Opera rocks Rama
Posted By NATHAN TAYLOR, THE PACKET AND TIMES, Ontario, Canada.

While some of the musicians who defined arena rock are either dead or have gone out of business, the rock is alive and well.

The Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra (URO), which performed Friday night at Casino Rama, is about as good as it gets if you're looking for a live compilation of classic rock.

The group's 'A Night at the Rock Opera' included a set list of songs that are popular with cover bands. But unlike so many weekend rock stars, the URO knows how to juggle charisma and accuracy.

And they know how to flatter a northern audience of 4,000-plus.

"I didn't realize people were so sexually attractive in Canada," said Sal Clemente, singer/producer of the Boston, Mass.-based group, which obviously hadn't spent enough time north of the border.

The 19 URO members kicked off the set with back-to-back-to-back classics from The Who, starting with Won't Get Fooled Again.

For the next 21 songs from bands like The Beatles, Queen and Led Zeppelin, the URO maintained its theatrics and endurance, characterizing the "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll" combination of the era. (Maybe not the drugs, though drummer/ producer Alan Ware -- probably the hardest working of them all -- did at times look like Ringo Starr on speed.)

Having 19 performers on stage at the same time is an advantage for the URO, allowing it to credibly cover songs like the Queen anthem Bohemian Rhapsody and The Beatles' Helter Skelter, which rely heavily on harmonies and more than your standard drums, bass and guitars.

They had all the eye makeup, leather, wide-legged stances, fist pumping, air guitar and -- most important -- talent required of not just any rock show, but a rock opera.

The URO was paying homage to the original performers, who should feel honoured by the amount of work that clearly went into creating such a spectacle.