Post by jptheprofessor on May 15, 2006 20:30:08 GMT -5
When people are asked to name rock's top guitarists, often the familiar names come up - Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker and others. One name that I'll add to my own list after seeing him in concert is Uli Jon Roth.
Roth replaced Michael Schenker as lead guitarist of the Scorpions in 1973, and performed on four Scorpions studio albums before leaving the group in 1977 to do his own thing in Electric Sun. (Michael Schenker returned to replace Roth in Scorpions on the group's Lovedrive album in 1979.) After releasing a few albums with Electric Sun, Roth started exploring more classical terrain on guitar, in the process even designing his own "sky guitar" and blazing his own trail of rock-meets-classical guitar virtuosity; he has released several albums since, most recently Metamorphosis in 2003.
Roth and his latest Sky Band - which now features another Scorpions alumnus, bassist Francis Buccholz - kicked off their latest North American tour this past Friday, May 12, at Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield, Virginia (outside of Washington, D.C.). A large entourage of music fans from the Altoona area, including yours truly, made the roadtrip southward to see this legend in action.
There were two opening bands on the bill. The first was a power trio from West Virginia called DNS. Their sound was heavy and aggressive, citing a Metallica influence. They demonstrated some melodic ability, but were jagged and raw in their delivery. Overall, though, not bad.
Second on the bill was The Lizards, featuring two noteworthy names - former Rainbow/Black Sabbath/Blue Oyster Cult drummer Bobby Rondinelli (who played drums for Blue Oyster Cult when they did "Thunder In The Valley" in Johnstown two years ago), and former Riot lead singer Mike Dimeo. Their style was blues-based hard rock in the Led Zeppelin/Black Crowes vein. Mike showed an excellent voice with ample range and power, and Bob was a powerhouse behind the drum kit, even unleashing a drum solo midway through the set. I liked what I heard from The Lizards enough that I'm looking into purchasing a CD or two soon.
As we awaited Uli Jon Roth's performance, one onlooker standing next to me near the front of the stage remarked, "I feel like I'm a few feet away from Beethoven!" Had it not been for an onslaught of technical problems that dogged Uli and his Sky Band throughout their set, it was almost that magnitude.
Uli was incredible! Through their main set, Uli and his Sky Band - Francis Buchholz on bass, Ferdy Doernberg on keys and slide guitar, Olaf Senkbeil on lead vocals and Michael Eree on drums - played a range of material spanning Uli's solo compositions to early Scorpions. They introduced at least one new composition, "Land Of Dawn," with an American western theme; and did such Uli solo compositions as "Fire Wind" and "Cast Away Your Chains." Among the selections from the early Scorpions archive, Uli and the Sky Band did "Dark Lady," "Sails Of Charon," "Polar Nights" and more. Uli's guitar talents were jawdropping incredible; he played with speed and finesse, but all of it with feeling and soul! And not one note was wasted - every note on his guitar had purpose and served the song and melody. And Uli has been playing long enough that his guitar playing has long since become an extension of his personality, he spoke to the audience through his instrument! His Sky Band was impressive as well; Olaf sang with good range (although he was at times overpowered by the instrumental mix, at least from the vantage point where I was observing from), and Ferdy dazzled with his keys and slide work!
Uli and the Sky Band were called back for three encores! During the first, they did two more early Scorpions classics, "Pictured Life" and "Catch A Train," plus a version of "All Along the Watchtower." During the second encore, Uli spotlighted his classical guitar ability with some solo displays, including a Vivaldi passage.
Definitely, Uli Jon Roth's performance was exciting, inspirational and even spiritual. He, his band, and the video presentation and accompaniment behind them onstage combined to take the audience on different journeys throughout the show. After the show ended, Uli and his bandmates came out and met the audience, signing autographs for everybody who wanted one. Uli was humble and personable; it's always refreshing to see somebody who has achieved music industry success recognize and take care of the fans!
The trip itself was fun (even if I found out the hard way that there are no rest stops along the Capitol Beltway). Thanks to Ron "The Budman" Dalansky for the transportation, and to Joe George and Steve Oswalt for the pre-concert "concert" in the mini-van on the ride down!
Here are some pictures I took from the concert, from right in front of the stage:
ULI! ULI! ULI!
Francis Buchholz.
Again, Uli Jon Roth.
Uli, singing "All Along the Watchtower" during the first encore.
Uli, Olaf Senkbeil and Francis Buchholz.
Uli and Francis Buchholz.
From the second opening band, The Lizards, former Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult drummer Bob Rondinelli.
After the concert, Ron Dalansky gets his guitar autographed by Uli. Uli even picked it up and jammed on it!
Roth replaced Michael Schenker as lead guitarist of the Scorpions in 1973, and performed on four Scorpions studio albums before leaving the group in 1977 to do his own thing in Electric Sun. (Michael Schenker returned to replace Roth in Scorpions on the group's Lovedrive album in 1979.) After releasing a few albums with Electric Sun, Roth started exploring more classical terrain on guitar, in the process even designing his own "sky guitar" and blazing his own trail of rock-meets-classical guitar virtuosity; he has released several albums since, most recently Metamorphosis in 2003.
Roth and his latest Sky Band - which now features another Scorpions alumnus, bassist Francis Buccholz - kicked off their latest North American tour this past Friday, May 12, at Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield, Virginia (outside of Washington, D.C.). A large entourage of music fans from the Altoona area, including yours truly, made the roadtrip southward to see this legend in action.
There were two opening bands on the bill. The first was a power trio from West Virginia called DNS. Their sound was heavy and aggressive, citing a Metallica influence. They demonstrated some melodic ability, but were jagged and raw in their delivery. Overall, though, not bad.
Second on the bill was The Lizards, featuring two noteworthy names - former Rainbow/Black Sabbath/Blue Oyster Cult drummer Bobby Rondinelli (who played drums for Blue Oyster Cult when they did "Thunder In The Valley" in Johnstown two years ago), and former Riot lead singer Mike Dimeo. Their style was blues-based hard rock in the Led Zeppelin/Black Crowes vein. Mike showed an excellent voice with ample range and power, and Bob was a powerhouse behind the drum kit, even unleashing a drum solo midway through the set. I liked what I heard from The Lizards enough that I'm looking into purchasing a CD or two soon.
As we awaited Uli Jon Roth's performance, one onlooker standing next to me near the front of the stage remarked, "I feel like I'm a few feet away from Beethoven!" Had it not been for an onslaught of technical problems that dogged Uli and his Sky Band throughout their set, it was almost that magnitude.
Uli was incredible! Through their main set, Uli and his Sky Band - Francis Buchholz on bass, Ferdy Doernberg on keys and slide guitar, Olaf Senkbeil on lead vocals and Michael Eree on drums - played a range of material spanning Uli's solo compositions to early Scorpions. They introduced at least one new composition, "Land Of Dawn," with an American western theme; and did such Uli solo compositions as "Fire Wind" and "Cast Away Your Chains." Among the selections from the early Scorpions archive, Uli and the Sky Band did "Dark Lady," "Sails Of Charon," "Polar Nights" and more. Uli's guitar talents were jawdropping incredible; he played with speed and finesse, but all of it with feeling and soul! And not one note was wasted - every note on his guitar had purpose and served the song and melody. And Uli has been playing long enough that his guitar playing has long since become an extension of his personality, he spoke to the audience through his instrument! His Sky Band was impressive as well; Olaf sang with good range (although he was at times overpowered by the instrumental mix, at least from the vantage point where I was observing from), and Ferdy dazzled with his keys and slide work!
Uli and the Sky Band were called back for three encores! During the first, they did two more early Scorpions classics, "Pictured Life" and "Catch A Train," plus a version of "All Along the Watchtower." During the second encore, Uli spotlighted his classical guitar ability with some solo displays, including a Vivaldi passage.
Definitely, Uli Jon Roth's performance was exciting, inspirational and even spiritual. He, his band, and the video presentation and accompaniment behind them onstage combined to take the audience on different journeys throughout the show. After the show ended, Uli and his bandmates came out and met the audience, signing autographs for everybody who wanted one. Uli was humble and personable; it's always refreshing to see somebody who has achieved music industry success recognize and take care of the fans!
The trip itself was fun (even if I found out the hard way that there are no rest stops along the Capitol Beltway). Thanks to Ron "The Budman" Dalansky for the transportation, and to Joe George and Steve Oswalt for the pre-concert "concert" in the mini-van on the ride down!
Here are some pictures I took from the concert, from right in front of the stage:
ULI! ULI! ULI!
Francis Buchholz.
Again, Uli Jon Roth.
Uli, singing "All Along the Watchtower" during the first encore.
Uli, Olaf Senkbeil and Francis Buchholz.
Uli and Francis Buchholz.
From the second opening band, The Lizards, former Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult drummer Bob Rondinelli.
After the concert, Ron Dalansky gets his guitar autographed by Uli. Uli even picked it up and jammed on it!