Artist:  UFO

Venue:  02 Academy, Newcastle

Date: 14 June 2009  

So while 65,000 people watched Classic Rock day at Donnington (will never be Download to me) nearly 2,000 turned up to the Academy just to see UFO.  Promoting their new album 'The Visitor', which I feel has a lot of bluesy tones to it, UFO are always guaranteed a rapturous reception when they play the Toon.

Imbibing a few double vodkas in Wetherspoons before the gig, talk was about UFO playing some Tonka Chapman era tunes, the wondrous site when they played the City Hall with Schenker, the debacle the last time he played with them, and a rather nasty rumour that they were playing the Academy 2!  Anyway, we missed the support band Fables Last Stand, catching their last song, they actually sounded like Waysted. 

The Academy is not my favourite venue but it’s got a big stage and it is rather spacious, although never, never, ever go see a band there if you’re in the balcony. 

As Faithhealer boomed from the PA at 8.45pm, the crowd started chanting "UFO! UFO! UFO!".  The band ambled onstage and kicked straight into 'Saving Me' from 'The Visitor'.  You wouldn’t have thought it was a Sunday night as the crowd clapped along.  Mogg dressed in a kilt, sounded better than he’s done for years and Barry Sparks played a blinder, stalking the front of the stage like a blonde (and sober!) Pete Way and providing excellent backing vocals.  Next up was 'When Daylight Goes To Town', with the crowd eating up the newer material.  Sad to say, the band seem revitalised without Pete Way.   

As the crowd chants "UFO! UFO!" Mogg announces 'Mother Mary' and they go wild.  Mogg informs the crowd that tonight’s the first time he’s ever played Newcastle without having a drink, then they play 'I’m A Loser!'  The entertaining banter continued throughout the gig, including a tale about Spike, from the Quireboys' todger and the band launch into 'This Kids’.  We get 'Cherry' and 'Ain’t No Baby' from 'Obsession'.  'Helldriver' from the new album slots in well, with Andy Parker pounding the hell outta his kit. 

Throughout the gig Paul Raymond looks relaxed, smiling and making forays to the stage lip when playing guitar, Vinnie Moore peels off the riffs and solos and even throws Sparks the devil horns at one point.  The band as a whole seemed to be enjoying being onstage together and Mogg even took a pic of the crowd. 

When Vinnie Moore starts playing 'Only You Can Rock Me', this fires the crowd up, pure rapture.  The majority of the set tonight consisted of 'S.I.T.N.' and we get the sublime 'Love To Love' with the crowd singing along to the chorus, the frantic 'Lights Out' and 'Too Hot To Handle', with Vinnie Moore playing the guitar behind his head.  The truly epic 'Rock Bottom' seals the deal and the band leave the stage to tumultuous applause.  The crowd chant for their heroes to return and they grant that wish in the form of the ubiquitous 'Doctor Doctor' and 'Shoot Shoot'. 

Newcastle witnessed a superb display from a band seem to get better with every tour lately.  To those people who stayed away because “it ain’t UFO without Way and Schenker” you missed a treat.

Review by: Brassy

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