UFO, Heavy Metal Kids @Wulfrun Hall 31/1/12

Whilst you could probably prosecute the Heavy Metal Kids under the trades descriptions act, given that they don’t actually play heavy metal nor are they kids, you probably would let them off as they are pretty entertaining.

With Justin McConville taking over on lead vocals after John Altman left last year they appear less of a laugh and more of a serious band than they might have been when they first reformed, and with original (and only surviving) members guitarist Cosmo and drummer Keith Boyce in the line up they are an interesting proposition.

A cover of “Rock Candy” is perhaps unfortunate as all it does is make you wish you were watching Montrose instead, but their best-known track “She’s No Angel” is full of pub rock swagger.

You do have to feel a little sorry for UFO. Around since 1969 and with a cannon of very fine songs indeed, they never seem to get the same treatment as some other bands do on those history of Heavy Rock shows that pop up on Sky Arts or BBC4 from time to time.

Of course the Schenker/Way glory days are behind them, but that rather misses the point. For not only do UFO have a back catalogue to envy, they have with their last three releases post reformation in 2004, been on top form. 2012’s “Seven Deadly” is a marvelous slab of hard rock that should be somewhere near RTM’s end of year best of. 

As such this evening is a both a celebration of old and new. “Mother Mary” from 1975’s “Force It” opens things before the outstanding “Fight Night” kicks off four tracks from “…Deadly.”

There is a large crowd in a sweltering Wulfrun and they lap up the older songs, such as “Only You Can Rock Me,” “Lights Out” and “Rock Bottom.” The latter is used as an excuse for Vinnie Moore to showcase his formidable talent and he plays an astonishing solo to solidify his reputation as one of the finest guitarists around.

Singer Phil Mogg, by contrast is struggling a little. Not vocally, in fact he sounds great, but not only does he have a cold, he is in a rather forgetful mood. He can’t recall the name of the new record, nor does he know the setlist running order and finally he thanks us for “spending Sunday night with the band.” Bless.

Thankfully he does recall the lyrics to encore numbers “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot” which round off a very fine evening indeed. An evening that has seen UFO underline the fact that not only are they only one of the most under-rated bands in British Hard Rock history – they are also one of the best.