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Category:    Home > Reviews > Concert > Rock > Michael Schenker Group - World Wide Live 2004

The Michael Schenker Group – World Wide Live 2004

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Concert: C+

 

 

In the later 1970s, UFO was a Hard Rock band from Britain that never broke big, but was one of Chrysalis Records’ first name acts to hit, with their 1977 Lights Out album a mainstay for fans that marked their biggest success in the U.S., especially in Rock radio.  Guitarist Michael Schenker and singer Phil Mogg headed the band.  Quickly, the turnover in the band was more than expected, leading to Schenker himself leaving in 1980.  He then founded The Michael Schenker Band and about a quarter-century later, here is the latest configuration of the band in World Wide Live 2004.

 

Though nothing extraordinary or spectacular about the show, it is a solid throwback to the older Rock of UFO and several of the following songs are among the following playlist:

 

1)     Ready To Rock

2)     Mother Mary

3)     Assault Attack

4)     Let It Roll

5)     Lights Out

6)     Rock N Roll Believer

7)     Arachnophobiac

8)     Into The Arena

9)     Only You Can Rock Me

10)  On & On

11)  Too Hot To Handle

12)  Armed & Ready

13)  Doctor Doctor

14)  Rock Bottom

 

This adds up to about 105 minutes of playtime and current lead singer Chris Logan is just good enough that he would meet the high standards of Jack Black’s Dewey Finn in Richard Linklater’s School Of Rock (2003) for authenticity and effort.  Maybe the days of the “Rock God” are not what they used to be, but Logan can definitely sing and only diehard purists will be unhappy.  Maybe he could be rocking out more, but the style of singing is pre-Rock ballad enough not to become a joke.  However, this is nothing new, no matter how well done, though above the many DVDs we have recently endured of Rock acts far past their prime.  Logan feels like the last of a line of singers like we will never hear from again, so fans of UFO, Schenker (who plays well here) and older Rock will appreciate this set better than most.  It is maybe more than just for fans only, but only just.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is riddled with fine detail trouble, but the color is not bad.  This is just not very clear, as other such taped programs have been, no matter what video format it was shot on, though digital High Definition is doubtful.  The stereo sound is available in Dolby Digital 2.0 with Pro Logic surrounds and 5.1, which is a little better.   The extras include an interview clip, biography, discography and two PC functions: weblinks and desktop images.  That’s enough to make it just above a basic release.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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