UFO, 4Bitten @Institute Library 3/3/13

4Bitten might be from Greece, but you just know that their hearts are in America circa 1987. They are seemingly going all out for the MTV sound that so defined that era. “Games You Play” apes Whitesnake, while “Far From Grace” is a more than decent stab at a Bon Jovi tune.

 Frontwoman Fofi Roussos has a decent voice for this type of thing, though, and they are enjoyable despite offering nothing that could remotely be described as “new.” “Let It all Burn” continues the clichéd song titles, while the last song of their half hour set rather neatly sums them up. Roussos sings about the need to “write a different song,” but does so over a riff that, shall we say, borrows extensively, from Queen’s “Tie Your Mother Down.”

Not that it matters a jot what the support band are up to. Tonight, you see, is all about UFO. Of all the reformed British hard rock bands of that era, Moggy and the boys can perhaps consider themselves the most unlucky. Yes, of course, the glory days are behind them in terms of record sales and yes, they might be best known to a generation of metal fans as the band who’s song is played before Iron Maiden come onstage, but that neglects the fact that out of all of them, UFO are arguably putting out the best records. Certainly last years phenomenal “Seven Deadly” has bothered RTM’s Ipod extensively in the last 13 or so months.

Even tonight’s choice of venue says much for them. Whether by choice or accident, it is in the smaller Library downstairs, but is so packed that surely it could comfortably have took place in the main Institute.

The setlist is largely the same as the one the trailed around the UK about this time last year, although this one does begin with “Lights Out” and if you are going to start with one of your songs, then you had better be confident, this, however, is UFO we are talking about, and by the time “Mother Mary” and “….Deadly.” highlights “Fight Night” and “Wonderland” have been played it is immediately clear we are in the presence of something pretty special.

The band is in fine form, guitar man Vinnie Moore is worthy successor to Michael Schenker, but is singer Phil Mogg that carries the band along. At turns he is both a favourite uncle and looks he would punch you in the face, but still finds time to ask about the Rotunda, tell us he is only touring to get out of the house, argue with the lighting man about the set up and tell us that he has Top Gear recording on his Sky Box.

Back to the songs, “Love To Love” becomes the epic centerpiece and, whilst we can argue about the merits of finishing with a guitar solo, the encore of “Doctor Doctor” (naturally) and “Shoot Shoot” cannot be trifled with.

UFO were truly out of this world tonight, but we should leave the last word to Mogg. “I was determined to have fun tonight,” he tells us. “And luckily you didn’t spoil it too much…” 

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.