Concert Report by Matt Michael Schenker at Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH, U.S.A. January 21, 2014 Added on 01/23/2014
Concert Report by Bill Michael Schenker at Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH, U.S.A. January 21, 2014 Added on 01/24/2014
Michael Schenker - Let It Roll [guitar solo] Londonderry, NH, USA 21jan2014
Michael Schenker - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie 21jan201
Michael Schenker - Doctor Doctor [Intro] - Live Tupelo Hall, Londonderry NH USA 21jan2014
Concert Report by James Papaconstantine Michael Schenker at Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH, U.S.A. January 21, 2014 Added on 01/24/2014
Michael Schenker Group / Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH
Okay, let me start this review off by saying, I've been a Michael Schenker fan from his early career, from his work with UFO, Scorpions into his solo stuff.
Having never been to the Tupelo Music Hall, or Londonderry, NH for that matter. I left early, to scope out the room. I found it easily, (thank you navigation system) and got a good parking spot in their lot. The tour bus was already there and when I exited my car I saw, MSG singer, Doogie White. Doogie has sang with Michael on and off as well as singing with Yngwie Malmsteen, Rainbow and Tank. I looked in the window of the Music Hall and commented how small it was, (It looked like a small grange hall or a large coffee house.) Doogie answered, "yeah, but the room sounds great!"
Upon entering the venue, the club manager was kind enough to show me what the light level was going to be like during the show, which helped me in setting the metering for my camera. Everybody associated with the Music Hall and Michael's tour were extremely nice.
Michael went on just after 8:00 and although I wasn't assigned a seat, I filled a couple until the proper seat holders arrived, shooting from the second row. (typically, venues have a barricade between the band and the fans, allowing photographers access to good shots, but with some of these smaller house don't have the room) Once the seat holders found their seats, I moved over to Shenker's side of the stage and shot from the corner, keeping out of the way of the paying patrons. Michael opened the show with his solo stuff, MSG material spanning 34 years and 13 studio and 8 live releases. After which he played a couple Scorpions songs, then returned for a couple more MSG tunes. He finished up the evening with 7 UFO songs. I heard one patron on his way out the door say, "that was like, three shows in one!" and I couldn't agree more.
Michael Shenker is a God among guitar enthusiasts, His tone and unique way of playing scales is all his own. Though never making the big time the states, Michael is huge in Europe and Asia. I'm not sure why that is, maybe it was that the American record promoters didn't hear in him what his true fans did, maybe they were too busy pushing the latest trend down our throats but whatever the reason, I'm glad I caught on early and was able to finally catch him live.
There are two kinds of guitar players out there, (generalizing) there are the cats, who play a different solo every night and then there are the guys who pretty much stick to the solo that was recorded, I think Michael is more of the later, giving his listener's exactly what they paid for, and as mentioned above his tone was incredible. It's not the amp, it's not the guitars, it's the way Michael plays, it's the growl he gets from holding the pick close to the strings, slightly muting each string with the tip of his finger.
Doogie was correct when he said the room sounded great. It wasn't muddy, or too loud, it was just perfect. The back wall of the stage was covered in studio foam, allowing good angles for optimal acoustics. Stage lighting was great, although I would have liked to see a little more front lighting, or a follow spot, as much of the time Michaels face was in shadows, or dimly lit.
The show was incredible as a matter of fact I would dare say, that it was the best club show had seen in the past 25 years. (and if you know me, that's allot of club shows) I hope they are able to jump on some of these big festivals, like The Monster's of Rock Cruise or the M3 Festival soon.
Doogie mentioned that they will be back on the East coast in the fall with Herman Rarebell and Francis Buchholz (Scorpions) joining them on Drums and Bass. (Francis and Herman just toured with them in Europe) If you get the chance to catch their show, do yourself a favor and get tickets early, as they are selling out venue after venue.
The Michael Schenker Group are:
Michael Schenker: Guitar
Doogie White: Vocals
Wayne Findlay: Guitar / Keyboards
Rev Jones: Bass
Pete Holmes: Drums
The set list
E-Tone
Neptune Rising
Where the Wild Wilds Blow
Armed and Ready
Cry for the Nations
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Assault Attack
Attack of the Mad Axe man
Rock my Nights
Into the Arena
Love Drive
Another Piece of Meat
Devil Knows You're Dead
Horizons
Shoot Shoot
Only You Can Rock Me
Let it Roll
Too Hot To Handle
Lights Out
Rock Bottom
Doctor Doctor
Concert Report by Cliff Michael Schenker at Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH, U.S.A. January 21, 2014 Added on 01/24/2014
Great MSG show in Londonderry band was really rockin and having fun I dont know how but Michael keeps getting better it was a sold out show and the crowd helped out singing
