Time and again it's been a while... out (again). Won't dwell into
it - I just want to share my excitement with you guys 'n galz... I had
this ultimate privillege to stand in the front row at the feet of the
Almighty Michael Schenker on Tuesday night. What a blessed 2,5 hours it
was!
The band itself could be a subject of
a bit of debate to me. Chris Glen and Ted McKenna - the classic rhythym
section of the "Assault Attack" - what can I say - immensely kicking
guys - both of them. I quite do not know how they pull off these shows
so well at their age and with those signs of obesity they have (quite
huge in case of Glen). Still, if Chris was the fattest guy on stage -
still hats off to him, he was prancing and doing crazy antics to the
band fellows and audience all along. Ted - the Powerhouse - so huge
since the Rory Gallagher days - still sounds amazing too, no power loss
at all.
And the fragile part: The
Primadonnas. Four of them, witches, actually. Quite often in fact all
singing at the same time in the "one lead plus three backing ones"
set-up. Well, bad news, Gary Barden is a sad and very filthy joke now,
he should be dumped immediately for the good of the show. Don't get me
wrong - I love his singing from the 80-ties. Even on Silver project
albums he sounded great. But live... It's bits, pieces and shambles.
Gary, I'm sorry... You're a legend, still - get a cure or let go.
With
all his incapabilities - Graham Bonnet was - in comparison to Gary John
- fresh as a daisy, with only the middle range out, occasional squeaks
and creeks and losing breath closer to the end of each tune. Still,
animated like a Muppet on steroids, he moves around the stage with his
usual antics and energy of a freak. I'm so happy I finally saw him live -
and it still was a joy even with the reservation on his sound. And, of
course, double Rainbow vocalists combo as a huge bonus - Dougie White is in the bag too. He did
really well, nothing too splendid, but enjoyable, good voice and very solid. The real star of the
divas sector was Robin McAuley. I don't know why the guy gets so much
flak from everybody. Looks great (bar the shitload of tatoos) and still
sings like a ringing bell - and that's really needed for Michael's music
which - in the end - is damn melodic, FFS!
And
the King, The Almighty, The Ruler of the Axe. I'm still in awe,
gobsmacked, smashed and slashed. I know what I witnessed and I don't
think I can still fully understand it. He looks like his own young him
again. Really, you will not give him 63 he has and after all the roliing
and tumbling he's put himself through. There is this eerie halo of the
slowed-down moves denouncing the age, but his mind and his fingers
haven't lost anything. A miracle of some sort, truly. He was playing his
ass off, interacting with audience - and it was clear - HE IS HAVING A
BLAST doing this. And his craft is totally on, dead in spot. You all
know why we revere the guy so much. He's no bullshit, no fireworks.
Simple setup, V-axes, a bit of Wah, echo, his mind and his fingers. And
he was mindblowing, all the way through. It was such a bliss to see it
from the distance of one to five meters at max. Like a dream. It was
like he played almost just for me. No video could get me something as up
and close and personal as this. Moments of loss in bliss were aplenty -
"Attack Of The Mad Axemen", "Coast To Coast"... "Desert Song" sounded
flooring and absolutely massive - it's so epic to wittness. My beloved
"Only You Can Rock Me" - I almost lost it there - THIS FREAKING SOLO
THAT I LOVE SO MUCH - just played right in front of my eyes... Paradise!
Wish it had never ended.
The part of the
show closer to the end was packed up with UFO classics, so the hall has
gone just freakin' wild. It was sooo great. And the German Axeman bombed
Poland to bits and pieces for the very end.
"Rock Bottom".
Lasting
twenty freaking minutes total, with all the middle improv full blown on
and the closing section going on for ages (complete with Ted Mc Kenna's
drum work out at the very end).
Forgive me
the swearing but... It was un-fucking-belieavable. I hid my phone and
just watched, flown away for ten minutes - just looking at these fingers
doing all this crazy stuff in the middle... And Mickey did kind of flow
away... A life threatening experience. I saw Vinne Moore UFO doing it
twice and loved it but... All the world can go to hell and cry it's eyes
into the endless fire. It's Michael's child, he ultimately nails it,
and posesses it - top to bottom, tip to toe, start to finish. Must be
one of the best things guitar-wise I have ever seen in my life and I've
seen plenty so far. Yes, smack me, I haven't seen Schenky live before...
so it was kind a bit of like the firtst time - but just the way it should always be, for anyone. The realms of
pleasure and amazement were amazing. The way he plays it... it's just him bar NO ONE.
Sorry, chaps. No one. And I kind of think that is why we look up to him
so much, he really is an inspiration - this sound and this phrasing is
simply irreplaceble, truly one of a kind.
And I am so
happy to confirm it as an eye wittness: Michael does seem reborn. Full
flight, great form, finally enjoying his craft and playing for his
freak-fans. There could have not been a better scenario and I am so glad
for him. And happy about this close-up experience. It's almost
frightening to think that I was on the brink of almost no-go due to
crazy logistics... but! Veni, vidi, vici. On the day of my Mum's 70th
birthday I saw one of the best guitar gigs I've ever been to. 'Appy days
as Mick Box says.
If you yet haven't seen
Schenker yet... go if you only have your chance, as long as he's back.
There's never gonna be another one like him.
PS.
Photos are all mine, done with mobile, so they are by no means state of
art, but will give you a glimpse of what my eyes saw.
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