Gig reviews Hamburg & Berlin...
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Posted by Shirean on November 08, 2000 at 13:21:26:
UFO at Hamburg, Fabrik, 3rd November 2000
At first I didn't intend to visit Hamburg just one day after Hannover, but a fairy godmother touched me out of the dark and gave me enlightenment and a key. I couldn't resist.
The admittance was a bit late. They seemed to need more time for the sound-check than the day before. The "Fabrik" filled quickly and Moon Doc opened the show.
Wow! What a sound! I could hear every instrument clearly right from the beginning! Now I can tell you more about Moon Doc which was impossible after Hannover because I had just about no idea what they sound like. Moon Doc is playing Heavy Metal, yes (a lot of double bass drum). And it is melodic and Herman Frank (former guitarist of Accept and Victory) is very good. The band really was perfect, running from one track to the other. And they seemed to be happy too. I felt sorry that they had to leave after only 30 minutes, finishing with an Accept-Medley.
Wow! Next was Glenn Hughes, perfect sound again and also they were "in a good mood tonight", said with the words of Glenn. The band celebrated themselves on stage and that spreads to the audience. Everybody seemed to enjoy the concert this time.
Wow! UFO entered the stage half an hour after Glenn left with "Burn" and sound was perfect right from the beginning. The audience was on 100% at once. Yes, it were not the classical tracks that were welcomed most but the new ones from Covenant. The first two notes of the intro of "Love Is Forever" and the man next to me shouted "Yes, Love is Forever!". And, what can I say, I was in 2 meters distance to Michael, Phil and Pete! Yes, I was in heaven.
Even the set-list was the same as yesterday the concert was completely different! How is that possible? Did Michael read my report from yesterday? Michael's play was at 100% right from the beginning. No laziness at all! SCHENKER IS GOD!!! Even they do not play unexpected tracks again, it was very enjoyable even for a long time fan like me because of all the bits and pieces they did inside the tracks. Michael replaced the solo of Venus by a new one, superb! A small drum solo was added before the last chord of Too Hot To Handle. And so on and so on. They had to turn the Lights On right after Lights Out to prevent to be forced to keep playing for another hour or so...
I knew that I had to go to two shows at least. Hannover had the sound problems and I guess the band lacked a bit in self-confidence not knowing how the crowd would react to them and the new tracks. Everything was different in Hamburg. Above all Michael and his playing. He played perfect in Hannover and his play was far from perfect in Hamburg but brilliant! He improvised a lot more and took more risks in order to give us - the fans - what we came for. Thanks a lot! As long as UFO and Michael keep performing as engaged as in Hamburg not even the die-hard-Fans will be disappointed - I promise!
Also the mood on-stage was much better. Michael was joking around with Pete and Jeff (keep him in the band, boys!). Phil told a few good jokes (sorry, my memory for guitar solos is much better than for jokes...) and everybody was happy including me and the rest of the audience.
After the concert Michael signed all that he was asked for even if the official policy is only to sign what is bought at the show. I get to know two Schenker-fans from Hamburg who came with pictures of their own Flying-Vs to have them signed by Michael. It's nice to feel as a family.
I only had one disappointment that night: I didn't manage to get a picture of me with Michael's Flying V and Phil and Pete surrounding me...
++
UFO at the Columbia Hall, Berlin, 6th November 2000
After heaving read Chrisī review of the gig in Hannover I think I can concentrate on the different aspects that came with the performance in Berlin.
Nothing to add about Moondoc. The sound was just horrible but Herrmann Frank proved once again to be a guy that lives music... the fun of playing before the audience was written in his face.
Glenn Hughes was, to put it in one word, fantastic. During the first 2 songs I had the feeling this would become a one man show- the bass guitar brutally mixed into the foreground, no space left for the 2 other guys. Fortunately that changed a lot and this guy Ferguson on drums and especially J. J. Marsh on guitar showed off a hell of a gig. Great musicians and just the right thing to get ready for the act we all waited for.
When "Love is forever" initiated another great evening with the best band in the world it became obvious that Mr Schenker has gained a little weight, to say it mildly and that Phil and Pete havenīt changed a bit since that WOW tour three years ago. It was obvious that everybody was in great shape. Phil was charismatic as ever and his singing absolutely great,though having slight problems with the functionality of his microphone. Pete dominated the audience as usual leaving not a single centimetre of the stage untouched. Oh, my wife liked the colour of his finger nails... Well, and Michael. I havenīt seen him moving on stage that much for a long time. You could see, hear and feel the fun he had and that he enjoyed the atmosphere within the band. Letīs hope it stays like this for a while. Itīs always amazing to see how easily the complexity of his playing seems to come to him. Jeff Martin on drums did a great job. Louis Maldonado sure isnīt a substitute to Paul Raymond yet but he certainly wasnīt that bad, either. During "Love to Love" he completely lost the tune for a moment - but who the hell cares!
A clear and brilliant sound from the very first moment (the same applies to Glenn Hughes) made this evening as unforgettable as most of the UFO gigs I had the pleasure to witness. The only thing I dislike is the predictability of the set list. You just know what is about to come.... A little change here and there would even increase the fun of whatīs supposed to be the highlight of the rock season. But hell! Iīm not complaining. I would come back to their shows even if they did the same set for the next ten years without any change at all.
After having my copy of "The Odd Trio" signed by a very friendly and open minded Michael Schenker we went home satisfied, singing along "Rock Bottom" and probably driving the poor taxi driver mad.
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