I’d like to preface this review by apologizing for the poor quality photos. Unfortunately, I failed to obtain a photo pass for this show, so I resorted to the handy, dandy cell phone for pictures. Now that that’s been cleared up…
I’ll never forget the first time I heard UFO. I must’ve been 9 or 10 years old, listening to my local rock station, 97.9 The Loop (R.I.P.). In between all the Zeppelin and Ozzy and Metallica, some DJ (perhaps Jonathon Brandmeier or Byrd) cued up “Only You Can Rock Me”. From the opening riff alone, I fell hook, line, and sinker. Add to that upbeat organs, one of the most anthemic choruses of all time, and a guitar solo that could level skyscrapers. Who were these guys and where had they been all my short life?
Fast forward roughly 11 to 12 years later. I’m now 21 (“You can see the numbers run”). I just got back from seeing UFO for the sixth time. They’re one of those bands like Sabbath and Priest that I couldn’t imagine my life without. When it was announced that their current tour would be their last, I had to go and pay my respects to these British legends of hard and heavy music. After all, it was albums like Lights Out and Strangers in the Night that led me down the heavy metal rabbit hole at a young age.
The evening began was a 45 minute set from Damon Johnson. Aside from his work with Alice Cooper and Black Star Riders (formed out of the ashes of Thin Lizzy), I can’t say I’m too familiar with the output of Johnson (which made up half of his set) or his 90s band, Brother Cane (which made up the other half). What I can say is after seeing him, I’m compelled to explore his catalog because I’ve been missing out! Johnson’s music is bluesy, gutsy, and straight from the soul. If you’re looking for something generic or sugar coated, this is not the music for you. The highlight of his set was near the end when he played a Thin Lizzy medley of “Jailbreak”, “Johnny the Fox”, and “The Boys are Back in Town”. Anyone who knows me knows I hold Phil Lynott up to saintly status. Nobody can come close to his voice or stage presence. But Johnson wasn’t trying to imitate Lynott. He stayed true to himself and paid heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest that’s ever lived. Job well done!
Now it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for. The ring of a bell and dimming of houselights had everyone on the floor instantly out of their seats. No introduction was needed. Everyone in the Chicago area of a certain age knows UFO and what they stand for: sheer, unrelenting, unadulterated rock n roll played to the max. This is what they’ve stood for from the beginning. If it truly is the end for this hard rock institution, it’s nice to see them gallantly speeding to the finish line as opposed to limping.
Their setlist served as an hour and 45 minute career retrospective. There were Schenker era deep cuts (“Ain’t No Baby”, “Mother Mary”), a nod to the triumphant early 80s metal era (“We Belong to the Night”), and a nod to their successful 1995 reunion album, Walk on Water (“Venus”). Perhaps most interesting was that the set included three songs from their more recent albums featuring Vinnie Moore on guitar. These songs were “Run Boy Run”, “Fight Night”, and my personal favorite of the Moore era, the evocative “Burn Your House Down”. For far too long I’ve seen trolls on social media spout such ignorance as “No Schenker, no UFO”. Are you kidding me? Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Moore is not Schenker, but neither was Paul Chapman. I’m sorry, but I can’t take someone who doesn’t worship The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent seriously.
Of course, there’s all the classics they HAD to play. We all screamed along to the chorus of “Lights out! Lights out Chicago!!!”. The ever dapper Phil Mogg reminded us he’s “Too Hot to Handle”. The opening riff to “Only You Can Rock Me” transported me back to that magical day when I was first introduced to UFO. It’s amazing how music can do that. Many much older than I were likely transported back to the legendary 1978 concert at the International Amphitheater that became Strangers in the Night. Classic after classic, the crowd was in a pure rock n’ roll rage. And if you had told me before tonight that I’d hear “Love to Love”, the greatest power ballad of all time, played live on Valentine’s Day, I’d laugh in your face.
The initial set ended with, you guessed it, “Rock Bottom”. There’s a reason this was one of Paul Baloff’s favorite songs. Almost 50 years on and that riff is still heavier than anything most bands could dream of writing today. UFO played the blistering anthem at ease. At this point, they could probably do it blindfolded. I enjoyed Moore’s take on the iconic solo. He stays true to the original spirit, but without aping it note for note. It reminds me of the live recordings I’ve heard of Chapman offering his own unique take of the solo. Like I said earlier, I firmly believe every guitarist who’s played in UFO has contributed something positive to their musical stew.
After a couple minutes of clapping, hooting, hollaring, and the chant of “UFO!”, the band returned to the stage to close the evening with the two songs they couldn’t leave without playing: Iron Maiden’s beloved “Doctor Doctor” and the ever appropriate “Shoot Shoot” (“Gotta get a fast ride out of here”). Just like that, after a few fleeting moments of early 70s savagery, the show was over.
Will the show go on for UFO? At the end of the day, Phil Mogg has the final word. For the way they sounded and the energy they projected tonight, it’d almost be a disservice if they did hang it up now. However, as I previously addressed, UFO would rather go out on top than in second or third place. No need to “Look out for number one”. They’re here and they’re UFO: still hot, still ready, forever belonging to the night.
Setlist
- “Mother Mary”
- “We Belong to the Night”
- “Run Boy Run”
- “Venus”
- “Lights Out”
- “Ain’t No Baby”
- “Only You Can Rock Me”
- “Burn Your House Down”
- “Cherry”
- “Love to Love”
- “Fight Night”
- “Too Hot to Handle”
- “Rock Bottom”
Encore
- “Doctor Doctor”
- “Shoot Shoot”