UFO were in town this week, the odd thing is less people showed up compared to the MSG concert a few months ago. As for myself, I'm more into UFO than MSG material so here I am once again!
The main difference from the You Are Here tour is Vinnie Moore who's now an integral part of the band, he doesn't look like "the new guitarist" anymore but more like he's been in the band forever! Scrap that "guitar hero" tag, Moore is a class act, a true artist on his instrument and he's becoming a rock 'n roll showman as well. You've got to see him playing flawlessly lead after lead almost without effort (what an awesome guitar tone on his own too!), and he looks like he's having the time of his life playing with one his favorite bands!
Moore keeps playing with the fans, headbanguing, doing a few rock 'n roll gimmicks like playing the guitar behind his neck (and not missing a single note, God I hate him for being so damn good
), and sometimes runs around poking at Pete Way. No ego wanking bullshit as he knows exactly what UFO needs. While his lead playing is impressive, emotive and incredibly precise he doesn't try to "overplay" his parts, except in the long central/jam/improvisation part of "Rock Bottom" (different from Schenker's version) but that's part of the feel of the song
Our good ole Pete Way is still the funny stage animal he's always been, Paul Raymond is essential to UFO (providing guitars, keyboards and backing vocals), and Andy Parker is back in the fold even though I miss a little bit Jason Bonham's more versatile and technical drumming.
Phil Mogg, well... he was drunk. And joked about it all night long, especially when there's a (new) song called "Drink Too Much". Fortunately he could still sing and gave it all, sometimes looking high in his own trippy world. One of these classic voices of rock 'n roll.
Because of the irritating time limitations of l'Elysée Montmartre the band had to scrap 2 songs from the setlist, I hate that but at least they got to play "Fighting Man". I wish they were more adventurous though, how about digging out more obscure stuff or forgotten gems from their long discography? The problem is that most of their (aged) crowd mainly reacts to the "big hits" and doesn't seem to know anything else (new stuff included), that's probably why the band plays the same classic songs year after year.
Ok I can live with it, UFO rules whatever they play. And you know why? Sometimes you see young bands who seem to be almost bored on stage, always concentrated on their instruments or trying too hard to look "serious" or "evil" (ha!)... and then you see the opposite, guys in their 50's/60's like UFO, Deep Purple and Dio who have played thousands of gigs all around the world, and they're still having fun living their childhood dream, kicking ass and playing their hearts out like it's their last gig ever.
That's what rock 'n roll is all about, and these guys are legends for a good reason.
Setlist :
Mother Mary
When daylight goes to town
Let it roll
I'm a loser
This kids
Hard beeing me
Drink too much
Fighting man
Only you can rock me
Baby blue
Love to love
Too hot to handle
Lights out
Rock bottom
---------------------------------
Doctor doctor
Shoot shoot
PS : The new album The Monkey Puzzle is pretty cool, less heavy but more 70's sounding and colourful than the very pleasant You Are Here. It features more input from Paul Raymond (bring back the piano, yeah!) and Vinnie Moore, Parker's drumming is more standard though. Check it out!
The main difference from the You Are Here tour is Vinnie Moore who's now an integral part of the band, he doesn't look like "the new guitarist" anymore but more like he's been in the band forever! Scrap that "guitar hero" tag, Moore is a class act, a true artist on his instrument and he's becoming a rock 'n roll showman as well. You've got to see him playing flawlessly lead after lead almost without effort (what an awesome guitar tone on his own too!), and he looks like he's having the time of his life playing with one his favorite bands!
Moore keeps playing with the fans, headbanguing, doing a few rock 'n roll gimmicks like playing the guitar behind his neck (and not missing a single note, God I hate him for being so damn good
), and sometimes runs around poking at Pete Way. No ego wanking bullshit as he knows exactly what UFO needs. While his lead playing is impressive, emotive and incredibly precise he doesn't try to "overplay" his parts, except in the long central/jam/improvisation part of "Rock Bottom" (different from Schenker's version) but that's part of the feel of the song Our good ole Pete Way is still the funny stage animal he's always been, Paul Raymond is essential to UFO (providing guitars, keyboards and backing vocals), and Andy Parker is back in the fold even though I miss a little bit Jason Bonham's more versatile and technical drumming.
Phil Mogg, well... he was drunk.
And joked about it all night long, especially when there's a (new) song called "Drink Too Much". Fortunately he could still sing and gave it all, sometimes looking high in his own trippy world. One of these classic voices of rock 'n roll.Because of the irritating time limitations of l'Elysée Montmartre the band had to scrap 2 songs from the setlist, I hate that but at least they got to play "Fighting Man". I wish they were more adventurous though, how about digging out more obscure stuff or forgotten gems from their long discography? The problem is that most of their (aged) crowd mainly reacts to the "big hits" and doesn't seem to know anything else (new stuff included), that's probably why the band plays the same classic songs year after year.
Ok I can live with it, UFO rules whatever they play. And you know why? Sometimes you see young bands who seem to be almost bored on stage, always concentrated on their instruments or trying too hard to look "serious" or "evil" (ha!)... and then you see the opposite, guys in their 50's/60's like UFO, Deep Purple and Dio who have played thousands of gigs all around the world, and they're still having fun living their childhood dream, kicking ass and playing their hearts out like it's their last gig ever.
That's what rock 'n roll is all about, and these guys are legends for a good reason.
Setlist :
Mother Mary
When daylight goes to town
Let it roll
I'm a loser
This kids
Hard beeing me
Drink too much
Fighting man
Only you can rock me
Baby blue
Love to love
Too hot to handle
Lights out
Rock bottom
---------------------------------
Doctor doctor
Shoot shoot
PS : The new album The Monkey Puzzle is pretty cool, less heavy but more 70's sounding and colourful than the very pleasant You Are Here. It features more input from Paul Raymond (bring back the piano, yeah!) and Vinnie Moore, Parker's drumming is more standard though. Check it out!
