uli and schenker concert

In the sprawling county of North Sacramento where the section eight housing flourishes and the barrio overflows, an unassuming bunker lays low in the landscape. The neighborhood in which it stands is crisscrossed manically by shiny SUV's driven by wannabe rap-stars outfitted with double spinner-rims, DVD's, etc. Overpowered volumes blaring indescrimanently from ajar windows, cracking factory welds with ease... It's from this dangerous and menacing part of town that we gathered, us rockers and our defiant attitudes, levis pulled waist-high... Our solidarity galvanized by the overwhelming number of adversaries that menacingly orbit around and 'round doing their intimidation maneuvers. Corporate America is playing-up the ghetto culture and now handles their logistics. Here's were we gathered. Our bunker, it's our hold out. We're the outsiders with our tradition, our church. And our bunker is our church in this reversed jihad... Inside the 300 person venue an exceptional event was to take place. A Master Wizard and a Mad, mad, axeman were here to inspire, enlighten, and rally us for our sacred task of holding the flame and keeping it alive. With enthusiasm and zeal we gathered together. It was a scorching day and the evening breeze failed us this night. But the stage was ready, and soon the air would be pierced by amazing power chords and soaring melodies. What was that? That's the Wizard! The Wizard walks by. Some say they heard tinkling bell... Uli Jon Roth. Uli floats when he walks. Nobody saw his legs move... clad in long coat, colorful shirt and wide, purple and blue headband, this is man of slight stature only in the physical world. An aura of peacefulness is about him. He exudes a calm to all near him. Whilst taking hold of his rather large and ornate guitar, he eyes those gathered before him and then purposely focuses upon the musical instrument that he powers with masterful talent... The notes come forth like smoothly running snow melt on the first warm of the season. We are mesmerized. We are in wonderment. There's no band, just the Wizard and guitar and an assistant. He's showing us that a seasoned virtuoso can use new tools. In fact, he's demonstrating that technology can be taken from our nemis' and used against them. A concept that is puzzling and strange but effective beyond any expectation. The music sounds familiar now. It's "Your Light" and then most of the "Taken By Force" album. Then classical Vladi's Four Seasons' "Winter", "Then Fly To the Rainbow"... some off "Virgin Killer"... The backdrop showed motion pictures of the Wizard with an orchestra, blending into time lapsed cloudscapes, brooks and streams in lush forests... The familiar vocals were done by a womans voice and were appropriate and seamless... The Wizard sang some too. Hellcat! Polar Nights? HA! Who'd of thunk it? He speaks to us of his recent travels, about the heat and his appreciation for us... We love the Wizard and his wonderful music. I got to tell him personally after his set. I also got to tell him of our website community, my wonderful friends that gift me with music knowledge and great music and how I plan to reciprocate to my good bud, JaminJim who would like to have an Uli t-shirt. I couldn't get the size requested so I explained to Uli that a personalized and signed shirt would be appropriate even if my friend wasn't to wear it. "What's that name?", he yells to me over the MSG in the background in heavy German accent... JaminJim! I yell back! What is "Jamming Jim"? he echos. "That's my friend that sends music in the mail. I want to give him a gift, please sign it to JaminJim." "Jamming Jim?", he questions. This Wizard is a rather highly educated German citizen with little experience in English and English slang. He signs it to Jamming Jim... I am pleased nonetheless. It was worth stepping out of the club to find a nearby ATM to get this done. I am tickled to pieces... Uli is very cool and kind... much like JaminJim. Similar haircut too! HA! His assistant was waved off when he tried get him to cease the signing and have Uli go back to the travel bus. Uli looked at the line of folks and excused the interruption to them and then got back to chatting, signing and enjoying his fans. No one was denied. A break commences and the stage is reconfigured for the second onslaught. This bandstand is beginning to look familiar. Marshall stacks, amps, drums... Michael darts around the stage, down in front, then to the back. Then he comes to settle stage left in front of those Marshalls. Dressed in urban attire, as to blend into the environment in which we are now holed up without detection. Michael says hello and the singer starts getting the crowd fired up with requests to hear us. He really wants to know, are we ready to rock? Then lights out! Lights Out was the opener, then many mixed old -UFO-, new and old MSG tunes... Highlights would have to include a song I have yet not heard up until that moment, "Rock 'N' Roll Believer". What an excellent song, hard 'n tough but a center of sweetness in there for that well rounded composition. Also 'I Want More', One More For the Rodeo, Doctor, Doctor... On And On, Dancer, so many I couldn't keep track without writing them down. I will post the actual set-list when I soon get one together... The sound quality was crispy, loud, wall-of-sound but not too loud as to cause pain. The band is quite a sight. All have cultivated their own look. I mean their OWN. No stylist would be so bold... Ha! Michael goes into a zone when he plays. My dogs do the same thing when I give them a bovine femur. That's what he reminds me of this show. A man working a guitar the way a dog gnaws a bone. In utter pleasure and possessing all that is needed to get the most from that bone. He stayed for a long time after the show and signed autographs, posed for photographs and chatted with all of us. Finally my friends and I head for home. We were exhausted, jazzed, and stunned all at the same time. We saw real musicians, heard real music and were part of a proud legacy, witnesses to music history, forever recorded in our hearts and minds. We talk about the show all the way home, us warriors...