Review by Richard Henry for MPM
Well, this is a turn up for the books, no not the gig, the sun, lovely night here in Belfast and what a lineup tonight, first up we have the lads from XIII Doors from Shannon, they have been on the up with an album out and some great reviews and now a slot support with the legend himself, Michael Schenker, really looking forward to this one, Schenker was on fire 2 years ago in the Limelight, different singer tonight, we had Robin McAuley last time, now we have Swedish powerhouse Erik Gronwall hitting the stage, first things first!
XIII Doors
Unleash The Beast
Kicking off with the first track from this year’s album “Into the Unknown”, this one is a heavy juggernaut of a track to kick off this evening’s proceedings, nice heavy riff kicks it off but there is a middle section that has a riff punctuated by the kicks that is savage live, it’s almost a mix of Alter Bridge melodic sensibilities with the heavier riffs of Tremonti’s solos project, that’s my initial impression, nice solo comes in there and then a really nice break, what a track to open, punchy, melodic and really memorable, decent reaction as well from the crowd with the opening song!
Into the Unknown
Title track up next, quick drum burst, and we are in, that’s quite a headbanger of a riff right there for the start and the verse, bouncy in feel, again its really sort of commercial feeling and I mean that in a good way, that pre-chorus is huge, I love the vocals on that part, these guys really have got the triple vocal threat going with all the harmony parts, this is a great big slab of a song, that after the chorus where it breaks into the riff and you get a really slow driving drum part just before the solo is just class, as is the solo, some great playing from these guys as a whole unit so far!
Face the Truth
Oh yes, that’s a bit more aggressive of a start, nice, syncopated drum and guitar riff right there, and again you hit that prechorus/chorus and the whole song opens up massively, they have done it the previous two songs, and it done really well, I just love that riff, the guys seem to be going over really well with the crowd as well, and I am sure anyone who hasn’t heard them before will be taking notice after this performance tonight!
See How You’ve Come So Far
Nice bit of pacing there, this one starts a bit calmer than the previous three songs, gives us a bit of a break from the pummeling, then when the band hits in its a slow melodic guitar part that leads us into the verse, I love the break into the verse then the band comes in again, really nicely arranged, now that’s pure Alter Bridge in that chorus, and that is not a bad thing, that’s a huge anthem right there like a “My Champion” moment, now that is how you write a memorable solo, right there, I loved that, really cool, this is a massive track, it should be on a load of radio playlists for sure, again they seem to be getting a really good response from the crowd tonight as well, which has to bode well for a first time show in Belfast!
Make a Life Again
Well after the calm always comes, from the moment those big down tuned guitars hit and that tribal drum pattern comes in you know you’re about to be hit with a huge sledgehammer of a riff, love that really syncopated riff in the verse with the vocal floating over the top, that chorus with the higher vocal with that riff is just awesome, it’s a real headbanger of a riff as well, I think the guys are going over really well with the crowd with a good few heads bobbing along to this one, nice solo following the vocal line and interspersing it with a few choice shred moments, again this is another banger of a track, they all have been so far!!
Inside
Thats a low and dirty riff to kick this one off, now I have to say it, that’s a real Alter Bridge track, like Crows on the Wire, reminds me of that straight away, again that is a huge chorus, I am absolutely loving the songs these guys, and again I have to say about the vocals from all the guys, it’s really well done and worked out, and they really deserve to be getting out there, the tracks are great, and again it’s a real down and dirty headbanger of a song but it’s so melodic as well, another absolute banger of a track!
Lead The Way
Last track tonight from these guys, and the tempo cranks up a bit, heads bobbing along to the verse riff on this one, that’s a very radio friendly chorus right there, that would go over well with everyone signing it, love the middle of this one, it’s a head down banger of a part then the solo comes in to tear your head off, before its back to that huge chorus, every song these guys played tonight was excellent!!
If you haven’t heard of them, do yourself a favour and give the album a listen, more importantly, buy it on the website and support up and coming local bands, if you’re a fan of the bands mentioned in the review, you will love them! www.xiiidoors.com!!!
Michael Schenker
Natural Thing
Starting off with one from the “No Heavy Petting” album, Erik center stage commanding the front, the main man over to the right in the familiar Russian hat, and sporting the white Gibson V, (signature model Gibson, c’mon it’s about time), Steve on guitar and Barend on bass providing the backing vocals to this one, in fact its Steve who pulls off the first solo tonight with a ripping guitar tone before Michael comes in for a bit and then hands off to Steve again, back to Michael, some great tradeoffs between the two guys!
Only You Can Rock Me
Off to the “Obsession” album, no breaks between songs and we are right into this one, I think I said this last time, but Steve is a busy man, he is on keys for this one and all night he will jump from one to the other filling in parts, Erik is just striding to both sides of the stage looking like he has always been there, everyone singing the chorus vocal back to Erik when he sticks his hand in the air for us to join in, love that keys break from Steve in the middle, before Michael plays that solo, his tone and vibrato are just glorious, then it’s the hands in the air time after the solo, its party central in here tonight, great vibe from the band and the crowd!
Hot N Ready
Staying with the “Obsession” album for this one, that riff and just the bass drum coming in before the band batters into this one, Bodo on the drums is sort of cocooned behind the Plexi glass, but the man is just solid all night, Baren and Steve providing the backing vocals on the chorus, Michael rips another solo effortlessly, it just such a groover of a song as well, bit of crowd participation in that section with the hands in the air before it hits the last chorus!
Doctor Doctor
“Phenomenon” album for this one, I am surprised it’s this early in the set, I thought this might be the closer, big roar from the crowd as Steve comes in with the piano intro after the 4 count, Michael playing over the start of this, some improv and some is definitely the original parts of the intro, before the crowd sing that climbing melody at the start, then a few people bouncing and cheering on, now you know everyone is going to sing the vocals on this one, I love moments like that, so do the band by the looks of it, the three amigos are Status Quoing it up there, all in a line moving side to side, then that run to the end of the song!
Mother Mary
Off to the “Force” It album, you forget what a slab of a riff this one is, live it is really slamming, Erik sounding great on this one, love the groove as well, it’s just so slinky, Michael running from pentatonic to lovely unison bends on that solo, his solos are so melodic yet they sort of go through a lot of phases, nice trades offs yet again with Steve on this track, love hearing him as a foil to Michael!
I’m A Loser
“No Heavy Petting” album for this one, right ok, so Erik has the acoustic, Steve on Keys for this, nice, lovely slide playing from Michael at the start of this one, again it’s a great vocal from Erik, sensitive but still commanding, great vocals from all the guys in the chorus, yet again though, that solo from Michael as the band ramps up is just sublime!
This Kid’s
Back to the “Force It” album, I think again because you are used to the version you know, you forget how heavy some of these riffs are live, this is true of this one, it’s an odd time riff, just can’t count it, loving the sound as well tonight everything is crisp and clear, and again the whole band sounds absolutely savage musically, love it when it drops to the half time for the keys solo, then that solo, full of swagger and groove never mind what has playing, really gnarly blues licks interspersed with little flashy runs, then more keys solos before Michael takes over again, it really is a nasty groove that Barend and Bodo are holding down on this!
Lights Out
From the album of the same name, straight in from the last track. I mean it’s hard to know what to write about this, I have seen UFO play it, Schenker now twice doing it, it’s been different every time, that riff still hits hard, Erik soaring over the top of everything on this one, right in the middle of the stage bouncing about, the crowd filling in the vocals on the chorus, Michael hitting the solo eyes closed, then back into the chorus again, Michael takes a lovely solo break near the end of the track, then again there is a back and forward from Steve and Michael, loving the interaction between these guys tonight!
Lipstick Traces/Between the Walls/Belladonna
Hitting “Phenomenon/Force It/No Heavy Petting” albums, Erik out with the acoustic and the feel has dropped down for the first time tonight, giving a bit of a break from the onslaught so far, nice melodic playing there and then it drops, and the wave of chorus synth washes over us all, then a really beautiful solo comes in from Michael, so melodic, lovely melodic instrumental break
Love to Love
Lights Out album again, the keys intro come in and we are invited to get our hands in the air for the start of this one, then that riff with the driving beat comes in, Erik playing the melodic guitar part on the acoustic, which is really cool, then it breaks into the verse and Erik is there with the acoustic, really nice actually hearing him in a lower register, good few people joining him singing the chorus part on this, that guitar melody at the start of the solo, it’s just so good, then it builds and break back into the chorus again, it’s a beautiful song, then Michael rides it out with a face melting solo!
Let It Roll
“Force It” album for this one, get the double kicks out for this one, it’s a real grooving monster of a song, the crowd getting involved with the chorus refrain back to the band, the crowd are loving it in here tonight and it’s a great atmosphere with everyone singing away, I love that middle where it breaks to half time and we get a really lovely melody part on the guitar, I really love the little guitar breaks after the stabs from the band, the crowd being asked to shout along with the band before the tempo picks up again!
Can You Roll Her
“No Heavy Petting” album, keys intro then the band slides in with a shuffled double kick groove on this one, its class how many people know the words to every song, some gigs you can see people know the hits, but tonight there are people singing on every song, chanting back the chorus refrain to this one back to the band, there is a great bassline rom Barend on the chorus of this if you pay attention, then a go from Erik and into a devastating solo from Michael!
Reasons Love
“No Heavy Petting” album again for this track, love that guitar and drum groove at the start of this, this one just slams from the off with that unrelenting groove, Micheal slices into that solo and again you get some chops but you get a massive amount of feel and melodic parts in all the solos he does, then Steve comes in with some arpeggio lines on the keys, back into the groove again, savage track!
Rock Bottom
“Phenomenon” album again for this one, it’s still just a dirty riff that kicks this one off, such a groove and a really cool bassline as well, I actually love Erik singing this stuff, he looks like he is really enjoying himself up there as well, now we have to sing back to the guys that chorus line, again this is one I have heard with UFO in 2015 and now twice in the last couple of years with Michael, and really you can’t compare, I loved Vinnie Moore’s take on it, but the original is the original for a reason and Michael just peels off the solos with ease, that Flying V over the one leg, the band drops down for the solo to start, really nice bass line from Barend in the background of this one, what a solo, the tone the feel, it’s all there, then the break and back into the chorus again, you get a lovely extended solo from Michael on this and what can I say, it’s all there, man is just an absolute class act on the guitar, melody, feel, chops, he has it all, and as for the song, it’s a classic for a reason!
Shoot Shoot
“Force It” album, such a bouncy riff, lots of hand clapping to the start of this one, everyone is singing Shoot Shoot back to the guys, again its really cool to have seen three different versions of this song, who’s version is better, well none, they are all different, love a cowbell in a song, not enough of that in my opinion, its short sharp and to the point this one!
Too Hot to Handle
Back to the “Lights Out” album, last song of this evening, keeping it up-tempo as well, the crowd are all clapping along, all the guys up on the mic singing the vocal line back, that said there is enough volume from the crowd singing back on this one, it’s a good track to end the night with, a bit like the last its short and in and out and fun, and that is what the whole night has been, a fun celebration of Michaels years with U.F.O!
If you haven’t got the My Years With U.F.O Cd/Vinyl, you got to go check it out, I listed the UFO albums these tracks where from but that CD has versions with loads of guest artist and it’s a great album, what can I say about tonight’s show, Schenker himself is like a fine wine, he is just getting better with age, and the band is the same, so on point tonight and looking like they are having a ball, Erik on vocals was awesome and I have a comparison to Robin the last time, both guys are phenomenal, but going back to Michael, he’s just the boss isn’t he, hoping in two years I will be writing about review of these guys, DO NOT miss the remaining shows, get a ticket, go and have a great night!
Photography by Darren Mcveigh for MPM
