Michael Schenker: My Years With UFO Tour
KKs Steel Mill in Wolverhampton might as well be my second home these days and tonight for my listening pleasure I chose to indulge myself in a little nostalgia. Not too long ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the album which this tour is accompanying, cunningly titled “My Years With UFO” and now, I find myself awaiting the live versions of that which I’d enjoyed previously. Happy days!
So let me tell you the story: It’s a Thursday night and perhaps surprisingly KKs is almost
full when I arrive. I’m impressed. Admittedly the average age appears to be somewhat north of my own, and given I passed the half century a while ago that makes the attendance probably even more impressive. It’s logical I suppose given this tour is a celebration commemorating music of which a large chunk was released 50 years or so ago but still it seems for a weeknight somewhat unlikely to have such an attendance. I take my place at the side of the of the barrier and eye my photographer, gently indicating that a photo of the setlist might be nice, although as mentioned, having reviewed the album previously I had a good idea of what exactly was to come.
However, something I had no idea about was the support band, Wytch Hazel. Hailing from Lancaster they managed to squeeze in 10 songs of which I knew none, which was actually rather refreshing given that, as mentioned, I had a pretty decent estimation as to the majority of what awaited me. All members sporting thigh high boots was entertaining, but the lead singer Colin Hendra sporting a cloak, even more so. A blend of rock sounding very “Down to Earth” by ‘Rainbow’-esque they provided quite the warm up act! Surprisingly, given I noted he had rather a small kit compared to the elaborate set ups that we often see these days, the drummer was the first musical thing I noticed, driving songs throughout the set, something that initially I thought would perhaps fade but instead remained constant. A re-percussion if you will!
Their first song “The Fire’s Control” sounded easily good enough to be a single, and grabbed an audience who seemed collectively somewhat disenchanted with the fact that the queue for the bar was lightyears long, and reminded them they were here (or hear!) for the music. In my notes I said “Sounds like a single” and upon investigation it turns out it’s the lead song on their album “IV: Sacrament”. Incorporating three new songs into their set near the end was a smart move. “Woven”, “Elements”, and “Healing Power” all had a definite feeling of a band comfortable in their skin and now able to expand on that which they’ve been doing for 14 years previously, the latter of the three adding an almost operatic element to the vocal at times, more control over the vocal, a very tidy bridge and again that feeling like this is a single. There’s hints of Thin Lizzy, early Magnum, and with the occasional high-pitched scream, early Deep Purple too, none of which are bad things.
There’s opportunities aplenty for the band to show off a little throughout their time on stage, with even the bass player getting in on the act on occasion, bouncing off the lead guitarist on the aforementioned “Woven” and it’s obvious there’s chemistry within the band. From my position, the song most enjoyed by the crowd was “Spirit and Fire”, and curiously this had a hint of “Thunder Child” to it, albeit it’s a subtle undercurrent, unlike in my opinion Ghost’s recent release that certainly wasn’t worlds apart, and didn’t go separate ways on its Journey, into emulating another song, the title of which I can’t quite put my finger on… no no no Alistair, let it go!! Anyway, all in all it’s a polished performance by Wytch Hazel, enough to make me land on their webpage and relisten on Spotify to a few of the songs I heard here.
So, what can Michael Schenker bring to the party? Well… 16 songs actually, five more than the album! “Bonus!”, as the kids these days say! The crowd here are clad in more UFO shirts than you’d find at a Roswell convention (along with a small smattering of
Scorpions shirts from members of the public who’d probably wear Sisters of Mercy shirts to a Mission concert! Daring!) and so while the uninitiated probably only know “Doctor Doctor”, “Lights out in London” and “Rock Bottom” these guys (and gals) look like they mean business and, to continue the reference, they want More! Fortunately, they will receive it with abundance! Kicking off with “Natural Thing” and leading straight into “Only you can rock me” Schenker et al. establish that they too mean business. The ex-Skid 
Row singer Erik Grönwall slides right into the vocals to give this an impressively authentic feel, something which is hugely important given how long these songs have been around. There’s two solos incorporated into OYCRM which sets the precedent for the evening, and the bass player, looking like a young Meatloaf, Barend Courbois is to be seen grinning across at the sight of a Flying V being tantalised by a 70-year-old behatted German, and who can blame him? “Doctor Doctor” follows, much to the joy of the attendees (although that one guy who came to see the Thomson Twins song live looked a tad disappointed!), delivered with aplomb. It’s the second time I’ve seen this myself and neither disappointed!
There’s pretty much everything you could want from a tour entitled “My Years With UFO” here. Inserted into the middle of the set you’ve the lengthy instrumental “Lipstick Traces / Between the Walls” which is basically an invite to show off your skill Mr Schenker, and it’s the same with “This Kid’s”, a song I’d not encountered before discovering it on the previously mentioned album, although this time there’s no Biff Byford on vocal. Curiously the crowd don’t seem to know this one well, and it’s interesting to note that, of all the songs on show here, it’s another I’m not too familiar with “Can You Roll Her” that the singer seems to be enjoying the most, possibly because of the tempo being seemingly faster than that which has come before.
“Rock Bottom” is of course the highlight of the night for most, and it’s the song before the encore, clocking in at over 12 minutes long, for which Grönwall is ne’er to be seen for a good 50%! It’s what everyone’s been waiting for, and it’s noticeable that the audience has thinned out for the two encore songs “Shoot Shoot”, and “Too Hot to Handle” which is a shame, but understandable given the hour and indeed the age of the listeners. Personally, it’s “Lights out..” which does it for me. My first time seeing it live that I’m aware of and I’m transported back to an easier time of my life, The Cheshire Cat in Nantwich, and a very much younger less achy me with hair that is all the same colour, although, on saying that, “Mother Mary” pushed it as a close second.
The last time I saw Schenker was 10 years previously, supporting Judas Priest. He was good then, but better here, presumably as he’d more time to set up the whole performance as the lead act. His band were all on point, as was he, and while with some of the older performers you get the feeling that they’re going through the motions, this was absolutely not the case here. Crisp, and with a smile on his face all the way through all that’s left to say is “Danke für die Musik!“. Or… something like that!
