By: Robert Cavuoto
Michael Schenker and the bad boys of the Scorpions, Francis Buchholz [bass] and Herman Rarebell [drums] have teamed up for an all-star tour of the U.S. this Spring.
Tonight’s show lands Michael’s Temple of Rock line-up in New York City at the Gramercy Theater on April 15, 2015.
To my knowledge this is the first U.S. tour where Francis and Herman have played together since Francis left the Scorpions in the early ’90s.
The band is rounded off with Doogie White on vocals and Wayne Findlay on 7-string/keyboards. Together they are promoting their 2015 metal masterpiece, Spirit on a Mission.
Michael told me, “This line-up is the closest he has come to a true band and after releasing Bridge the Gap in 2013 he knew he would have to take this band to the next level. It’s all about the chemistry between the members which makes this band work.”
To celebrate the tour, the band pulled out all the stops and hit the crowd with a barrage of songs from the Scorpions, UFO, as well as Michael’s solo career.
I can understand why he assembled this line-up, as Herman and Francis played exquisitely together, like a finely tuned German sports car. Francis’s driving style of bass playing fits in the pocket of the Herman’s precise and steady drumming. allowing Michael to soar on the rhythms and leads.
With all cylinders firing smoothly from show opener of “Doctor Doctor” to the final encore of “Blackout” the band looked like they were at ease and having the time of their lives. Interaction between the members on stage matched what they gave to the diehards at the sold out theater.
Watching Michael meticulous checking his guitar through every monitor and speaker cabinet during the sound check clearly paid off as his guitar tone and the band’s mix were stellar.
For over two hours Michael dazzled fans with his fluid like playing and bluesy vibrato runs, all the while performing guitar acrobatics with his trademark black and white Dean Flying V’s. He is such a prolific player who has an amazing talent to make all of his leads sound like mini-symphonies within each song.
The set list was stacked heavily with Scorpion and UFO favorites, which Doogie sang his heart out on like; “Rock You Like a Hurricane” “Lovedrive,” “Another Piece of Meat,” and my favorite “Holiday” with its haunting acoustic intro and explosive verses.
It’s a little known fact that Michael played guitar on several songs off the Scorpions’ 1979 release Lovedrive, which he performed tonight. The UFO songs included; “Rock Bottom,” “Let it Roll” and “Lights Out” which brought the house down.
Michael managed to sprinkle some of his latest material into the set list like; “Where the Wild Wind Blows,” “Lord of the Lost and Lonely,” and “Vigilante Man.” Tonight there were more audience members playing air guitar than I have ever seen at a concert!
As with all good things in life, you never know when the party’s going to end, so be sure to check these guys out when they roll into your area, you won’t regret it!
GALLERY
Temple of Rock with Robert Cavuoto (white shirt)
