Uli Jon Roth Tour Review

Uli Jon Roth Dave Uhrich Band 10/5/08 HoB Reviewer: Karma E. Omowale Photos: Erika Kristen Watt

“Uli Jon Roth Performed Masterfully Under the Late-Night Skies at the Chicago House of Blues!”

All onlookers witnessed a unique experience in true musicianship last night at the Chicago House of Blues to start with local favourite/guitarist Dave Uhrich to Uli Jon Roth’s mastery of one-hundred twenty minutes (120) of the new album Under a Dark Sky, jamming and a very special guest! During Erika Kristen’s interview before his set, Uli revealed that his daughter Akasha had just flown in from Germany and would have performed but time ran out. However famous Chicago violinist Rachel Barton Pine is scheduled to appear this evening featuring her first impromptu performance. It will also be her first time playing an electric viola as well. According to a post on Blabbermouth, Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini was supposed to make a scheduled appearance but unfortunately, he never showed. Since we are still on the subject of special guest and big names and whatnot, the band has a very special member in it, Mark Boals, ex-vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen during the 80’s. Mr. Boals adds to his resume by appearing on the new CD as well. More recently, Boals has been occupying his time with the Swedish band The Codex, Ring of Fire and Genius Empire (Ger).

Uli Jon Roth lineup: Uli Jon Roth – guitar, vocals; Mark Boals – vocals; Liz Vandall – vocals; Michael Ehre – drums; Corvin Bahn – keyboards; Niklas Turmann - guitar, vocals; Martin Motnik – bass

Earlier Uli was a little worried that there would not be a lot of people present but to warm the cockles of everyone’s heart, the venue filled up nicely! To keep the audience occupied during the long and painful changeover, “classics” piped through the venues’ speakers like Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath (Ozzy years), REO Speedwagon, Pink Floyd, Foreigner…to much of my chagrin, I knew damn near every word. Oh well, when music is good, it transcends time! Well at least this statement looks damn good scrawled across this screen! The music along with anticipatory chatter filled the air as everyone impatiently awaited the man known as Uli Jon Roth to grace us with his presence. After being made to listen to these forgotten tunes, you really understand just how musicians such as Phil Anselmo and others cite this kind of music as the source of their inspiration. Even though classic rock/metal dealt with heavy subject matter, it was packaged differently not in the unwrapped dark and brooding package that today’s music has morphed into. Very few disguise the darkness in pretty wrapping paper with a bow…this is where Mr. Roth comes in, as he is able to do this.

The crowd was happy to finally see the virtuoso on the stripped down bells and whistle less stage. After a couple of notes, it is easy to see why his fans adore him so. The intensity for which he plays is amazing; he is precise and deliberate yet free spirited in his playing…now that’s a true feat! Dare I make this analogy but it’s like he’s making love to his instrument: he’s thoughtful, his passion overfloweth and caring…making sure the needs of the audience are being met making sure he too is satisfied with the output with every note he conveys. Uli’s guitars are quite elaborate. The particular one he played during the first song “S.O.S.” was bejeweled with a dark blue gemstone. Makes you wonder if names them!

During the second song of the night, an elated Uli addressed the crowd, “Good evening Chicago! What can I say? It’s good to see you guys! It’s always amazing to be here in the Windy City. We have a new band as you can see and we come here on the back of a new album called Under a Dark Sky! You know me; it’s going to be a long concert. It depends on you if we’ll add stuff but Under a Dark Sky is a concept album and it’s quite serious. Someone has to be serious for once! This first one It’s called “Land of Dawn”!” Once Mark Boals, male vocalist, took the center stage that’s truly when the magic began as all heads were turned from the dark-sunglass wearing, leather clad Boals for a hot minute…then back to Uli. Then female singer Liz Vandall joined the rest of the band to round out the fantastic musical soundscape.

One thing you can agree with Uli that this album definitely sounds better in a live atmosphere; this is an absolutely epic piece. We now make our way to the third song of the night “The Magic Word” amazingly enough during the intro Uli felt questions if it “really is a song.” Liz’s deep Germanic soulful voice filled the night air shaking you to your very core as she sang the chorus “Stop Killing” then when Mark joined in, it made a chill go up and down my back. It was Uli’s wish of being able to present 5.1 or 7.1 stereo to the audience The vocal melodies were perfect! Since Liz has a lower more guttural tone (almost a Tina Turner way of attacking vocal arrangements with a Deutsch twist) as it perfectly offsets Boals’ falsetto voice (and yes he still has it ladies and germs). Mark’s vocals were a powerhouse a most epic in him singing, “Give life a chance.”

The band then went on to expertly perform “Letter of the Law,” which was specifically written about the US government and how it’s run or not in this case. The band performed the hell out of this bluesy little number. Liz and Mark performed as if their lives were depending on it as their collective passion was rousing! The bassist Martin Motnik and other guitarist Niklas Turmann tore it up as they jammed out; they were quite the symbiotic pair! On to the next number “Stay in the Light” to illustrate just how Zen this song is, Uli began to sing at approximately 11:11. His voice is so calming and soothing. When the vocalists joined in it was like a chorus of angels.

To intro the next selection, Uli engaged the crowd in some humour, “Haven’t I seen you at the last gig? How about you? Who was here at the last House of Blues show? Well are you guys ready for some more off the new album?” The crowd shouted. Uli continued, “Well this one is WAY out there. …” Liz interrupts; “It is way out there, it’s about 18:00!” laughter erupts in the hall. “No she’s wrong, we’ve added two more minutes for the sake of mental health and ours. This title has a German title called “Tanz In Die Dammerung” from a novel my dad wrote. It means dancing in the twilight!” The song is a beautiful yet lengthy piece, which included an awesome drum solo by Michael Ehre, followed by an amazing keyboard solo by Corvin Bahn, to one of many surprises in the evening, a bass solo by Motnik. It’s about time the bass solo happened, such an underrated instrument!! The crowd went wild…rightfully so! After the jamming session with Motnik, Bahn and Ehre (which was cool as all outdoors) Roth (and his Three Musketeers hat…how apropos) along with Boals rejoined the three players.

Fast-forwarding a little to a pivotal song as his demeanor changed, “I’d like to sing a song, you know I don’t know why they give me a bunch of toys to play with…but let’s get this baby in tune first. I forgot to charge the batteries. But we need to be in tune for the next one! This is one of my favourites from the Scorpion days. A song…” All of a sudden an out of breath Vadell comes rushing on stage in a completely different outfit, jokingly attempts to explain her “Spinal Tap” moment to the crowd after getting lost in the backstage maze, “I couldn’t find the stage!” Now that all the players were on stage, Uli could continue, “This song is “We’ll Burn the Sky” and is dedicated to Monika!” This song was masterfully performed; Liz and Mark’s performances were matchless. Boals hit the high note with perfection. The band then played another song, which leads us to intermission!

After a couple of minutes Uli as well as the rest of the band return, it was funny to see the patrons still hanging in there, getting more inebriated as the twilight of the early morning hours rapidly approached. Uli addressed the still happy crowd, “Thank you very much! You want some more? You want some old stuff?” The crowd roared back, “YEAH!” “How old do you want it? Like 1000 years ago…okay! I’ll do a few!” Keeping his promise Uli began to play the beginning chords for “Pictured Life” and the fans lost it! On the next number “Catch Your Train,” Mark unzipped his leather jacket and proverbially rolled up his sleeves and got his ass into the song! Next on the list was, “To stay on the subject, I played this with the Scorpions, “Life is Like a River.” Then on to “Not Your Stepping Stone,” in which Uli had a rousing solo. The keyboards/organs made you feel like you were taking part in a Southern church service. The music filled the night air with such richness.

It looked as if the crowd were loosing steam Uli then spoke, “We’re not done actually! We’ve got a special treat for you, we have Rachel Barton Pine with us tonight. I met Rachel last year and she’s the greatest violinist and she also has a dark side! I asked her to jam but it may take her a few moments since she’s never done it but I know she can do it….” The crowd erupted with applause. For Rachel not to have ever played an electric violin or jammed, she sure caught on quickly! Before you knew it, Rachel caught her groove. The smile across her face after a while said it all! She looked to the band to follow their lead, a purely professional move! She played beautifully; it was like a scene from “The Red Violin” during the only time when Mr. Ruselsky had the chance to play. For the next song, Uli asked if Rachel was still in C minor. “Ya’ll know this one…“All Along the Watchtower” While Uli sang, Rachel followed Uli’s guitar, she looked at ease, like she was born to do it! The added instrument breathed life into this timed classic. I am sure Bob Dylan never envisioned this when he created this gem some umpteen years ago! The crowd was so appreciative to see Rachel play. It was a pleasure and a real honor to be privy to have her perform for us this evening!

After Rachel departed, all smiles Uli shared this sentiment, “See there’s a first time for everything! Okay, now we’re gonna wrap this up! The band then performed more classics such as “If 6 Was 9” straight into “Little Wing.” Uli ended the night on a high note, “See you later Chicago! Ciao!” Even though it was a late one with the show ending around 1:45; fun was had by all. Uli Jon Roth and co ruled!

Partial setlist (in particular order): Land of Dawn; SOS; Son of Sky; Letter of Law;  Tanz In Die Dammerung; We’ll Burn the Sky; Pictured Life’ Catch Your Train; Life is Like a River; Not Your Stepping Stone; All Along the Watchtower; If 6 was 9; Little Wing; Sympathy for the Devil.

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