LIVE REVIEW: UFO just get better and better as they return once again to Belfast

UFO were amongst a very select few of bands, who, during the 'Troubles' that afflicted Northern Ireland, played in the city despite the world crumbling down around many of the citizens.

While the mainstream media focusses on the punk reaction to the Troubles, hard rock and metal acts were consistent visitors during those dark days. Phil Mogg and his band mates first played in Belfast in 1979, and have been consistent visitors ever since.

On April 22nd in Limelight1 they were once again on  a Belfast stage proving to all in attendance that age isn't slowing them down.

Before UFO once again strode Northern Ireland's boards they brought with them St Petersburg rockers Reds'cool. And what a treat they turned out to be!

The vast, vast majority of the audience had never heard of Reds'cool before apart from a few Youtibe visits to check them out.

Things didn't start too auspiciously, howeer, with Slava's vocals lost in the mix for the first two songs, but from there it was apparent that Reds'cool are a special live act.

They have the onstage chops, songs that soar with hard rockin' excellence, great stage presence and an easy charm that had the men laughing and the ladies admiring the music and the 'eye candy'.

While Reds'cool proved that the young breed can cut it, UFO are masters of the hard rock scene.

It seems ridiculous that they first formed in 1969 (Phil Mogg and Andy Parker have been there ever since); it seems ridiculous that Mogg will be 70 next year, but set that all aside and this is a five-piece that simply plays with an easy aplomb.

Many bands of their ilk are content to trot out the 'hits' collect their cheque and move on. Not so UFO.

Opening with 'We Belong to the Night' from 'Conspiracy of Stars' and then hitting us with 'Fight Night' in a one-two combination as if to prove they can still write great tracks.

Mogg has been visibly less mobile over the past two tours, but there is nothing halting or faltering about his voice. He can still hit it on classics like 'Lights Out' and 'Only You Can Rock Me' plus he is velvet smooth on 'Love To Love'.

While there may be a few who still harken back to Schenker days for most Vinnie Moore is now entrenched as the UFO guitarist. His guitar tone is sweet, yet powerful when needed; his playing goes from under-stated to outrageously good; and, he manages to perfectly blend the classic sounds with a contemporary feel.

His solo slot was jaw-droppingly good - well paced, perfectly executed and aurally fun to partake in.

Of course the UFO sound is that classic twin-guitar sound, and Paul Raymond riffs along in an almost casual way when he steps away from the keyboards.

Mogg was enjoying himself on stage, his banter (slightly, ahem, slurry banter) was funny, and not the banter of the wannabes who repeat the same schtick night after night. Clearly enjoying the interaction with the audience in between increasingly excellent songs this is one pensioner who shows no signs of slowing down.

'Rock Bottom'? It looks like it will be a long time before UFO hit rock bottom: as they did in 1979 they had Belfast rocking in sheer delight.

Review by Jonny

Photographs by Darren McVeigh of MetalplanetBelfast

 

 

COMIN' ATCHA: UFO - still rockin' and back in Belfast...

THERE are a few bands that are enduring - musically and personally. Of those that survived the excesses of the 70s and 80s few can match the consistence of UFO.

They have been pounding the boards and keeping the hard rock flame alive for a long time - actually from 1969 (two years after your editor was born!).

In that time they have produced seminal albums  - none more so than the 1979 live album 'Strangers In The Night' which defined how twin guitar attacks should be delivered.

One thing that can be said about UFO is that they are - and always have been  - loyal to all arts and parts of the UK, including Belfast.

From 1979 - when the Troubles blazed across Northern Ireland - the band have kept on coming back to Belfast.

This coming Wednesday (April 22nd) UFO are playing Limelight1 on the tour backing their 'Conspiracy of Stars' album release.

Vinnie Moore - who wowed Belfast on his last couple of visits - penned the vast majority of the music on 'Conspiracy...' and Phil Mogg as usual provides his usual complex emotive lyrics.

If the last release 'Seven Deadly' entrenched the modern incarnation of UFO, 'Conspiracy of Stars' take the formula of classic composition and echoes of the past to a new level.

That Mogg and (drummer) Andy Parker have been in the band since 1969, and Paul Raymond (keyboards/rhythm guitar) from 1976, shows the endurance of UFO; equally Vinne Moore stepped into the large shoes left my Michael Schenker and made guitar duties his own from 2003.

The line-up is completed by bassist Rob De Luca, who has been on the UFO books since 2012, who this time out contributed two songs on 'Conspiracy...'. (Raymond also wrote one of the tracks.)

Despite the age of some of the members UFO are still working hard. In February and March they toured Germany, Poland, The Czech Republic, Lithuania and Switzerland, before embarking on this current run of dates. By the time they hit Belfast on Wednesday they will already have played five dates with another 11 to come before they hit the festival circuit.

Some tickets may still be available for Limelight1 - see ya down there!

Can you teach old rockers new tricks?

UFO have been around for 40 years. Yep, you read that right. They've been a gigging, album recording, hard partying, line-up changing heavy rock outfit for longer than the so-called Troubles lasted on these few square miles of earth. Can they still cut it?

On Friday night at the Spring and Airbrake one among the many young pretenders for classic rock glory laid down a heady mix of classic rock vibes before the veterans took the stage. The Maiden City rockers, Swanee River, produced a welter of pounding tracks, laced with a hint of the Stones, a dash of Zepp and more than a nod to Free.

Thanks to the success of The Answer, doors are beginning to open for local hard rockers. Swanee River are among those pushing at those doors. With an engaging frontman and a varied groove more gigging will hone their set and performance yet further. A name to look out for.

But, the crowd was really only there to see UFO, and for many it was to see if they could still cut a swathe through a stage.

It was never likely that the veterans would receive a luke warm reaction given their performance two years ago at the same venue. But that was two years ago. Apart from a new (and very energetic) replacement for the ill Pete Way, this was the same crew. The same jaded, old crew? Nah. Old rockers like this are a real gem on the music scene and a treat to watch.

Yes, Phil Mogg is getting on a bit and is nowhere near as mobile on stage as previously, but he still has pipes that can raise the rafters. And he had the audacity to claim that he was dealing with a bit of a croak! Singers throughout the country can only wish they sounded this good without a croak.

UFO are also a band that is both courageous in song selection, and knowledgeable enough to give the crowd what they want.

Kicking off with the bluesy Save Me off the excellent new album The Visitor, the band raided some less well known tracks, before really settling in. In a rather endearing move Mogg announced they would be giving Hell Driver, off The Visitor, one of its first outings. He then produced a folder with the lyrics which he laid in front of his monitor speakers. Many a singer would baulk at this, but for Mogg it seems that getting it right is more important than false vanity.

Of course UFO cast aside pretence. They collectively know that if someone pays their ticket price (or wins one on this site!) they expect to hear the songs that made them love the band.

It can be too easy for some bands to fall into self-parody, or worse cabaret style routine. The way UFO, and other bands that have been kicking about a while, is to feed off the audience reaction throughout the set. And the only way to get that reaction is to pace the set well, and keep ramping up the performance to a suitable climax.

This was by no means a perfect set. At this early stage in the tour the cues between Mogg and virtuoso guitarist Vinne Moore were a little off, with Mogg sometimes appearing ready to end the song before Moore had finished his widdling.

And therein could possibly lie a weakness in the band. Moore, like many of the axemen who have slung a six-string for UFO, is a phenomenal talent. Whether it be blues tinged intros, mid-80's hard rock riffing or pure out-and-out shredding Moore is among the best. Sometimes, however, it is a little too much. Sometimes the solo outros could lose half-a-minute. Equally his outstanding lengthy solo could be trimmed.

However, he is an engaging character on stage. Posing, pouting and smiling as only a real talent on the guitar should. He, like all the band, understand the importance of making eye contact; of realising that rock and metal are paticipatory events, and the punters deserve to be acknowledged.

UFO delivered the classics that we all recall fondly and in a live setting we sing, chant and bounce around to. Lights Out, Only You Can Rock Me, Rock Bottom, Love to Love, Doctor Doctor, and Shoot Shoot were all delivered with aplomb.

Can you teach old rockers new tricks? Not really, but there are a lot of the newer bands that could learn and prosper from paying attention to what this 40-year-old band do live and on record.

[And Mr Mogg...that kilt was a fashion faux pas!]