harddriver
Well-known member
A good friend and I decided to go to SchenkerFest last night and we were glad we did as being an old Schenker UFO fan I had never taken the time to see him live. I was really an enjoyable show, Michael while at 63 now was in rare form and just played his ass off for three consecutive hours pretty much with no breaks. He had all his singers that played with his and through the years, Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet(Alcatraz), Robin McAuley, Doogie White. I was really surprised how good everyone sang. Gary Barden was about the same, he never had a strong voice back in the day but he did well. I expected catastrophe with Graham Bonnet but I was proven wrong he sang his ass off and was really strong. McAuley was great as well and the new guy Doogie White was good too.
They each played all the well known songs from each album like Attack of the Mad Axe man as well as a couple of new ones which were alright and sometimes the other singers came out for added harmonies and everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves and having fun with no rockstar ego shit. Michael smiled all night and talked with the crowd alot which was out of character for him usually he just puts his head down and plays.
It was standing room only general admission and at about 4 1/2 hours in we were about to call it a night but but we were holding on for the encore of UFO songs and it was worth the sore legs. Rock Bottom, Shoot Shoot, Natural Thing, Lights Out. Doogie and McAuley sounded the best on the UFO tunes but Gary and Graham did a few verses. Michael played and extended solo in Rock Bottom that was way longer than any live performance with UFO that I know off and he just kept going it was great. We were afraid he wore himself out but he followed up with three more UFO tunes. I can't believe the guy can still play like that for over 50 years it was awesome to see one of m early heroes ripping it up. If you are a Schenker fan I highly recommend the show.
Oh yeah since this is rigtalk... he was playing his usual two full Marshall stacks, 1960B cabs and 2205's 50 watt heads, he must have a good amp tech keeping these things going which says alot for the model's engineering, they were flawless with the Schenker tone and his line of Dean V's one that was semihollow bodied and a wha wah pedal could not see what brand of wah.
Here what you're in for if you go: It's not my video.
They each played all the well known songs from each album like Attack of the Mad Axe man as well as a couple of new ones which were alright and sometimes the other singers came out for added harmonies and everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves and having fun with no rockstar ego shit. Michael smiled all night and talked with the crowd alot which was out of character for him usually he just puts his head down and plays.
It was standing room only general admission and at about 4 1/2 hours in we were about to call it a night but but we were holding on for the encore of UFO songs and it was worth the sore legs. Rock Bottom, Shoot Shoot, Natural Thing, Lights Out. Doogie and McAuley sounded the best on the UFO tunes but Gary and Graham did a few verses. Michael played and extended solo in Rock Bottom that was way longer than any live performance with UFO that I know off and he just kept going it was great. We were afraid he wore himself out but he followed up with three more UFO tunes. I can't believe the guy can still play like that for over 50 years it was awesome to see one of m early heroes ripping it up. If you are a Schenker fan I highly recommend the show.
Oh yeah since this is rigtalk... he was playing his usual two full Marshall stacks, 1960B cabs and 2205's 50 watt heads, he must have a good amp tech keeping these things going which says alot for the model's engineering, they were flawless with the Schenker tone and his line of Dean V's one that was semihollow bodied and a wha wah pedal could not see what brand of wah.
Here what you're in for if you go: It's not my video.