Review by Richard Henry for MPM
Well, here we are again, right out of work and into the car for the hours trip up to the big city, now I have never seen Mr. Schenker live before, so to say I am very excited is an understatement, early doors tonight, brought forward a bit from 7pm to 6:30, so to kick things off tonight we have..
Night Demon
Prelude/Outsider – Bang right in with the new album, 2023’s Outsider, straight out my first thoughts where that these guys sounded like Kill Em All era Metallica, in attitude as well, fantastic energy coming from the stage as well, great chorus and then I thought that’s very Misfits like, love that doomy tempo change and riff in the middle of the song, melody solo part then smack into the chorus again!
Screams In the Night – Now think about what I said and then think Jump in the Fire, from 2015’s Curse of the Damned album, absolute belter of a song, love the vocal melody and the way it builds up into the chorus section, nice unison part before it drops down into a nice riff before a melodic solo part, then you can feel it building up and up, then back into that riff and smack, back into that chorus, another blinder of a track!
Dawn Rider – 2017’s Darkness Remains album for this one, real Motorhead style opening to that before that floor tom section part comes in, real headbanger of a track, great vocal from Jarvis really laying it down over the verse riff, and again there is a super catchy chorus part as well, nice solo from Armand, taking center stage before throwing that guitar about in the trills at the end of the solo, love the chorus to this one as it close out with a bit of double bass and another solo!
Save Me Now – Curse of the Damned album again for this one, more a classic 70s rock to open this, with a real driving drumbeat, I love that vocal line against the riff, nice pre chorus as well with the vocal climbing, again with the massive chorus, these guys songs will stick in your head, nice solo spot before hitting into the next verse and chorus, really nice solo in the middle of this one, then back into the chorus , great track!
Mastermind – Same album, but a lot harder of a track, nice fills at the start from drummer Brian, a sort of Maidenish flow to the verse of this one, then it really cements that home when the melody guitar comes in, love that pre-chorus part then into the chorus, again just great songs and great vocals and harmonies as well, nice riff in the middle, really starts to drive it home, then tempo change onto the backbeat before the solo comes in, another absolute class track!
Sun Goes Down – 2022’s Yar of the Demon for this one, bass and drum intro with a cleanish guitar part floating over the top of it, you really get to hear the warmth of the vocal in the verse of this one, then when it kicks in, it properly kicks in, lovely Wah solo on this one as well, lots of shredding, these guys have play great song after great song all night and this one is no exception!
Night Demon – Well Motorhead had their own song, so why not, and speaking of the former band, this track has a real motorhead/Metallica vibe to it, right from the off, from their first album in 2012, love this one, great chorus, lots of solos, up tempo thrasher of a track, and a proper closer to the set! Great band, really short set, would have liked to have heard a few more from them!
Michael Schenker Group
Into the Arena – As the intro music rolls the guys get on stage and assume position, and then, there he is, Mr. Schenker, right in front of me! From 1980s debut album, ah the goosebumps as he slides into the bouncy riff to this classic, the sound is just spot on, when he launches into that solo as well, it’s just perfect, it’s all there in front of you, just sublime playing, and yes, he is playing a Gibson V, no Dean guitars to be seen here tonight, he stays on that 70s White Gibson for the whole gig, in fact it’s a pretty simple set up, couple of pedals into the Marshall 800, that classical part, the counterpoint and then into that solo after, then the breaks with more classical style parts before it slows down into that soaring melody solo at the end!
Cry for The Nations – Staying on that album, please welcome Mr. Robin McAuley, from Dublin, the man’s voice never faulters all night, his stage presence and interaction with the audience all night, he is just the absolute consummate frontman. The crowd are in fine voice tonight jumping in for the chorus on this one, again the age range in here is excellent, there a load of older heads in here but a lot of younger people as well, always a good thing to see at gigs, the solo, just screams and I am nearly certain that is exactly the solo on the album note for note, I could be wrong but I am nearly sure it is, then the breaks and the vocal screams along with the solo breaks before its singalong time again!
Doctor Doctor – I mean what do you even write about this song from 1974’s Phenomenon album by U.F.O, if you’re a rock fan and you haven’t heard it then where have you been! When it kicks into that boogie after the intro it’s just captivating, now I have seen U.F.O play this with Vinnie Moore on guitar and it was excellent, this is amazing as well, and hearing Robin sing it, it just has a different vibe to it than Phil singing, and again your listening to the actual guy on the album playing the lead breaks, everyone is singing to this one as you would expect, I did, I sang all of it, party time in here!
Looking For Love – Off to 81’s MSG album, the sledgehammer riff at the start and Bodo hammering away back there on the double bass, who I might add was solid as a rock all night, effortless back there behind the Perspex screens, Barend supplying the low end all night and throwing shapes looking like he is having a blast, again you get to the chorus and everyone is singing away, that melody after the chorus is what Michael does so well, it gets you sucked in and then he lets rip on the solo proper, same thing after the second chorus, plays the melody and then starts to expand and stretch out more and more while the band supports in dynamics in the background, absolute masterclass in feel and phrasing going on in front of me on this one!
Lights Out – From U.F.O’s 77 album of the same name, it’s also mental when I think I wasn’t born till 78, this album featured Michael a year before I was about and he’s still up there rocking away, an absolute classic track and the crowd are more than happy to lend a hand and sing the chorus refrain back at the band on this one, it sounds so vital and fresh as a track despite its age, screaming solo from Michael on this one, a blend of the original and some more licks through as he plays on into the outro as the band stand over to stage right and leave the master to stage left!
Red Sky – 83s Built to Destroy album for this track, the Wah is out for this one, for you gear heads, I am pretty sure its Dunlop Dimebag Wah, nice bass line on this one, again the amount of people in here who are singing to the chorus on this, great almost boogie sort of feel on this track as well, I love that little skip part into the start of the solo before all the trills and the melody come in on this, some tricky enough little bits in that solo before it all comes down in tempo before we get a slow melodic riff then bang, back in tempo again and into the verse again, love the way you get a hint of double bass and the song driving out with the solo at the end!
Shoot Shoot – 75’s Force it album from U.F.O, for this track, a great driving bassline on this one from Barend, it’s a real 70s boogie, again I can’t say enough about Robin, constantly interacting with the crowd and just nailing everything along with just being hugely entertaining, everyone getting in on the chorus part for this one, great solo, well I mean it’s never not going to be, is it, I love this track, just really cool to hear it done from these guys with Robins voice!
Emergency – From 2022’s Universal album, that’s a really snaky riff, just running off that open E string on the way down, nice double bass groove to the start of this one, eastern sounding vibe to the riff and the vocal as well, nice odd time section leading into the chorus and then through the chorus as well, great drum sound when Bodo plays that groove as well, great chorus, and you think about it, 50 years this man has been writing great tracks, lovely Phrygian dominant sounding solo before coming into an almost counterpoint section in the solo, before we slide right back into that chorus again!
On and On – Back to 81s MSG album for this one, my mate near knocking me out of the way to film this one, Micheal just rocking away to himself on stage left, I have to mention Steve Mann on guitars and keys, who is running back and forth all night covering both basses as he is on this one, the crowd are in great voice singing this back to the guys, I love that solo, it’s so damn aggressive and just so full of spark, these tracks are just timeless, there’s no other way to say it!
Let it Roll – Back to 75’s Force It album, and just turn that volume up and let the guitar feedback, and lets boogie, again Robin just nails it, asking for everyone to join in with the chorus refrain, the whole song is just peppered with lovely little guitar fills after the chorus, loads of flash and melody on display, great backing vocals as well from the rest of the guys in the band, there is the cowbell, and life is complete, again when it breaks down into that slower solo, it’s so melodic, again I love the breaks and the guitar melody parts, then it turns round just like that back into the groove again and into the chorus!
Attack of the Mad Axeman – Back to 81 again, for this absolute belter of a track, that melody line at the start, with the rolling tom fills, yeah, I was air drumming that thank you very much, and then that absolutely groovy riff and drumbeat, that drum groove under the chorus as well, it’s all so well-crafted all those years ago, then the keys come in from Steve and a delicate vocal from Robin, then it slips into that second riff and the song kicks off all over again, great lesson in dynamics of a song, great solos all over the place on this one before it rumbles out!
Natural Thing – 76’s No Heavy Petting album by U.F.O for this one, again that’s just a belter of a riff to kick this one off, just right to the point, then key change and it builds up, same as it goes into the chorus, the song just keeps shifting, then you have the piano part in the background as well, good few people are joining in on all the Natural Thing vocal parts, the song doesn’t really have a chorus as such with the main line, great bluesy solo on this one as well as those trademark triplet pull offs, just an absolutely classic track!
Armed and Ready – Back to 1980 for this one, that’s just an iconic riff isn’t it, and it’s so simple but totally effective, that’s the way to mark your debut album under your own name, again Robin absolutely kills it, prowling the stage, smiling gesturing, waving at the crowd, hitting every note, Micheal rocking away on his side in the trademark hat, it’s really heavy when the slower double bass part comes in as well, then we get the almost Chuck Berry style intro to that solo, I am pretty sure that’s exactly the solo from the album as well, another classic in a night full of classic after classic track!
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie – From 81, keys intro with a melody line from Michael before it changes and goes into a driving tom groove before hitting that funky guitar riff and groove, there’s a lot to be said for a great riff and a great groove and this song demonstrates it, some blinding fast runs in that solo, Tonnes of melody but a lot of flash as well and it’s the combination of those that is so his style, great sound as well tonight overall, the sound guy is really nailing this tonight!
Desert Song – The only one from 82’s Assault Attack album, love the bass and guitar unison on that little part of the riff as the drums are building as well, then the beat kicks in, simple riff but with the band behind it, it just drives on, I love the little bits at the end of the riff on the chorus, and then it all comes down for a really lovely melody guitar part, then it builds back again into that arpeggiated riff, it’s funny hearing these live for the first time, I mean I have listened to this guy so much as a guitarist that seeing him live is just wow, killing it all night!
Rock Bottom – 74’s Phenomenon album for this absolute classic, again I saw UFO do this one in the same venue, but this just feels different, that riff though, its iconic for sure, then the drum build up, Barend playing that classic Pete Way bassline, everyone is singing this one, that’s for sure, I meant to say as well, the atmosphere in here tonight is just great, everyone having an absolute blast in here, that middle section after the breakdown allows Robin to soar on the vocals with Micheal peppering around it with guitar fills before it builds up into the solo proper, really nice extended solo, the bucket getting threw out in front of all us guitarists in the crowd, he’s a proper master up there, isn’t he, back into the riff and close out! Do you want some more, yes is the deafening response, so instead of the usual going off and coming on for an encore, we are just getting the two encores!
Too Hot Too Handle – Back to 77s Lights out album, it’s a classic 70s rock riff and groove to that and it just screams good time right from the off, now if ever you wanted a massive singalong this was indeed the track, Robin singing to all the ladies in the audience as well as the band on the chorus of this one, everyone singing the sha la la parts, then a really short very cool pentatonic phrased solo, before a cowbell, floor tom groove under that riff before we hit back into the sha la la part and then into verse and then chorus for us all to have a sing back to the guys!
Only You Can Rock Me – 1978s Obsession album, good year that was, again, its party central in here, everyone is involved singing on this one, and it’s a really feelgood track when you think about it, a mid-tempo boogie with lots of audience participation, love that melody part under the vocal as well, nice keys break, then an absolutely soaring guitar melody and some really tasty licks in there as well, it’s so melodic, then it lands on the right note to bang, go right into that riff again, absolutely brilliant song to end the set with!!
How do you have a 50-year career in music, you need firstly good songs (check), you need the skills to be able to stand out as a player (check), you need a frontman who can command a stage and interact with your crowd (check) and a band capable of backing this all up (check)! An amazing gig, even if you’re not a guitar player, the songs are so strong. What a great night, I loved it, if you’re in the UK mainland there are a few dates left, go, you won’t be disappointed!
Photography by MPM
