Michael Schenker Group/Night Demon –
Corporation, Sheffield, Wednesday, 29th November, 2023
Now getting me out on a mid-weeker is no mean feat but it had to be done when you had a legend or two playing Steel City – a show that had been moved from O2 Academy because of that crumbling concrete issue down to our beloved Corp on Milton Street.
Setlist: Prelude/Outsider/Screams In The Night/Dawn Rider/Save Me Now/Escape From Beyond/The Sun Goes Down (Thin Lizzy)/Night Demon.
Apologies to Night Demon as I got there late so only caught the last half or so of their set but what I saw was really good. Tight slabs of old school 80's heavy Metal from a trio who had come all the way from Ventura, California, USA to play for us tonight. They started in 2011 and their current line-up is Jarvis Leatherby (Lead Vocals/Bass), Armand John Anthony (Guitars/Backing Vocals) & Brian Wilson (Drums).
Wow! An obscure bit of Thin Lizzy too was a pleasurable treat that I heard from Steve Cooper was actually faster than the original and 'Escape To Beyond' has a powerful knockout riff too! It was also a cool touch to have a song named after the band in 'Night Demon' that is just pure old school early 80's Iron Maiden style.
These guys aced it and it would be great to see a headline show from them at some point in the not too distant future!
Setlist: Into The Arena/Cry For The Nations/Doctor, Doctor/Looking For Love/Lights Out/Red Sky/Shoot Shoot/Emergency/On And On/Let It Roll/Attack Of The Mad Axeman/Natural Thing/Armed And Ready/Let Sleeping Dogs Lie/Desert Song/Rock Bottom.
Encore: Too Hot To Handle/Only You Can Rock Me.
When it comes to the like of maestro musicians like Michael Schenker, what more needs to be said that has not been said already in the last few decades or so, apart from the fact that it's the first time the German Legend and his band has played his Steel City Venue, albeit on a scaled down production due to issues out of his hands that has already state earlier.
Whilst onstage, the man does not move much at all, preferring to keep on stage left (our right) and doesn't say much apart from a quick Hello to us all and says, “Let's go into the Arena!”. He lets his fingers do his talking on that trademark Gibson Flying whereby he wails, noodles, riffs and crangs on all those signature songs we are treated to in his precise to the book collection on songs that we get treated to tonight.
The sound up front is superior and very distinctive with the lighting being a touch of class on top of that too. Last time it was Ronnie Romero fronting the band (who I saw with them at Stonedead Festival in Newark-Upon-Trent) whereas this time round he has a Vocal Supremo from the McAuley-Schenker Group and Michael Schenkerfest nailing all the material. Yes I am talking about none other than Robin McAuley who has taken on the European & UK 50th Anniversary Universal Tour.
I think it's safe to say that Michael has got the set list well and truly mastered and like his former Lead Vocalist, Graham Bonnet who we saw do a show on the Sunday at this very venue, performs mostly songs that are very familiar to the general older audience of his fans who are more familiar with his classic material from his earlier MSG days and the hits from his days in UFO.
The rest of the line-up of the band is made up of Steve Mann (Guitar/Keyboards/Backing Vocals),
Barend Courbois (Bass/Backing Vocals) & Bodo Schopf (Drums) who give a clinical rendition of every gem in the show that includes favourites like 'Armed & Ready'. 'Doctor, Doctor', 'Attack Of The Mad Axeman' and 'Rock Bottom' to name but a few.
I get to hear 'Desert Song' the second time this week, but this time sung by Robin as opposed to Graham and I've got to say that they are totally on par with each other on killer deliverance – both did an immense job and I cannot say that one has out-done the other one bit. Mr. McAuley is as active as every up there on the large stage and works every bit of is as much as he possibly can.
He is as fit as a butchers dog and can definitely show these young upstarts how it should be done, nailing every sing note with complete perfection. He is an utter joy to take in and is all smiles and enjoyment throughout the show. The man is a natural and you can tell he loves his role, with the energy and zest oozing over into our very hearts and minds.
Overall, this is a brilliant show by all and sundry – to be honest we have grown to expect nothing other than this since Michael always has the best available musicians and lead vocalists in his group who give their all tonight and leave the audience fully satisfied with what they have received by the time we get to the final notes of the final song of the encore that is 'Only You Can Rock Me'.
I reckon Michael and the boys will be rocking us for many more years to come if this show is anything to go by.
10/10
Review By Glenn Milligan
Photographs By Matt Cordwell