only gripe I have about Glasgow was that the sound wasn’t 100% with Phil’s vocals being drowned out from time to time. But, all in all, a fantastic gig and a welcome return to bonnie Scotland.

Newcastle – Sun 14th June

Same band, similar venue, probably same set list!! But would it be as good as last nights gig? You bet your ass!! Newcastle’s O2 is same layout as Glasgow’s, but slightly bigger… and with this came a better atmosphere, with the Geordie crowd being really up for it from the word go. I must admit, the sound quality was far better than last nights also, which aided the band to perform at their very best. In fact I would go as far as to say, this is the best UFO gig I have been to in the past 20-odd years, only being surpassed by the gigs I attended in the very early 80’s. The set-list was the same… to a T!! It didn’t matter though, as everyone in the band performed to the very highest level. Phil seemed to have got rid of the cold from the previous night, and was singing like a man 20 years younger. He seemed to enjoy his banter with the Geordie crowd too, although half of them probably had no idea what the hell he was on about!!! Paul played the support role he does so well with flawless guitar and keyboards and he seemed to really enjoy his night. Vinnie… well Vinnie is Vinnie and does nothing less than perform at the top level… he even resorted to playing the guitar behind his head ala Jimi Hendrix and still never dropped a note!! Andy and Barry again provided the heart of the UFO sound, with totally committed fervour and again they gave their all in the 100 minute set. On the final rendition of Shoot Shoot, the crowd were bouncing and singing every word…. The band leave to a standing ovation and they all look genuinely happy to have performed here.

For me, it‘s been a hell of a journey but worth all the money and effort. The Visitor really is a top album, the best since The Wild, The willing and The Innocent and hopefully the band can go on from strength to strength.

Here’s to the next time and in true Phil Mogg style… Cheers, Ta, Thank you very much, Muchas Gracias, Danke, Dziekuje, Arigato, Shukran and of course… Tapadh leat !!!!

Review ©2009 Neil Donaldson

PHOTOS:

Anyway, I came away from the UFO gig at Wolverhampton's Wulfrun Hall on Friday absolutely buzzing, but unfortunately it's taken me until now to get around to any sort of review. By way of a brief, headline type opening I'd say that the UFO performance I witnessed on Friday night was the best I've seen since the Tonka/ Carter era at the start of the Eighties. The only pang of sadness is that I realised just how far Pete had fallen as a bass player, my all time rock n roll hero has been mugged by the booze and it's robbed him of his ability to anchor the band. So to see the band in full flight with a fully functional rhythm section was truly amazing and Barry Sparks is now my ALL TIME SECOND FAVOURITE bass player, (although in current form terms he's way on top of the league of course).

Having made those comments about Pete I am happy to report that the Mogg kilt was on show again, but that it's not the result of a drunken wardrobe visit, because our lead singer was stone cold sober (I'm reliably informed that is his current all day every day lifestyle choice too). In fact he drinks more water than he used to do beer, and that's saying something. Anyway, the result of Phil's sobriety is that he doesn't look like he's using the mic stand for balance, but that he's become a front man again and seems to be really enjoying himself. Lots of smiles and, to the best of my knowledge, no forgotten lyrics - with the exception of Hell Driver which he read from a crib sheet whilst singing it.

With Bazza playing up a storm and being almost as rock n roll as the orignal UFO bass player, Phil the grinning stage commander, Paul Raymond his usual restrained, but frequently smiling, self, and Mrt Parker giving those drums an almighty beating (that's a collossal aerobic workout he puts himself through every night) and obviously loving playing off Barry, I agree with John that Vinnie did seem a bit distant, perhaps slightly marginalised for some reason. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it definitely seemed that way to my eyes too.

The setlist was almost as John described, although we didn't get Natural Thing. So we had Saving Me and Hell Driver from The Visitor, plus Daylight and Baby Blue making up the numbers from the Vinnie era. Then there was Mother Mary, I'm A Loser, This Kid's, Cherry, Ain't No Baby etc, but things really kicked into gear after Only You Can Rock Me. The band then hit their stride and worked through the party songs, Lights Out, Rock Bottom etc after which they milked the crowd frenzy with 2 one song encores, Doctor Doctor first followed by Shoot Shoot. At the time I wondered if they could have got away with that two years ago, whether the crowd might have just gone after the first, but on Friday we all wanted more and there was a sustained noise demanding both returns. And why not, we'd just witnessed a great band in full flight and close to being as good as ever. I also realised why they don't play more songs from the new album, because a rock n roll show is about physical reaction as much as aural appreciation, and no matter how many times you here them, nothing quite stirs the rock loins like Strangers In The Night songs - that album's magnificent because the songs are magnificent - nuff said.

Steve

Review copyright 2009 - [s-i-t-n] member Steve Trice

----

Concerts: UFO Live at Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 6/19/2009

Posted on Wednesday, June 24 2009 @ 18:45:08 CDT by Pete Pardo

UFO rolled into Wolverhampton in support of their just released 20th studio album The Visitor and what is also worth mentioning is that 2009 marks their 40th anniversary. Pretty impressive for a band that has threatened to self-implode so many times in the past and yet somehow they still keep on going. Support for the evening was supplied by young rockers Toxic Federation who got a huge reaction as they blasted their way through an adrenaline fuelled six songs that owed a great deal to youthful exuberance but through which also emerged some decent hooks and riffs. More work on the backing vocals would be a benefit for the choruses but all eyes were on frontman Mitch who simply oozed confidence, jumping into the front row like a whirling dervish with mic in one hand and camcorder in the other. The drum solo was a tad optimistic but somehow they didn't lose momentum and all credit to a young band who definitely made an impression on a largely middle-aged crowd of veteran gig-goers.

What was immediately evident when UFO took to the stage is that to Phil Mogg's left there is currently a huge Pete Way sized hole that has to be filled and Barry Sparks does a more than capable job, taking centre stage for the lengthy instrumental passages of "Love To Love" and "Rock Bottom". Whilst this is not Way's first leave of absence from the band you get the feeling this time it might be permanent and if this turns out to the be the case then Sparks would seem to be a ready made successor. They might not be officially celebrating the 40 years but for the most part they are content to play the nostalgia card when it comes to choosing the set list; not that anyone was complaining about hearing the likes of "Mother Mary", "Too Hot To Handle", "Ain't No Baby" and "I'm A Loser" once again. As reviewed elsewhere on the site The Visitor is a strong effort with its roots in country and blues but only two songs make the list, the opening twang of "Savin Me" and the ballsy rocker "Hell Driver". Mogg still can't remember lyrics, reaching for his prompt sheets for the latter but this is all simply part of his enduring charm. Looking rather gaunt in tight black t-shirt and kilt his voice still hits the spot and at a time when some of his peers are struggling to cut it live its refreshing to hear him deliver an exquisite "Baby Blue" and hit every single note. Vinnie Moore's arrival in UFO undoubtedly played a part in rejuvenating the band and his own take on the solos of classics such as "Lights Out" and "Rock Bottom" are a joy and his playing throughout simply inspirational. Meanwhile the ever dependable Paul Raymond and Andy Parker are clearly still enjoying the rigours of the road and are as solid as ever. The encore is a double blast of the classics "Doctor Doctor" and "Shoot Shoot" before they call it a night; hopefully it won't be too long before they return.

Dean Pedley

Set List
Saving Me
When Daylight Goes To Town
Mother Mary
I'm a loser
This Kids
Cherry
Hell Driver
Baby Blue
Only You Can Rock Me
Ain't No Baby
Love To Love
Lights Out
Too Hot Too Handle
Rock Bottom
Doctor, Doctor
Shoot Shoot

Review Copyright 2009 - SOT

Hi Tristan
Regular reader of Misty. Written a review of the gig last night.

Just got back from the Manchester Academy having thoroughly enjoyed watching UFO deliver an excellent set to an appreciative audience. The Academy 2 is a small venue with (I believe) an 800 capacity but it was packed to the rafters and there did look to be more than that to see UFO. The audience was made up of long time fans (or so it seemed) mostly drifting towards middle age (ok I’m being generous) who audibly sang a number of the tracks and created an enjoyable atmosphere.
The set kicked off with “Saving Me” with Phil singing immaculately and Vinnie playing some nice bluesy acoustic guitar and continued apace with a mix of SITN and newer tracks from You are here (“Daylight comes to town”, “Baby blue”). A stomping version of “Helldriver” went down well as did the SITN standards particularly “Only you can rock me”, which had the crowd singing along.

The band itself was very tight with Phil’s voice sounding amazing probably better than ever. Vinnie played well albeit I like his work better on his own material than on the 70’s classics; Barry Sparks was solid and actually has quite a good voice (he also received a birthday cake, which was a nice moment) and Paul and Andy are as solid as ever.

Overall this was a great gig with the band delivering a great sound. Personally speaking “Saving me” was the outstanding number with Phil’s matured voice sounding great and Vinnie mixing acoustic and electric guitars effectively. I’ve grown up listening to UFO and my tastes have changed accordingly thankfully this variant of the band are proving that they have much more to offer than “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot” even if both tracks sound as vibrant as ever thirty years on brightening up a (nearly) summer evening in Manchester. Well done lads!

Peter

Review copyright 209 - Peter Ford

UFO live in concert in 2009
O2 Academy, Bristol 21st June 2009

What better way to follow up a post on a set collecting together a number of old recordings than a post about the current line-up of UFO delivering the goods still, some 40 years on from their first steps?

Midway through a UK tour, the Sunday night Bristol crowd packing the O2 Academy must have left reflecting on this as another reinforcing point that UFO are far from a spent force. Despite Phil Mogg, resplendent in khaki kilt, being armed with a book of lyrics just in case, he and his compatriots, fellow original member Andy Parker, stalwart Paul Raymond, now established guitar slinger Vinnie Moore and the more than adequate replacement for the absent Pete Way, ex-Ted Nugent sidekick Barry Sparks put on a solid and thoroughly entertaining show.

Okay, there is a sense that with a set list still drawn from that “Strangers In The Night” album they are playing it safe to a certain extent, but given that and the immediate preceding albums are largely the reason that UFO can still play venues like this then its hardly surprising and let face it, every classic, whether it’s “Doctor Doctor”, “Shoot Shoot”, “Love To Love” or “Rock Bottom” to name but a few is greeted by many as if its the first time that it’s been heard… of course, maybe there’s the fear it could be the last?

Refreshingly there are a couple of inclusions from the excellent recent release “The Visitor” with “Hell Driver” particularly transferring well from disc to stage and “You Are Here” remnant “When Daylight Goes To Town” helps keep a bit of balance in the set, veering it away from total nostalgia feast a touch. “I’m A Loser” though was a particularly welcome inclusion from the old days for me and “Ain’t No Baby” off the final Schenker studio release “Obsession” a bit of a surprise. Okay, there’s none of the much rumoured dip into the Chapman era albums but your not exactly going to go away disappointed with a set full of so many great songs.

A lot is being asked of UFO fans at present with the ongoing reissue program (including three more forthcoming releases) running alongside the new album and tour as well as the limited edition box set but those that shelled out too (or maybe instead) to see the real thing surely can’t complain. UFO at 40 prove to still be an effective live outfit… long may they continue.

BL

©2009 REVIEW: UFO live in concert in 2009 - O2 Academy, Bristol 21st June 2009

Thousands at bikers' Bulldog Bash

Police initially tried to stop the event
More than 23,000 people attended the annual bikers' festival, the Bulldog Bash, despite police concerns over violence between rival biker gangs.
Organisers said they had expected 15,000 people to attend the four-day festival at Long Marston airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire.

Another highlight was the setting of what could be a new world motorbike speed record.

Eric Tedoul reached speeds of 233mph over a quarter of a mile on the event’s race track earlier that day. - Saturday, he beat his own record reaching 243mph