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Ultimate Eagles - O2 Academy 2, Sheffield, Monday, 22nd November, 2010 Due to them featuring Danny Vaughan (of Tyketto) and Chris Childs (ex-Thunder) in the line-up I reckoned these guys would be one hell of a good band - I guessed right!
They opened with 'Heartache Tonight' and grabbed the attention of everyone immediately with their exquisite vocal harmonies and excellent musicianship. OK, it wasn't exactly packed but the crowd in here definately made up for in ecstatic enthusiasm. 2nd song in and Mr. Vaughan picks up the wrong acoustic guitar with one of the other band members taking the p*ss out of him and saying that it ain't a set list either.
"I'll say when it's a set list", Danny quips (all in fun of course). Dan says he is the only one who can do yeeha properly as he is American - hahaha - there's humourous patriotism for ya - or should that be spelt humorous in this case. To say these guys are good with the audience would be an understatement with funny banter in between the songs.
It turns out that 'Witchy Woman' was the 1st song the original band ever learnt (we won't say the name of the and though!!) and played it for 4 hours! LOL. A major highlight in the set was 'The Long Run' number with vocoder effects - now what was that one called again?
Talk about amazingly strong voices throughout as good as or better than the real thing (but don't Henley's lot that - hahaha). In the set they changed guitars a plenty and I am sure just about every one that stage got a strum at least once if not more.
Ultimate' got the crowd going even more and encouraged a barrage of yeehaws much to everyones enjoyment and amusement as it was back to country for 'Lyin Eyes' - "A buckle polishing song" as they put it.
New member, Christian got the crowd to sing the main line of the chorus in 'Take It To the Limit' and they even threw in the Joe Walsh hit 'Rocky Mountain Way' for good measures too that of course comes complete with some killer vocoder sounds.
The guys even went onto mention about a performance of certain number of theirs being banned on youtube ( but more on that shortly) with only one number to finish off the main set - yep - that song about a place to stay in one of my favourite states of the USA - the epic 'Hotel California' that was beautifully done (well to be honest every single song was).
Of course the crowd went nuts for more and got a 3 song encore that started with 'Funk 49' where Danny ditched the axe-playing and got down to some serious bopping and hair flow - oh and not forgetting some cool percussion happenings too which added to the coolness of the already amazing vibe in the room.
"You got some more rock n roll in ya?"as if we hadn't and we get a knockout 'Life In The Fast Lane'. We find out the full facts about the youtube story how The Eagles werent happy about an infringement of copyright - 'F*ck 'Warner Chappel', they say - "As if The Eagles ain't got enough money!" and dedicate the last number of the night 'Desperado' to them.
OK, they don't exactly look like The Eagles - but they got the instrumental and vocal chops to match them - so it'd be criminal not to award them good marks. 10/10
By Glenn Milligan |
| The Union - O2 Academy 2, Sheffield, Sunday 26th September, 2010 Set
List - Encore - There's only one good thing that takes place after the demise of one of the UK's fondly loved bands, in this case Thunder, and that's the formation of some new outfits, in this case, 'The Union' featuring guitarist, Luke Morley & Bassist, Chris Childs (also of The Ultimate Eagles, Eagles Tribute band, who are playing at the venue later this year).
Frontman/Guitarist has one hell of a set of pipes on him and goes by the name of Pete Shoulder (ex-Winterville), with the band line-up completed with Dep Live Drummer, Dave from Glasgow who had been with the band for only a week, since the bands original drummer, Phil Martini couldn't make the tour.
Bit by bit the small room got fuller and fuller, so word must have got around - little wonder since Planet Rock have got behind the band and plugged their songs ever since - in fact, in between support bands, the radio station sounds were piped into the room and you can't argue with the sounds of Cinderella & Great White can you?
Anyways, back to the band before I go off at a tangent. When the guys hit the stage to the pre-recorded music of 'Part Of The Union' by The Strawbs we get a nice healthy applause but as soon as Luke Morley is spotted the fans go Thunderously nuts as thier main hero has hit the deck.
Throughout the 75 minute set they play for us virtually all of the album or was it all of it (no actually they missed out 'Amazon'), since we all enjoyed the proceedings so much that it all simply flows into 1 brilliant blues-laden acoustic and electric vibe and groove.
They open with 'Easy Street' and before long they dive into acoustic territory with the outstanding earth blues of 'Holy Roller' that is about that Devil and is ironically or purposely followed up by the quieter gorgious ballad 'Saviour'.
Well it's less than 2 months to crimbo so 'This Time Next Year' about Christmas is a perfect endearing song in the set to get us in the mood that features Luke on both electric and classic retro-Thunder sat on a stand acoustic guitar playing.
I hope they release it as a single in December as it should do well as it's pure gospel beautifulness. There are awesome voicings all round especially from frontman, Pete. Towards the end of the main set Mr. Morely introduces all the band members, with Mr. Shoulder introducing Luke - just how it should be really and proceed into the building up Thunder-like 'The Space Between Us' .
'Step Up To The Plate' gets the crowd to clap along and rocks us out like there's no tomoro & 'Watch The River Flow' follows suit with old school blues going electric with Pete sounding like the son of David Coverdale & Glenn Hughes combined. The fans simply couldn't get enough and they showed their enthusiasm with plenty of cheering and clapping wanting more and more of from this excellent brand new British band - they got it too with a 2 song encore.
In fact, they messed up the song 'Come Rain Or Shine' and we all laugh about the fact (the band included) but pull it off perfect on take two. They finishes it with a kickin' cookin' cover of CCR's 'Proud Mary' and believe me they made us just that - proud that is.
There's tons of milage in this band and I hope they get as big as Thunder as they totally deserve to be. 10/10
By Glenn Milligan |
| UFO/Crimes OF Passion - O2 Academy, Sheffield, Tuesday 27th April, 2010 Set-List: Be Careful/Unbreakable/Pretty In.../Body And Soul/Blackened H/Angel/Holy Diver. And here we are again in the big room at O2 - the floors are still as sticky as ever - lol. Anyways, on the internet it said that Voodoo Six were supporting the headliners who I ain't seen since they played at Download 2007.
So the band came on the stage and I thought, 'Hang on, how long has Crimes fronty Dale Radcliffe been moonlighting for a different band?' but after getting closer in I realised that in fact, it was Crimes Of Passion supporting UFO? Now this proves you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Wonder why the 'Six pulled out of the show?
All the same they gave the 3/4 downstairs audience a good enough set that included 'Body and Soul' & Pretty In...' and ended with Dio's 'Holy Diver' which has been the last number for quite a good while now.
Dale told us they had a CD for sale for £5 and had a new one coming out soon. They were pleased to be entertaining their Sheffield audience yet again and they went down ok too. Set-List: Let It Roll/Mother Mary/Saving Me/Out In The Street/Stop Breaking Down/This Kidds/Hell Driver/Cherry/Hell Driver/Daylight/Only You Can Rock Me/Love To Love/Ain't No Baby/Too Hot To Handle/Lights Out. Encore:
Rock Bottom/Doctor Doctor.
Phil Mogg, their always ‘been-there’ frontman told us that they'd been to one of Sheffield's great curry houses and pointed out the direction it was in, then realised he was pointing the wrong way (not the Pete one either) hahaha which got a good laugh from the audience. Is it me or does the ex-bassists replacement pose as much as his predecessor but without the in-ya-dace black and white striped spandex?
It seems we get a treat tonight in the form of a number called 'Stop Breaking Down' that they've only performed a couple of times before - so I'll let him off if he appeared to look down onto the lyrics at his feet now and again - thankfully there was no dry ice (Gillan era Sabbath classic story not relevant here).
The party really got started when he announced 'Only You Can Rock Me' much to mine and Al’s and no doubt everyone elses delight - who can deny the love of that great old riff. Mr. Mogg gets the crowd singing away the chorus section and it features an excellent keyboard section from Paul Raymond not to mention exceptional solo from Vinnie Moore.
Phil tells us that he has got 10 inch pushed down his undies and jokes about socks before announcing ‘Hell Driver’ that f*ck*ng rocks majorly only for them to slow it down on us with ? Not too later we get Vinnie Moore biting on his guitar strings with Phil quipping that his wife ain't into that but wont go any further into it than that – hahaha.
It’s onto the homerun with ‘Lights out that has a really long solo from Vinnie and ‘Doctor Doctor’ is knock-out as ever where Mr. Raymond helps out on backing vocals quite a bit that features mike posin a plenty in a variety of positions from old Phil.   
The last number of the entire night turns out to be ‘Rock Bottom’ that simply lasts forever with the extensive elongated soloing from Vinnie Moore with some helping out from Paul on the Keyboards at times before Phil join them again to finish off the song. Then its all over, they get together take a quick bow and leave the stage with a happy Sheffield crowd going towards the exit doors before the lights go up.
A decent gig. 9/10 By
Glenn Milligan |
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UFO – The Plug, Sheffield, Friday 31st August 2007 Set
Times ~ 8:30 – 10.30 I have been meaning to check out this venue for quite a few months (situated down the Moor around the corner from Wollies on Matilda Street) since I have heard how good the sound is in there, so what better reason to go than to see some True Legends Of Hard Rock, UFO who are still going strong after a good 3 decades and many a beer and bottle being emptied. Hey, hang on a minute I was in here a few years ago to see a band called ‘Four Star Mary’ but at that point in time it was known as ‘Club Zero’ I reckon.
Sadly I missed the support band, ‘Free For All’ – that everyone thought were a Free but turned out not to be. A few locals were that impressed but I guess I’ll find out some other time. I did see a fan of there’s with a CD of theirs so there they must have done something right. I was mightily impressed to see just how many people were in the Plug tonight who were more than happy to be blasted with some electrifying 70’s styled rock at its best – plenty of old geezers and gals that could have been long lost friends of Tommy Saxondale – now I wonder if he was once a roadie for UFO as well?
With the sounds of ‘Alex Harvey’s'The Healer ringing through the PA, the lads touch down on earth from a round silver flying disk that was seen earlier in the skies of Sheffield that day – nah only kidding brothers and sisters, they use a tour bus these days, and they amble onto the platform for some solid rockin’ sounds for the next 2 hours where we are treated to songs of new and old, kicking the gig off with ‘Mother Mary’ which is greeted with rapturous applause and closely followed by ‘Letting Go’.
It’s hard to believe after listening to vocalist Phil Mogg that he is 60 on his next birthday as he hits every note spot on with crystal clear clarity – talk about being better than most of the up and coming singers of nowadays so-called rock – they’ve got nothing on this boy let me tell ya.
Bandwise they are tight as tight with the supreme Vinnie Moore really holding everything together with his tremendous playing on both acoustic and electric guitars – stealing the show on many an occasion with his lighting powered fingers.
Andy Parker is up there keeping the solid backbeat while Paul Raymond warms up the vibe with his exquisite keyboard and guitar skills throughout the whole show – swapping from once instrument to the other mid-song at the appropriate given time in the number.
Pete Way is well, Pete Way – simply as that – pounding out the bass notes like he’s a lead guitarist and posing as often as he can in his red and black tight strides. It was funny at times to see him try and take over the vocals during the classic chorus of ‘Lights Out’. “You should never let a bass player near a microphone as they can’t sing” Phil Mogg says or words to that effect.
Pete even decides to have a lie down on the stage while Vinnie is doing a crackin’ solo – Way don’t fall asleep though as he plays along most of the time. Well it’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and who says you can’t have a bit of Jesterism going down on the stage – whether it was all part of the act for the night or what, I’ll guess we’ll never know.
Anyways, the night was damn good to put it bluntly and full of great songs – we were encouraged to clap along to many of the songs – as if anyone needed prompting for that.
Highlights of the gig included obviously the classics that were of course played at the end like ‘Doctor, Doctor’ and ‘Too Hot To Handle’ but also the opening number from the current album ‘The Money Puzzle’ called ‘Hard Being Me that everyone loved and the odd ballad as well due to guys of this standard being able touch the hearts as well as to rock up the house.
Looking forward to seeing the lads return back to Sheffield soon. 9/10 By Glenn Milligan |
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UNHOLY ALLIANCE 2 - BIRMINGHAM NEC 1st November, 2006 Twenty-seven quid for five metal bands, including two of my favourites? Oh all right then. Unfortunately the NEC was by no means full, perhaps 5,000 were in attendance. Proceedings began at the unholy hour of 17:50, when Canada's Thine Eyes Bleed bounded onstage and played twenty-five minutes of solid thrash. The interval (just 15 minutes) featured an advert for the new Mortal Kombat videogame. Crass commercialism. Children of Bodom are the best band from Finland ever, it's really as simple as that. With the exception of In Flames, no one plays melodic death metal with more fire and passion. Their forty-minute set went down a storm with the crowd, which didn't seem too familiar with the band's material. Alexi Laiho's solos were stunning, and the truncated set left the crowd desperate for more. Maybe my 3rd favourite band will do a club tour next year. 1. Theme from 'Naked Gun' Intro Lamb Of God's Metalcore has largely passed me
by, but the boys from Virginia were a firm favourite with the crowd.
They played for forty-five minutes and highlights included 'Walk With
Me In Hell', 'Redneck' (both of which are from their new CD 'Sacrament'),
and 'Now You've Got Something To Die For'. Randy Blythe is a superb
frontman, and cajoled the crowd into several In Flames from Stockholm are my 2nd favourite
band. This was the third time I have seen them in the past year, and
was probably the best show yet. Inspite of rhythm guitarist Jesper Stromblod
having to return home, the jesters played a varied set of crowd pleasers
instead of just plugging 'Come Clarity'. Anders Friden proved that he
can easily handle a crowd this size, hopefully 1. Pinball Map There are many adjectives I could use to describe Slayer, but sadly 'original', 'innovative', and 'interesting' are not among them. What they do, they do very well, Dave Lombardo in particular is a fine drummer and Jeff Hanneman defies his years impressively, looking exactly as he did on the 'South of Heaven' tour in 1988. Unfortunately after producing one of the best lp's ever made in 1986, they have spent the last 20 years playing the same songs or writing new ones that sound bar-for-bar identical. The crowd reacted insanely to their every move, but I found Los Angles' answer to Status Quo to be a trifle tedious. Never mind, it was a terrific night, and next week I get to see my number one band - the peerless Opeth. Slayer set list: 1. Raining
Blood Encore Raining Blood Sorry, just my little Slayer joke - the setlist, which only seemed like one song, actually ran: Mandatory
Suicide By Roy Evans |
