11:00 AM Tuesday, April 21, Too Tall Tim and I shuffle off to Buffalo to see The Dead. The band is no longer using the name The Grateful Dead it has been shortened to The Dead. Too Tall and I have met maybe a total of 10 days over the past three years. We play golf in a weekend getaway every year for the past three years and we have run into each other at a Rat Dog show. This is perfect two Dead Heads who hardly know each other traveling across country to see the Dead just for the love of the music and the scene. We will be hooking up with friends of mine but TT will not know anyone other than me. I need a miracle every day.
The Dead have gone through a metamorphosis and come out on the other side in tact. Four of the six band members are original members. On bass and some vocals you have Phil Lesh, on rhythm guitar and vocals there is Bob Weir, On one drum set you have Mickey Hart and on the other drum set you have Bill Kreutzmann, filling in for Jerry Garcia on lead guitar and vocals is Warren Haynes from Gov't Mule and The Allman Bros. Band, and on keyboards we have Jeff Chiamenti from Rat Dog.
The afternoon showers have kept the crowd outside to a minimum from what I can tell. To Too Talls dismay we head right for the arena and do not go to Shake Down Street to check out the vendors. I can tell Too Tall likes to still take in the whole scene to pick up on the good vibe from the crowd.
The Dead take the stage at approximately 7:55 and play the first set which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. They start out with "Promise Land" an old Chuck Berry song I do believe. They move into "They Love Each Other" which TT tells me is a Garcia tune that Bobby takes the vocals on. The voices are not coming through the speakers very well yet. "Ma Ma Tried" is next, the sound man has the mix together finally. They do a nice version of "Loser". Then they dig way back to find an old Pig Pen song "Smokestack Lightnin". Warren Haynes does a soulful "Stella Blue". Then they kick it up a notch to play the Beatles, "She Used To Love Me". And they close out the first set with "Big River". So far all of these tunes have been from the 60's and 70's.
The second set starts out with "Playing In The Band" which the crowd sings along to. Is Phil's bass glowing? Yes, Phil's fret board is lit up in neon blue lights, wow pretty psychedelic. Now they are ready to bring out the girl songs of the Grateful Dead. First a not to often played gem, "Me And Bobbie McGee". And here's one that I don't think I have ever heard live before "Loose Lucy", thank you for a real good time. While the band is noodling around I believe they are going to slip into "Tennessee Jed". But Noooo, they find one of my favorite ladies in "Ramblin Rose" of course the crowd sings along.
The lights dim and half of the band leaves the stage, the crowd sits down, and Drums begin. The Dead have added a new twist along with Mickey and Bill, Jeff Chiamenti adds some prerecorded voices and low key synthesizer to the drum solo. Mickey gets to the big bass drums towards the back of the stage and lets some thunder loose on the crowd. The rest of the band returns to the stage for what some people call noise but the Dead Heads know it as Space. with the stage dark and if you just listen you can not even tell that Jerry is not playing guitar. Good job Warren.
The Band has one more lady to bring out and that is Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm". The vocals get lost again. The sound man gets things back together in time for "Eyes Of The World", sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own. Finally the Dead go back to where it all started and finish off with "Playing In The Band".
For an encore the song that everyone knew had to be played "Truckin", Truckin-up to Buffalo, been thinking - you got the mellow slow, Takes time - you pick a place to go and just keep truckin on.
Above the stage there was a large circular screen that had lights on it that illuminated the stage and the crowd. In the center on the screen pictures of Saturn, the Earth, steal your face, lightning bolts and other images were projected onto it. It was a nice touch.
Wow it was a pretty Rockin evening. Old friends, new friends, good friends. This concert took me back to when I first started to see the Grateful Dead in the late 70's. All older songs that prove that The Dead are the greatest dance band ever. I give this one four twirls and a moth catcher move. There was something missing and I am not sure what it was yet. There was something missing in the crowd. I just can't put my finger on what it was but something was missing. Four Twirls and a moth cathcer move is right. A very, very good show but not the best I have ever seen. I loved the line up of songs but something was missing in the vibe.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Jeff Beck HOB 4/15/09
If you came to hear an acappella group or a nice choral ensemble you came to the wrong concert. There was one microphone on stage and it was off behind the curtain. The only time that microphone was used was, to introduce Jeff Beck, Jeff used it to introduce the band and he used it to tell his manager to Fuck off. The rest of the night was strictly instrumental. No prerecorded noises or vocals just straight pure music.
Jeff Beck assaults his guitar like a pedophile on a 14 year old or a coyote on a poodle. It shrieks and moans and growls and purrs. He is the master of the guitar. what kind of music is it? Jazz fusion blues rock. The band started with "Becks Bolero" and finished with the theme from "Peter Gun". In between was filled with "Pork Pie Hat", " A Day In The Life", "Because We Ended As Lovers", "Angel", "Where Were You", "Behind The Veil" and "Brush With The Blues" were some of the highlights. Jeff Beck played for an hour and 34 minutes.
Before the show I said that Jeff Beck always has one powerful person on stage with him and you notice the two of them and the rest of the people don't matter, ie Jan Hammer, Terry Bozio, Jennifer Batton. I thought it would be the Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld show this time around. Boy was I wrong. Jeff actually put together a complete band of musicians that can play their instruments and follow when they have to. The band actually exchanged glances to note shifts in the music and smiled at each other when the music soared to heights that were spectacular. They all took turns taking leads to show off their musical prowess. It made for a superb night of music. I think the best I have ever seen Jeff Beck perform. I have never seen a bad show but this one was surely special.
Tal Wilkenfeld is in her early twenties and a Bass prodigy. She has played with Clapton and the Allman Bros. Guitarists from around the world are lining up to play with her. She definitely can give Flea, Entwistle, Squire and the rest of the top bass players a run for their money. She is just a tiny girl with a huge full bass sound. At one point in the show Tal was playing the higher pitched two strings of her bass in a lead progression while Jeff played the lower strings in a bass rhythm at the same time on the same guitar, it was great.
Jason Rebello is a Jazz pianist that was hailed in the late 80's as the new up and coming star of Jazz. He definitely has honed his chops. He could play the Jan Hammer parts of songs superbly. Jason at times throughout the night would mimic Beck's guitar on keyboards and then soar off on his own. He is truly an accomplished keyboardist.
After seeing Terry Bozio with Jeff Beck in the past I did not feel any drummer could compare, along comes Vinnie Colaiuta to prove me wrong again. Vinnie's drum set was not as big as Bozio's but he was just as proficient on the skins as Bozio. Vinnie has played with Herbie Hancock, Dave Koz, Megadeath, Frank Zappa, George Duke and many more. His drum solo was strong and his interplay with the rest of the band more than adequate.
The band as a whole is the right band to play a best of Beck concert and that was what this concert was. You knew every song that they played. Jeff himself seemed pleased with their performance, smiling and howling throwing his arms in the air between songs. Jeff Beck smiling? Maybe the old curmudgeon is getting soft in his old age or he has finally surrounded himself with the right people.
Briboy said after the concert at least no one forgot the words to the songs. The great vocalist Roberto Pooch claims that Jeff Beck is the greatest guitarist he has ever seen and could not figure out what took Roberto so long to see Beck. Mr. Pooch was a Beck virgin. The show was great but not long enough in my estimation. I give it five twirls.
Jeff Beck assaults his guitar like a pedophile on a 14 year old or a coyote on a poodle. It shrieks and moans and growls and purrs. He is the master of the guitar. what kind of music is it? Jazz fusion blues rock. The band started with "Becks Bolero" and finished with the theme from "Peter Gun". In between was filled with "Pork Pie Hat", " A Day In The Life", "Because We Ended As Lovers", "Angel", "Where Were You", "Behind The Veil" and "Brush With The Blues" were some of the highlights. Jeff Beck played for an hour and 34 minutes.
Before the show I said that Jeff Beck always has one powerful person on stage with him and you notice the two of them and the rest of the people don't matter, ie Jan Hammer, Terry Bozio, Jennifer Batton. I thought it would be the Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld show this time around. Boy was I wrong. Jeff actually put together a complete band of musicians that can play their instruments and follow when they have to. The band actually exchanged glances to note shifts in the music and smiled at each other when the music soared to heights that were spectacular. They all took turns taking leads to show off their musical prowess. It made for a superb night of music. I think the best I have ever seen Jeff Beck perform. I have never seen a bad show but this one was surely special.
Tal Wilkenfeld is in her early twenties and a Bass prodigy. She has played with Clapton and the Allman Bros. Guitarists from around the world are lining up to play with her. She definitely can give Flea, Entwistle, Squire and the rest of the top bass players a run for their money. She is just a tiny girl with a huge full bass sound. At one point in the show Tal was playing the higher pitched two strings of her bass in a lead progression while Jeff played the lower strings in a bass rhythm at the same time on the same guitar, it was great.
Jason Rebello is a Jazz pianist that was hailed in the late 80's as the new up and coming star of Jazz. He definitely has honed his chops. He could play the Jan Hammer parts of songs superbly. Jason at times throughout the night would mimic Beck's guitar on keyboards and then soar off on his own. He is truly an accomplished keyboardist.
After seeing Terry Bozio with Jeff Beck in the past I did not feel any drummer could compare, along comes Vinnie Colaiuta to prove me wrong again. Vinnie's drum set was not as big as Bozio's but he was just as proficient on the skins as Bozio. Vinnie has played with Herbie Hancock, Dave Koz, Megadeath, Frank Zappa, George Duke and many more. His drum solo was strong and his interplay with the rest of the band more than adequate.
The band as a whole is the right band to play a best of Beck concert and that was what this concert was. You knew every song that they played. Jeff himself seemed pleased with their performance, smiling and howling throwing his arms in the air between songs. Jeff Beck smiling? Maybe the old curmudgeon is getting soft in his old age or he has finally surrounded himself with the right people.
Briboy said after the concert at least no one forgot the words to the songs. The great vocalist Roberto Pooch claims that Jeff Beck is the greatest guitarist he has ever seen and could not figure out what took Roberto so long to see Beck. Mr. Pooch was a Beck virgin. The show was great but not long enough in my estimation. I give it five twirls.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Rock Hall Induction Ceremony 2009
My Honey Bunny and I were lucky enough to to get two tickets to attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. It was a great night in Cleveland. You could feel the excitement as you wandered around downtown Cleveland. Everyone in an eight county area knew what was going on at Public Hall. As we approached Public Hall we could see the red carpet area which was fenced off and covered by a tent. Limousines were pulling up and dropping people off. The fans were sequestered from the music bigwigs and there was no chance of the two crossing paths. We were routed up a ramp that took us to the second floor of the hall where all of the fans were allowed.
Our seats were about half way back sec 9, row A, seat 1 and 2. what was cool was they had a camera on a crane that would fly around the auditorium over the heads of the bigwigs but at times would stare right at me and my Honey Bunny. Who knows maybe some day the two of us will be in a movie in the Rock Hall. The stage has a glass pyramid that resembles the Rock Hall except that the windows are dirty and broken. A few chandeliers are hanging over the top of the stage.
A few speeches preceded the actual show. One speech was by Jan Weener (misspelling on purpose) of Rolling Stone Magazine. When the Weener was introduced there was a small, polite, smattering of clapping. I guess I was not the only one in attendance that knows the Weener has bad mouthed Cleveland over the years. I refused to clap but I did restrain myself from yelling out obscenities or booing at the rat bastard.
The house band has just taken the stage and I can see Will Lee on an Upright Bass. Wait a minute a short bald guy is on keyboards stage left, yes it is Paul Schaffer. The house band is The Late Night Band. But that is not Anton Figg on drums, no it is D J Fontana form Elvis Presley's band and one of the inductees of the night. And that is how it would go all night. Anton Figg would rejoin the band but other guest players would also join in for a song or two such as Ronny Wood backing up Bobby Womack whom he inducted. Little Anthony and the Imperials Inducted by Smokey Robinson. Little Anthony and The Imperials took the stage and did a few tunes.
Rosanne Cash inducted Wanda Jackson, whom I always thought was a country singer. Boy did she prove me wrong. That old lady still has some pipes and belted out a few old tunes to prove it.
Paul Shaffer did a nice job for the induction of Spooner Oldham. Paul would play a few chords of a song that Spooner had played on and you knew the song and the keyboard piece. Yes Spooner deserves to be here. Too bad Spooner did not play any songs himself at this point in time.
I had to stage a silent protest against Run DMC getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. RAP AINT ROCK!! Run DMC are very good at what they do but, someone needs to start a Hip Hop Hall of Fame. They do not belong in the Rock Hall. I refused to stand or clap during the induction for Run DMC and I noticed that other people sitting around me were doing the same thing. We were not rude, I did not yell out "RAP AINT ROCK". Run DMC does not deserve to be in the Rock Hall before Genesis, Yes, John Mayall, Joe Walsh as a solo artist. I can't believe I am going to say this but, Foreigner, Journey and Boston deserve to be in before any RAP star. Now that I have said it, let me clarify by saying, Foreigner, Journey and Boston don't belong in the Rock Hall either.
The highlight of the evening for me was seeing Jeff Beck get inducted to the Hall of Fame as a solo performer. What the hell took you so long. One of the best guitarists in the universe and it took you Cretins 24 years to notice that Jeff Beck is not in the Hall of Fame. Oh but lets put another RAP group in. Jimmy Page Ushered in Jeff Beck and then the Two of them joined in a rendition of Becks Bolero and Immigrant Song. Wow, it just blew me away. Two of the greatest guitarists on stage playing together, it doesn't get any better than this, or does it. (Who is the tiny chick on bass playing with Jeff Becks Band? She played with him at the Cross Roads Festival. She is gooood.)
Maybe I am getting tired, but Metallicas speeches seemed a little long. Flea, who inducted Metallica, did a good job except when he dropped a few F-bombs, they seemed forced. They finally stopped talking and started playing "Enter The Sandman". I am giving devil horns and thrashing my head back and forth to the camera that is flying around. I enjoyed their performance, my Honey Bunny did not. Metallica may not be my cup of tea but they do belong in the Hall of Fame.
Now the fun begins. Little Anthony and the Imperials, Bobby Womack, Spooner Oldham, D J Fontana, Wanda Jackson, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood and Will Lee do a version of Jail House Rock that just knocks your socks off.
Clear the stage and bring out Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Metallica and Flea. what do they play? "Train Kept a Rolling". WOO, WOO, excellent. All of those great guitarists playing together, three bass player and a drummer. What more can you ask for? Nothing.
I will definitely go back the next time Cleveland hosts the Induction Ceremonies. Anyone who has ever bought a record or listened to a FM radio should not miss it. Memories were made on 4/4/09 that I will never forget. I have never been to an awards ceremony of this stature but from what I could tell Cleveland did a great job. Total entertainment for four hours with very few breaks in the action. Great. I give it five twirls and a moth catcher move.
Our seats were about half way back sec 9, row A, seat 1 and 2. what was cool was they had a camera on a crane that would fly around the auditorium over the heads of the bigwigs but at times would stare right at me and my Honey Bunny. Who knows maybe some day the two of us will be in a movie in the Rock Hall. The stage has a glass pyramid that resembles the Rock Hall except that the windows are dirty and broken. A few chandeliers are hanging over the top of the stage.
A few speeches preceded the actual show. One speech was by Jan Weener (misspelling on purpose) of Rolling Stone Magazine. When the Weener was introduced there was a small, polite, smattering of clapping. I guess I was not the only one in attendance that knows the Weener has bad mouthed Cleveland over the years. I refused to clap but I did restrain myself from yelling out obscenities or booing at the rat bastard.
The house band has just taken the stage and I can see Will Lee on an Upright Bass. Wait a minute a short bald guy is on keyboards stage left, yes it is Paul Schaffer. The house band is The Late Night Band. But that is not Anton Figg on drums, no it is D J Fontana form Elvis Presley's band and one of the inductees of the night. And that is how it would go all night. Anton Figg would rejoin the band but other guest players would also join in for a song or two such as Ronny Wood backing up Bobby Womack whom he inducted. Little Anthony and the Imperials Inducted by Smokey Robinson. Little Anthony and The Imperials took the stage and did a few tunes.
Rosanne Cash inducted Wanda Jackson, whom I always thought was a country singer. Boy did she prove me wrong. That old lady still has some pipes and belted out a few old tunes to prove it.
Paul Shaffer did a nice job for the induction of Spooner Oldham. Paul would play a few chords of a song that Spooner had played on and you knew the song and the keyboard piece. Yes Spooner deserves to be here. Too bad Spooner did not play any songs himself at this point in time.
I had to stage a silent protest against Run DMC getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. RAP AINT ROCK!! Run DMC are very good at what they do but, someone needs to start a Hip Hop Hall of Fame. They do not belong in the Rock Hall. I refused to stand or clap during the induction for Run DMC and I noticed that other people sitting around me were doing the same thing. We were not rude, I did not yell out "RAP AINT ROCK". Run DMC does not deserve to be in the Rock Hall before Genesis, Yes, John Mayall, Joe Walsh as a solo artist. I can't believe I am going to say this but, Foreigner, Journey and Boston deserve to be in before any RAP star. Now that I have said it, let me clarify by saying, Foreigner, Journey and Boston don't belong in the Rock Hall either.
The highlight of the evening for me was seeing Jeff Beck get inducted to the Hall of Fame as a solo performer. What the hell took you so long. One of the best guitarists in the universe and it took you Cretins 24 years to notice that Jeff Beck is not in the Hall of Fame. Oh but lets put another RAP group in. Jimmy Page Ushered in Jeff Beck and then the Two of them joined in a rendition of Becks Bolero and Immigrant Song. Wow, it just blew me away. Two of the greatest guitarists on stage playing together, it doesn't get any better than this, or does it. (Who is the tiny chick on bass playing with Jeff Becks Band? She played with him at the Cross Roads Festival. She is gooood.)
Maybe I am getting tired, but Metallicas speeches seemed a little long. Flea, who inducted Metallica, did a good job except when he dropped a few F-bombs, they seemed forced. They finally stopped talking and started playing "Enter The Sandman". I am giving devil horns and thrashing my head back and forth to the camera that is flying around. I enjoyed their performance, my Honey Bunny did not. Metallica may not be my cup of tea but they do belong in the Hall of Fame.
Now the fun begins. Little Anthony and the Imperials, Bobby Womack, Spooner Oldham, D J Fontana, Wanda Jackson, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood and Will Lee do a version of Jail House Rock that just knocks your socks off.
Clear the stage and bring out Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Metallica and Flea. what do they play? "Train Kept a Rolling". WOO, WOO, excellent. All of those great guitarists playing together, three bass player and a drummer. What more can you ask for? Nothing.
I will definitely go back the next time Cleveland hosts the Induction Ceremonies. Anyone who has ever bought a record or listened to a FM radio should not miss it. Memories were made on 4/4/09 that I will never forget. I have never been to an awards ceremony of this stature but from what I could tell Cleveland did a great job. Total entertainment for four hours with very few breaks in the action. Great. I give it five twirls and a moth catcher move.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Paul Thorn 4/2/09
Thursday night at the Beachland Ballroom was one of the most fun nights you could have had for a $17.00 cover charge. The ever entertaining Paul Thorn and his band were performing their brand of Southern Style Rock. Paul mixes comedy with sex and religion in a form that proves to be wildly entertaining. He has a slow country drawl and an innocence behind his devilishness. My Honey Bunny feels he is easy on the eyes.
The band came out on stage promptly at 9:00 decked out in Sokolowski University Inn Tee Shirts. Paul explained how they heard that Mike Sokolowski was a huge fan and so they decided to eat at his establishment. They were grateful for the hospitality he offered and the clean shirts. The band had not been to the laundry mat for a few days and had no clean clothes, so they were ecstatic to have clean shirts to wear.
They opened with one of my favorite songs "A Long Way From Tupelo". The song is about his car breaking down on a back country road where he has a sexual encounter with a girl who happens to live in the house where he breaks down. When he gets home to his wife and she asks where have you been his only response is A long way form Tupelo.
At one point Paul tells the men in the audience, "tonight when you have your woman in your arms and you lean in and give her a kiss and she is kissing you back more passionately than ever before that is because she is thinking of me."
Some of the other highlights of the evening I'm Still Here,What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up,Starvin For Your Kisses, When The Long Road Ends, 800 Pound Jesus, Temporarily Forever Mine, Hammer and Nail and the classic Joanie The Jehovah Witness Stripper.
The Crowd was packed with celebrities. Mike Sokolowski who missed the plug for his restaurant, Uncle Ronny the drummer for Lude McDude was very impressed with the guitar playing of Bill Hinds. Wayne the harp player for the Earls and his wife
said " I have never seen Paul before, but I am sure I will be back to see him again." Greg Ceilec well known author and concert critic was on hand but for enjoyment not critiquing.
Paul announced to the crowd that he learned this next bit form his Dad who was a Southern Baptist Preacher " If you don't go into the back and buy one of my CD's you will go to hell." Paul does like the women, he came down off of the stage to dance with the women who had been dancing in front of the stage all night. He then walked through the crowd shaking hands and pushed right past me to get a kiss from my Honey Bunny. I think he was kind of sweet on her. Who can blame him. After the show he was laughing and joking with the crowd while he signed autographs. What a fun night in double wide paradise.
The band came out on stage promptly at 9:00 decked out in Sokolowski University Inn Tee Shirts. Paul explained how they heard that Mike Sokolowski was a huge fan and so they decided to eat at his establishment. They were grateful for the hospitality he offered and the clean shirts. The band had not been to the laundry mat for a few days and had no clean clothes, so they were ecstatic to have clean shirts to wear.
They opened with one of my favorite songs "A Long Way From Tupelo". The song is about his car breaking down on a back country road where he has a sexual encounter with a girl who happens to live in the house where he breaks down. When he gets home to his wife and she asks where have you been his only response is A long way form Tupelo.
At one point Paul tells the men in the audience, "tonight when you have your woman in your arms and you lean in and give her a kiss and she is kissing you back more passionately than ever before that is because she is thinking of me."
Some of the other highlights of the evening I'm Still Here,What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up,Starvin For Your Kisses, When The Long Road Ends, 800 Pound Jesus, Temporarily Forever Mine, Hammer and Nail and the classic Joanie The Jehovah Witness Stripper.
The Crowd was packed with celebrities. Mike Sokolowski who missed the plug for his restaurant, Uncle Ronny the drummer for Lude McDude was very impressed with the guitar playing of Bill Hinds. Wayne the harp player for the Earls and his wife
said " I have never seen Paul before, but I am sure I will be back to see him again." Greg Ceilec well known author and concert critic was on hand but for enjoyment not critiquing.
Paul announced to the crowd that he learned this next bit form his Dad who was a Southern Baptist Preacher " If you don't go into the back and buy one of my CD's you will go to hell." Paul does like the women, he came down off of the stage to dance with the women who had been dancing in front of the stage all night. He then walked through the crowd shaking hands and pushed right past me to get a kiss from my Honey Bunny. I think he was kind of sweet on her. Who can blame him. After the show he was laughing and joking with the crowd while he signed autographs. What a fun night in double wide paradise.
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