Vinnie Moore and Phil Mogg of UFO perform at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale. (Andrew Nathanson / GatorProduction.com)

You’d have better odds of spotting a UFO — after seeing a skunk ape in the Everglades, setting up camp, and staring up into the night sky — than catching the legendary British metal group, who rarely venture to U.S. shores these days. On Friday night, that band landed with full-on bombast at Revolution in Fort Lauderdale.

With the band producing clear, crisp sound, the audience’s heads bobbed in unison and arms pumped toward the sky. UFO belted out one fan favorite after another. Though they never achieved mass acceptance in the U.S., this band from the motherland is one of the core groups that rode the end of the British Invasion wave and played a huge role in creating and defining heavy metal.

They rolled through their best-known tunes to the audience’s delight. They opened with “Mother Mary” and a couple songs later “Let it Roll” from their Force It album from the heart of their more successful “Chrysalis Years” of 1973-1979. With Revolution comfortably full, the crowd response was boisterous throughout the show in response to the double bass driven drums, screaming guitar, and gritty vocals.

Photos: UFO at Revolution Live | Visit Andrew Nathanson’s website

Sporting grey suspenders over black on black wardrobe and Doc Martens-like boots, legendary frontman Phil Mogg ran the show as a man possessed. His voice cut through as noted by several fans. One attending said he saw UFO 32 years prior and Mogg’s voice never sounded better.

Mogg appeared as if he could easily take out some foolish youth who might mistake him for an easy mark, due to his age, on a late night after departing a pub in London. This is impressive for a guy in his mid-60’s. Working the mic stand a la Robert Plant or Steven Tyler, it was clear he was comfortable maintaining complete control of the show and did so solidly, expending volumes of energy in so doing.

This energy permeated the stage with early band members Paul Raymond on keys and rhythm guitar and Andy Parker driving the double bass drums. Of course their most recent guitarist, American master Vinnie Moore, did a premier job wielding the axe. A couple of people noted how he was able to match former UFO guitarist Michael Schenker (Scorpions, MSG) in tone and ability.

Attending the show, one of baseball’s all-time greats, Mike Piazza, said the show was “awesome. It sounded great. I was always a fan of Vinnie Moore.”

Piazza was in good company with Eddie Trunk of VH1’s “The Metal Show.” Both were very cordial and allowing fans photo opportunities after the show. Piazza was spotted going backstage after that.

UFO wasn’t afraid to try out more recent material with “Saving Me” and “Hell Driver” from the more recent “The Visitor” album, which were received warmly by the crowd.

However, the audience thrived on vintage 1970’s material like “Love to Love,” “Too Hot to Handle,” and “Lights Out” from the Lights Out album, and “Only You Can Rock Me” and “Ain’t No Baby” from Obsession.

Throughout there was plenty of layered synthesizer, creating the spatial sound they are known for such as in “Love to Love.” Back when metal bands delved into melody instead of jamming as many notes as possible under a screaming “singer,” they used to drop in hints of acoustic guitar intermixed with world-class electric such as Moore brings to the table.

Among the fastest fingers out there, Moore accentuates their music tonally and, when the time is right, with a flood of bombastic notes. They decorate the music like icing on the most elegant ornate cake one might deliver to Her Majesty – and from an American. He cuts out a delicate rose with a fiery hatchet and then runs lines with the precision of a heart surgeon.

Before “Rock Me” Mogg relayed the story of getting a week off some 30 years ago in Miami (Beach), when it was more ‘elderly,’ so they ended up in Ft. Lauderdale — during the nefarious Spring Break days. He said, “It was agony” suggesting getting caught up in those heady days.

Not afraid to let loose, there were several ‘jams’ peppered throughout the show in the middle of songs that went on for minutes. It created the ambience of the 1970s and 1980s, where musicians were allowed to put forth their talent and create a wall of music, highlighting their capability.

In the case of UFO this is a good thing with Moore playing off Raymond’s tasteful keys and solid rhythm guitar intermixed over Parker’s rock steady time keeping. Tastefully bent notes, wah and wammy bar driven overtones, and chirped tones created plenty of pyrotechnics for the audience to take in from a guy that delivers the guitar goods.

Always entertaining, Mogg spotted a couple of ladies easy on the eyes in the primarily masculine crowd. “You get to spot things in bars – who’s drinking what,” he said tongue in cheek.

They did encores with a couple of repetitive titled songs, “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot.” During the encore break Mogg noted about Moore sporting a silver necklace, “He’s wearing some bling. He’ll be buying a Hummer next.”

Observant, Mogg continued with his shoes noting they reminded him of the guy in the film “No Country for Old Men.”

Ironic British humor, delivered tastefully like the music, entertained between the voluminous notes.

In closing he thanked the audience graciously and warmly noted, “It’s been lovely!”