UFO / TARA LYNCH | LIVE REVIEW
Tramshed, Cardiff, Tue 12 Mar
Veteran hard rock outfit UFO seamlessly beckoned the attention of a loyal fanbase on a weatherbeaten Tuesday night. As part of their 50th anniversary tour – possibly their final one – this sold-out show promised to deliver the influential live wire antics for which the band are revered.
Garnering a primarily static response from the predominantly middle-aged audience with her opening set, Tara Lynch’s gravel-voiced range rolled through a sequence of heavy metal material from her debut album. The Californian artist, with backing band in tow, did manage to secure modest approval from gig-goers, although as a warmup act they often proved overpowering. Abounding with energy, the multi-instrumentalist shredded through raucous, earnestly delivered, but ultimately formulaic fare; a template ill-fitting the headliner’s seasoned reputation.
UFO entered to the expectant roar of enthusiastic devotees. Gliding into view with a combustible stage presence, lead vocalist and founding member Phil Mogg gauged the audience, expending no time in hurtling through a spirited performance of Mother Mary. Quipping and cheekily beer-swigging on occasion, the frontman, alongside a scattering of original members, fizzed with an effusive and endearing energy, commandeering the turbulent splendour of Lights Out with gusto, at one point substituting London for Cardiff in the song’s memorable lyrics. Obsession-era Only You Can Rock Me was given similar consummate treatment, sounding as fresh as ever.
Paul Raymond, a revolving fixture of the band throughout their history, exhibited his versatility as a musician, adroitly flitting between keys and rhythm section with a finesse that betrayed his mainstay status during the course of the last four decades. Vinnie Moore lent renewed vitality to the 1977 classic Love To Love, replete with richly-rendered solos, showcasing equally thunderous guitar dexterity on Too Hot To Handle. Chants of the band’s name reverberated throughout the room, anticipating an encore that took the form of signature tracks Doctor Doctor and Shoot Shoot. The latter of which saw Moore, donning a black hat and earning Santana jibes from Mogg, proceeding to tear through with eviscerating technical precision. A two-hour set that emphasised the five-piece’s proto-metal legacy and undimmed durability.
words CHRIS HAMILTON-PEACH