concert reviews page 3

Michael Schenker show was better than my wildest imaginings! Oh MY GAWD! We had such a blast! Woooo Hooooooo! The whole thing just came together kind of at the last minute. My good friend Richard that lives in a somewhat close-by city, invited some of his buds. One of the guys was an old schoolmate that I knew. There was me, my girlfriend, and a coworker that is a music lover. (more blues/jazz, though) and all but one of the eight tickets accounted for. Early on Friday we arranged for a rental car. A big fat new Cadillac Deville with a CD player. We got the car over here to my house and shortly thereafter everyone was here. We had seven people.
Almost everyone in our group are HUGE MICHAEL SCHENKER FANS! ...save for my girlfriend and coworker. They all knew about my Michael Schenker jinx too. Actually, Richard reminded me that it was three shows that have been canceled that I've attempted to go to over the years and not two! Oh my gawd! It was a drizzly afternoon/evening and we were very anxious. I made a window sized MSG logo cutout and we stuck it in the back window (I used the big proof-making equipment at work! Ha!). We then piled into the car a bit early to be sure that traffic would not delay us. It's a good thing because it took us a half hour to get us fit into the car! My girlfriend was the designated driver.
The venue only holds about 250 people or so. We pulled into an almost empty parking lot... I'm thinking.... everyone's thinking ....He canceled? FaughhhhKKKK!!!!!!!! faughk-faughk-faughk-faughk FAUGHKKKK!!!!!!!! There were two dudes in a pickup truck and they heard our rants and said "I know what you mean... he cancels a lot, but not this time!" He points across the way. You could see a giant travel/bus/rig, "Schenkers". Cool. While at home, before we left, I showed Rich my old Michael Schenker framed photo that I've had for 23 years. It's black and white from Oakland Coliseum in 1978 when he's on stage with UFO and very cool. I held it up and said, "You think he'll sign this?"-"Let's bring it."
So we grab this picture and haul off to the bus. Some roadie said that he'll sign stuff after the show, however.
So we wait around awhile and some of the guys went and bought a twelve pack and were tailgating and hanging out. A small line started to form and a doorman announced that the door will be open at eight o'clock. We smoked some, drank some, and then head to the door. The parking lot filled up quickly.
Inside it's a biker-type bar. A large island bar off to the side, and two steps down leaving the main room area open with the band riser against the same wall as the entrance.
There's a few ceiling support poles on the main floor. There were some monitor speakers around a couple of them.
The opening band was "Barking at Flies." They did originals and were led by a guitarist-singer that was darn good. The band was metal and decent. They did a 40 minute set.
After a swift stage change comes Schenker. He comes out on stage first. Waves, says nothing, dinks around with the equipment a bit and the other dudes come out to get ready. Michael is wearing sneakers, low socks, NBA big baggie dark blue shorts with white piping, REI fleece sleeveless blue vest with collar and a dark blue knit ski beanie with Oakley silver framed sunglasses, and a thin, longish, blonde goatee. He takes his sunglasses off. His eyes were pale-blue, clear and bright. He grabs his axe, puts his head under the strap, while looking up and yells, "You Ready to Rock?" And just goes right into it!
I cannot remember the entire song list exactly but this is what I retained:
Are You Ready to Rock
Mother Mary
Rock Bottom
Too Hot To Handle
Into the Arena
Attack of the Mad Axeman
Some new ones with his girlfriend singing.
Lights Out
Doctor, Doctor
Some newer MSG, not familiar but great.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Only You Can Rock Me
This Kids
More new stuff...
His girl friend is really young and fine. That "tom-girl-rides-horses-kinda-fine" She's very small, brunette with a gigantic voice and a very good guitar player. She joined in on about a third of the songs as a second rhythm guitarist. She sang lead on two numbers and they were very good songs. Great with a girl voice too. Richard moved towards the front and takes a couple of pictures, a bouncer grabs him makes him leave. Wes (friend from our group) goes after him and gets him off the hook, saying the photos are not for profit, just for our scrapbooks, etc... It works, the owner let Rich back in and says to, "Avoid that large bouncer dude." We got some great shots, man! Michael looked up and checked out the crowd a bunch of times. He waved numerous times too. The band was tight and kick'in ass. The bass player looked like "Flea" from RHCP. Three or four long dreadlocks only on the very top of his crown that were spun around constantly, otherwise shaved bald. The singer was the granola, hippie looking dude, clean shaven and ponytail. The rhythm guitarist doubled as a keyboardist and had a big mop of hair and goatee. The drummer looked similar. They did a fantastic job. Michael was the only one who messed up that I could detect. (just the singing chorus on Too Hot).They played for two hours. Michael never switched guitars. He used the same one all the way through and just tuned as he went.I was overwhelmed. The music was top drawer and performed to a tee. They all looked really happy, relaxed, and in fun loving mood. After the show they sold CD's of his new stuff and he was signing each of them. I think they had three different titles. I got into line to get a CD and Rich bolts out to the car to retrieve the photo that I have. He comes back and shows Michael's' girlfriend and she's all gushing over it... "Oh Michael has to see this!" She says. She interrupts the signing going on and Michael grabs it. He holds it up and is checking it out real carefully... Richard, is saying "That's from 1978 man! When you were in Oakland, CA with UFO!". "Ya" he says, smiling. I go, "I've had that for over twenty years, I love your music!" He glances over and flashes a smile and then signs it! Soooooo Cool! I got to see him perform no more than fifteen feet away. Then I got to talk to him face to face afterwards! The show was excellent with many great numbers played. The band was red hot and in sync. The crowd was into the music. They knew the words to the UFO songs! Hot, "40-somethings" women/babes were movin' and groovin' to the music. I was completely enthralled and impressed. I don't have to cover for a disappointing show. This was the best. Perfect! I have been on a huge high for days now. I really needed to have some fun and feel good again. Michael Schenker did it! I will always associate this huge time in my life to Michael Schenker and his great music.We're all hyped up on the way back to the car, Wes is running with the signed photo above his head and is yelling, "The jinx has been broken, the jinx is history!" We were like a bunch of kids. It was the most fun I've had in a long, long, long, time.