Uncle Phil Mogg and his mates put on another storming show. Never anything other than a top night out to see UFO….Not been to the venue since I lived in Sheffield some 30+ years ago. Back then it was the Top Rank (and would become Barry Noble’s Roxy – who remembers that then….) and I recall seeing there AC/DC (Powerage tour, man how long ago was that), Styx (yes, really), Crawler, Def Leppard and perhaps even Iron Maiden. Anyhoo – last night it was UFO who owned the place.
My usual long-standing lifelong UFO fan mate couldn’t make it so I press ganged another mate to come with me. He’s a bit of a musical illiterate, knew nothing about UFO other than a quick look on YouTube just before we left though by the end of the evening was a convert (“that guitarist can play a bit…..”) and is probably right now online ordering the entire back catalogue.
Sheffield’s changed a lot. A pre-gig “meal” in the Pizza Hut around the corner adequate and expensive at £3.80 for a small Peroni. Place full of students with very highly pitched voices bordering on the upper end of human hearing limits before we got in to dog only hearing frequency. All stocking up on the all you can eat salad bar to help stretch their grants over the weekend and have more to spend on booze (probably – not bashing student life, must be tough……..right.)
In to the venue around 7:45ish and missed the support. Found a spot towards the back near the mixing desk and could see everything very well. Took me a bit by surprise when the band came on. Faith Healer (you know, the old Alex Harvey classic) started coming through. My mate asked if UFO coming on. I say no, it’s Alex Harvey.
But on they did come and belted straight in to Lights Out. We’re off and at the races. These days at a UFO gig it’s two performances for the price of one with Phil’s inter-song random comedy routine. For example Andy Parker’s birthday (bit of a running theme), the BT advert, Miley Cirus, his wife, twerking and cooking and a few more besides. Very funny, very dry.
The music though……storming, first class. Tight show, Vinnie really ripped it up – world class. Phil’s voice is clean and powerful. Andy Parker, Paul Raymond and Rob De Luca keep it all together. Just as we all know they can and do so well. One can have no complaints. True professionals who still have it and most certainly still know how to do it.
Set list: Slightly refreshed. We had a very welcome Making Moves (off TWTWATI – a personal fave) and Pushed to the Limit off Walk on Water. Also along the way (probably not in running order) I Aint No Baby, Let it Roll, Wonderland, Fight Night, Burn Your House Down, Baby Blue, When Daylight Goes to Town, Only You Can Rock Me with an always fine Love to Love followed by an extended Rock Bottom to close out the main set.
Vinnie’s showpiece during Rock Bottom simply jaw dropping. Shredtacular. Note perfect, fingers all a blur. Move so fast it must be on the way to light speed or possibly even time travel. And the usual behind/on top of the head trick. One runs out of superlatives for the man. Whilst that’s on, Phil wanders off stage for a bit perhaps to come up with some new anecdotes for his comedy turn. Stupendous stuff.
An initial encore of Cherry and Too Hot to Handle (including some sort of flamethrower type birthday cake for Mr Parker) then back on for one more – Doctor Doctor and we all wander out in to the Sheffield night very happy. And early too – not quite 10pm (I think they let the local undead in there at weekends so an early curfew) though UFO still played going on for two hours. Money’s worth indeed. Always a pleasure. Thank your Mr Mogg, Mr Moore, Mr Paymond, Mr Parker, Mr De Luca. Does anyone do it better.