concert revisited: The Eagles @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN 9/30/2008

In 2008, I had a chance to another great band and another great gig.  That was, The Eagles.  They have gone through several changes and iterations through their career from the 1970s to the present.  But, their music remains timeless as the four main members (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit), continue to put out their great sound.  Frey, Henley, and Walsh, even played some recognizable songs from their solo careers during the show.

It was very familiar, and very memorable.  The band was joined by some talented backing musicians, too.  Great band.  Great show.  Here's the set list. 

Set 1:

1.                 How Long (2007)

2.                  Too Busy Being Fabulous (2007) 

3.                  I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore (2007) 

4.                  Guilty Of The Crime (2007) 

5.                  Hotel California (1977) 

6.                  Peaceful Easy Feeling (1973) 

7.                  I Can’t Tell You Why (1980) 

8.                  Witchy Woman (1972) 

9.                  Lyin’ Eyes (1975) 

10.              Boys Of Summer (Don Henley: 1984) 

11.              In The City (1979) 

12.              Long Run (1979)  

Set 2:

13.              No More Walks In The Woods (2007) 

14.              Waiting In The Weeds (2007) 

15.              No More Cloudy Days (2007) 

16.              Love Will Keep Us Alive (1995)\

17.              Take It To The Limit (1976) 

18.              Long Road Out Of Eden (2007) 

19.              Somebody (2007) 

20.              Walk Away (Joe Walsh/James Gang, 1971) 

21.              One Of These Nights (1975) 

22.              Life’s Been Good (Joe Walsh, 1978) 

23.              Dirty Laundry (Don Henley, 1982) 

24.              Funk #49 (Joe Walsh/James Gang, 1970) 

25.              Heartache Tonight (1979) 

26.              Life In The Fast Lane (1977) 

Encore:

   27.              Take It Easy (1972)

      28.              Desperado   (1973)

Waylon Jennings "Honky Tonk Heroes"

Another favorite Waylon Jennings song from 1973.  This is "Honky Tonk Heroes" penned by Billy Joe Shaver, which was also released on "Wanted: The Outlaws", an album that was blogged some months back.  The original release was on the album of the same name in 1973.  Check this out, Hoss.  "Hoss", was Waylon's nickname for a while. 

record collection revisited: Nick Colionne "Just Come On In"

Some thought went into reviewing this record as I have been spinning the CD quite frequently these last few days.  Jazz guitarist Nick Colionne has been active on the jazz scene for some years now and in 2003 released an album "Just Come On In", that is an enjoyable listen.  It is the polished, groovy end of jazz without a doubt.  A crossroads between jazz and R&B.  The grooves are ever present on each of the tunes, especially track one entitled "High Flyin'" which find Colionne, rhythm guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and Hammond B3 master Ricky Peterson, locking into a groove that ascends and sweeps gently throughout the tune.

On the choruses, horns, and the whole band come in.  Whoever mixed the record, definitely made the B3 present in the first track, and it builds within the groove on this song, cleverly hiding at first, but growing in intensity as the song's momentum picks up.  There is an eight note line Peterson plays that flows into a fluid groove that transitions beautifully with two muted trumpets played by Orbert Davis and Ron Haynes, accenting and echoing Colionne's guitar lines.  Even in the repeat of the B theme, there's no simmering down.  Talk about a locked groove!  The fadeout for this track happens way too soon.  It's a cool jam that could go on for minutes and minutes. 

There are other very pleasant tracks on this CD, but, "High Flyin'" is without doubt, it's centerpiece.  Colionne plays a track in the middle of the record called "From The Wes Side", obviously referencing jazz guitar great Wes Montgomery, but, in Nick's own way with a polished R&B drum and bass groove, and piano played by Mike Logan.  Colionne plays guitar and does all the drum and synth programming, a common practice for these smooth jazz records.  So, it's synthesized, yet syncopated rhythms on this one.

Colionne also plays a great cover of "My Favorite Things", from The Sound of Music, obviously influenced by the John Coltrane version on his 1961 record which was titled after the song.  Other jazz greats have also covered it including Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, guitarists Kenny Burrell and Grant Green, Dave Brubeck, and Sarah Vaughan.  

Those are just a few of the cool tracks on this record.  Here's the whole list.

1. High Flyin'
2. It's Been Too Long
3. Just Come On In
4. The Scuffle
5. From The Wes Side
6. Is It A Dream?
7. Because You Love Me
8. Downtown
9. Did You Know
10. Drumbalaya
11. 2 B D
12. My Favorite Things

Tedeschi/Trucks Band "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy"

Great cover by the Tedeschi/Trucks Band of The Howlin' Wolf song, "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy" with Oliver Wood from the band, the Wood Brothers.  Oliver's brother is Chris Wood, bassist for Medeski, Martin and Wood, by the way.  Check this out.

Vince Gill "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" (redo)

Redo video of one of my favorite Vince Gill songs.  This is "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away".  This version is from the 1990s and doesn't have quite as hot a guitar solo, or horns, on it.  But, it's still a good one.  Check it out.  The video of Vince and his band playing this one at the Grand Ole Opry years ago, was removed.

Mike Bloomfield & Friends "I Smell Trouble"

Check out this Mike Bloomfield number called "I Smell Trouble".  This is another fine example of his unique sound.  The audio drops a little bit in the middle of the tune, but still can be heard.  This is with a band Bloomfield played with between 1979 and his death in 1981 called Mike Bloomfield and Friends.  The actual name of the band was the King Perkoff Band.  This band is led by saxophonist Ben "King" Perkoff, and he also does vocals on this track.  Not much else is known except for what is on that band's website.  The link is:

http://www.kingperkoff.com/

Bonnie Raitt "Used To Rule The World"

Check out this performance of a new song by Bonnie Raitt which was on her set list at the Minnesota State Fair documented here back in August.  This is "Used To Rule The World" from an upcoming episode of Austin City Limits.

Life of A Guitar Tech

Guitar players and guitar enthusiasts, check out this video.  It's an interview with jazz legend George Benson's guitar tech, John Mooy, about what it's like to be a guitar tech for a band.

The Eagles "Desperado"

Yes, I know that many, many people know this tune.  But, this is one of the greats.  "Desperado" by The Eagles.  Had a chance to see them perform live in 2008.  A blog entry about that concert will be posted here, soon.  The late, great Johnny Cash also covered this tune and did a great job on it.

Larry Miller Band "Bullfrog Blues"

Now, this is some sweet slide guitar work.  This song is "Bullfrog Blues" first performed by the late, great, and yet somehow underrated, Irish blues guitarist, Rory Gallagher.  The Larry Miller Band does a fabulous cover of this track.  Check it out.

Johnny Winter & Leslie West, "Red House"

Here's a wicked cover of Jimi Hendrix's tune "Red House" by Johnny Winter, and Mountain guitarist, Leslie West.  Dig it!

B.B. King feat. Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, & John Mayer, "Guess Who"

Check this out.  This is a B.B. King concert (the encore of the show) where he brings on guests Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and John Mayer, for the song "Guess Who" which is done in King's very conversational, storytelling kind of way, with Derek, Susan, and John, adding their own twists to the tune. 
Ironically, it was B.B. King's 87th birthday three days ago.  Happy Belated Birthday, B.B.!  Might be able to get both videos in one entry, and if not, part two will be published separately.

Muddy Waters & friends, Soundstage, 1974

Diehard blues fans, dig this.  This is a performance on the PBS series Soundstage circa 1974 with a host of blues greats and all-star musicians playing together.  Here's the who's who list of blues legends in the show.

Muddy Waters
Pinetop Perkins (Pinetop Perkins was Waters' pianist)
Johnny Winter
Mike Bloomfield
Phil Guy (Buddy Guy's late brother)
Junior Wells (Waters' regular harmonica player in the second half of his career, correct me if I'm wrong on that one.)
Dr. John
Koko Taylor
Willie Dixon (legendary blues bassist & songwriter who was part of Waters' band)
Nick Gravenites
Buddy Miles (drums)

There would have been many more participants.  But, a line had to be drawn, somewhere, somehow.  All these musicians just had a great time playing together and hanging out on this session.  Here's the set list.

1. Blow Wind Blow     
2. Long Distance Call (feat. Pinetop Perkins: piano, Junior Wells: harp, Muddy Waters: slide guitar)   
3. Messin' With The Kid (feat. Mike Bloomfield: guitar, Junior Wells: harmonica & vocals, & Nick Gravenites: vocals)
4. Blues Medley:
    Stop Breaking Down/Ten Long Years (feat. Dr. John, piano & Junior Wells, vocals & harmonica, &          Mike Bloomfield: guitar)
5. I'm A Man (feat. Johnny Winter: guitar, Junior Wells: harmonica, & Dr John: piano)
6. Wang Dang Doodle (feat. Phil Guy: guitar, Willie Dixon: vocals, & Koko Taylor: vocals)
7. Walking Through The Park (feat. Johnny Winter: guitar & vocals, Junior Wells: harmonica, & Dr. John, piano)
8. Hoochie Coochie Man (feat. Dr. John: piano, Junior Wells: harmonica, Mike Bloomfield: guitar, Muddy Waters: vocals, Willie Dixon: vocals, & Phil Guy: guitar)
9. Sugar Sweet (feat. Dr. John: piano & vocals, Junior Wells: harmonica, & Mike Bloomfield: guitar)
10. Got My Mojo Working (feat. Muddy Waters: vocals, Junior Wells: harmonica & vocals, Pinetop Perkins & Dr. John: piano & vocals, Mike Bloomfield: guitar, & Johnny Winter: guitar & vocals) + entire cast @ end

This is a classic blues jam for sure.  Enjoy!

 

Robert Johnson on a Stamp

Check out this article about a new Robert Johnson commemorative stamp being released by the U.S. Postal Service.  The source for this article is the magazine American Blues Scene. 

http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2012/09/robert-johnson-on-a-stamp/

Hank Williams "Move It On Over"

Happy Birthday Hank Williams Sr.  Here's one of my favorite Hank songs.  "Move It On Over".  Dig this.

concert revisited: Eric Clapton @ Xcel Energy Center, September 16th, 2006

This was a very significant concert for me.  I had wanted to see Eric Clapton play for years at this point in time, having listened to his records and having begun to really admire what he'd done as a guitarist throughout his career.  On Saturday, September 16th, 2006, I had that chance.  The interesting part was, this concert marked the opening show of the first of two legs of his world tour in 2006-2007 that would be in the United States.

He assembled a band that was top notch, and to this day, seems unmatched except for some of the ones he'd worked with in the '70s as well as in his tenures with The Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and of course, who can forget, Cream, with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.  But, this particular road band he had was stellar in it's set of players and their backgrounds.  Leading off would be a three guitar army which displayed an impressive alchemy between them.  Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II. (who had been playing with him at this time since 2004), and, Derek Trucks (who I guess as he tells the story, while doing something together with his family, got a random call on a cell phone he did not answer and let it go to voice mail).  But, that call happened to be from Eric Clapton asking him to work with him on an album, after the recording of which, Trucks was also asked to join the tour.

So, the band lineup for this tour, and gig was:

Eric Clapton: guitar & vocals
Doyle Bramhall II.: guitar & vocals
Derek Trucks: guitar
Chris Stainton: keyboards
Tim Carmon: keyboards
Willie Weeks: bass
Steve Jordan: drums
Michelle John: backing vocals
Sharon White: backing vocals

In terms of the set list, Clapton and band had changed the list slightly as the tour wore on.  But, this set list was identical to how their gigs in Europe had started out and there were numerous highlights.  Here's the list in full.

1. Pretending (Journeyman, 1989)
2. I Shot The Sheriff (461 Ocean Boulevard, 1974)
3. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Derek & The Dominoes: In Concert, 1973)
4. Old Love (Journeyman, 1989) *feat. Robert Cray: guitar
5. Everybody Oughta Make A Change (Money & Cigarettes, 1983)
6. Motherless Children (461 Ocean Boulevard, 1974)
7. Back Home (Back Home, 2005) (acoustic)
8. I Am Yours (Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, 1970) (acoustic)
9. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out (Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, 1970) (acoustic)
10. Running On Faith (Journeyman, 1989) (acoustic)
11. After Midnight (Eric Clapton, 1970)*the faster tempo version that appeared on EC's first solo record.
12. Little Queen of Spades (Me & Mr. Johnson, 2004)
13. Further On Up The Road (from The Last Waltz: a movie and soundtrack of The Band's farewell concert at Bill Graham's Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California, on Thanksgiving Day, 1976)
14. Wonderful Tonight (Slowhand, 1977)
15. Layla (Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, 1970)
16. Cocaine (Slowhand, 1977)

Encore:

17. Crossroads (Wheels of Fire, Cream, 1968) *feat. Robert Cray: guitar & vocals

This concert was very inspiring to me as a listener and as a guitarist, seeing three of the greats playing together.  What a band Clapton had assembled for that show, and also, that tour, which was very successful indeed.  Clapton has gone on to do more touring since then and release another studio record.  But, it seems that this could very well have been the pinnacle of his art (with the 2006 and 2007 tour), in the modern time of his career.  Now, there will be arguments made that his work with Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Derek & The Dominoes will be what truly stands out.  That's true.  But, it has to be said that his later touring years (especially with this caliber of a band), also should be well noted.

It was a show I will always remember, and still do, to this day.

Warren Zevon "Lawyers, Guns & Money"

Had really only heard one tune by Warren Zevon before in my life which was "Werewolves of London".  But, this particular tune, (probably for the lyrics and the title), just caught my ear.  This is "Lawyers, Guns, and Money".

Here is a different version of the tune, featuring David Sanborn on alto saxophone, performed on Sanborn's TV show.

Frank Gambale: Soulmine

An article from Vintage Guitar magazine about Frank Gambale and his new record, "Soulmine", done with his wife, vocalist, Boca.

http://www.vintageguitar.com/11894/frank-gambale-2/

Not sure I posted the video for the lead single.  But here it is.  The tune is called "Forbidden Kiss".

In memoriam: Johnny Cash

What can be said about "The Man In Black", Johnny Cash, that hasn't been said already?  Cash passed away nine years ago on September 12th, 2003, and two posthumous albums of his were subsequently released on Rick Rubin's American Recordings label on which he spent the latter part of his career, making records.  But, it's his early work with Sun Records in Memphis, run by the late Sam Philips, and also his nearly three decade run with Columbia Records that will be remembered best.  He has so many great songs that it's impossible to just pick one out, and his bands, the Tennessee Two and Tennessee Three (with guitarist Luther Perkins, bassist Marshall Grant, and later, drummer, W.S. Holland), are both well known, as is his later guitarist, Bob Wootton.  He was a fan of Cash's, and became the lead guitarist after original band member, Luther Perkins died from burns suffered in a house fire in 1968.

Wootton played with Cash for nearly three decades from that point, until Cash's retirement from performing in 1997.  Here is an article found on Google Newspapers from the entertainment section of The Evening Independent, dated March 10th, 1982. 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=exEuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wFkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3717,2489079&dq=bob-wooton+johnny-cash&hl=en

As a musician and a listener, Cash was one of the first country artists I gravitated to when I found out about the genre.  He is totally unique in every sense of the word and shared notoriety at Sun Records with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and to a lesser extent, Carl Perkins, who was also a part of his band at one point in time.
Plus, there is his whole stretch with Columbia/CBS between 1958 and 1986 which includes a myriad of records and singles.  In my record collection, I do have some greatest hits compilations and also, two of the releases from the American Recordings years.  American IV: "When The Man Comes Around", and American V: "A Hundred Highways".

The other albums in the series, are ones that need to be found.  The whole list of those recordings includes:

"American Recordings"  1994
"Unchained"                   1996
"American III: Solitary Man" 2000
"American IV: The Man Comes Around" 2002
"Unearthed" 2003
"American V: A Hundred Highways" 2006
"American VI: Ain't No Grave" 2010

Cash had a remarkable career in all it's phases.  I am not going to tell the entirety of the story here.  But, if you have not checked into his body of work as an artist in any period from the '50s to the 2000s, definitely take a look at it.  He is world renown for his music and also, his later ability, in a lot of ways from his own status as a music icon, and from being married to June Carter (an icon in her own right), to connect musically with anyone and everyone, no matter where they came from, what their political ideas were, etc.  He was and always will be a universal artist.

Rest In Peace, Johnny Cash.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes set list: Peach Music Festival 8-11-12

Up next, it's Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes who have opened for the Allman Brothers before.  Their horn section, and their leader, "Southside Johnny" Lyon have played with the Allman Brothers several times.

"Southside Johnny" Lyon: vocals, harmonica
Bobby Bandiera: guitar & vocals
John Conte: bass
Jeff Kazee: keyboards
Joe Bellia: drums
Joey Stann: tenor saxophone
Chris Anderson: trumpet
Eddie Manion: baritone saxophone
Neal Pawley: trombone

Here's the set list.

1. Woke Up This Morning
2. Cadillac Jack
3. Gin Soaked Boy
4. Happy
5. Passion Street
6. Superstition (Stevie Wonder cover) (feat. Jeff Kazee: vocals)
7. Love On The Wrong Side of Town
8. Gladly Go Blind
9. Talk To Me
10. Umbrella In My Drink
11. Key To The Highway
12. The Fever
13. Angel Eyes
14. Forever
15. Hearts of Stone
16. One More Night To Rock

Encore:

17. All Night Long
18. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies/We're Having A Party

Railroad Earth set list: Peach Music Festival, 8-11-12

Railroad Earth is a modern folk rock band, from what I can hear in their sound, using many acoustic instruments including acoustic guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, plus electric lap steel guitar.  They are in a category of music call "new grass" meaning, modern bluegrass.  The band members are:

Todd Sheaffer: guitar & vocals
Tim Carbone: violin, accordion, electric guitar & vocals
John Skehan: mandolin, bouzouki & vocals
Andy Goessling: acoustic guitar, banjo, Dobro, mandolin, flute, penny whistle, saxophone, vocals
Carey Harmon: drums, hand percussion & vocals
Andrew Altman: bass & vocals  

Here is the set list.

1. The Song That Never Ends
2. Guess I'm Rolling Through
3. Workin' On A New Plan
4. Instrumental
5. Beautiful Dream
6. Mighty River
7. The Jupiter & the 119
8. Happy Is A Banjo
9. Instrumental
10. A Feeling Running Through You

Jaimoe's Jassz Band set list: Peach Festival 8-11-12

Jaimoe: drums
Bruce Katz: keyboards
David Stoltz: bass
Junior Mack: guitar & vocals
Paul Lieberman: tenor saxophone & tin whistle
Richard Boulger: trumpet/flugelhorn
Chris Jensen baritone & soprano saxophone, backing vocals

1. Leavin' Trunk (Taj Mahal cover)
2. Instrumental *title unknown
3. Instrumental *title unknown
4. Ain't Wastin' Time No More w/Jessica tease (Allman Brothers)
5. Smokestack Lightning (Howlin' Wolf cover)
6. Red Eye (Instrumental)
7. I Believe I've Got To Make A Change (Leroy Carr cover)  I think this is the Leroy Carr version.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  Different lyrics.
8. Dilemma>drum solo>Dilemma
9. Black Cat Bone (Albert Collins cover)

  

MiZ Set List Peach Music Festival 8-11-2012

Here are more set lists from other bands that played at the Peach Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania a month ago on August 10th and 11th.

MiZ

Mike Mizwinski: guitar & vocals
Justin Mazar: guitar
Matt Gabriel: bass


1. Tornado Mind
2. Instrumental
3. Instrumental
4. Don't Forget
5. Scent of a Woman
6. Reelin' In The Years (Steely Dan cover)

Well, as luck would have it, the web stream crashed momentarily while trying to listen to the rest of MiZ's set.  Still have to find out who the drummer is.  For more information on MiZ, go to their website and the Bio section of it, by following this link.

http://mikemizwinski.com/fr_home.cfm

Warren Haynes Band set list Peach Music Festival Scranton, Pennsylvania 8/10/12

Here's the full set list from the Warren Haynes Band at the Peach Music Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania on August 10th, 2012.  The replay of the concert is being show this weekend on the Moogis website and yours truly is checking it out again of course.  Didn't get the full set the first time, so, here's the whole thing, probably similar to the review of the WHB's Live at the Moody Theater which was written about right here, some time ago.

1. Tear Me Down
2. River's Gonna Rise
3. Sick of My Shadow
4. A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke cover)
5. Spanish Castle Magic (Jimi Hendrix cover)
6. Invisible (feat. Nigel Hall keyboard solo w/B3 & Wurlitzer)>drums>jam>Invisible (w/Les Brers in A Minor, tease)
7. On A Real Lonely Night
8. Pretzel Logic (Steely Dan cover) (feat. Terence Higgins: drums & Nigel Hall: Wurlitzer) *Warren says to Nigel Hall, "go ahead, preach to me!  Make it hurt!"  Good one!
9. Man In Motion (feat. Ivan Neville: keyboards & extended keyboard jam @ end)

Trigger Hippy set list @ Peach Music Festival, Scranton, PA 8-10-12

Here is the full set list from the Trigger Hippy concert at the Peach Music Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  This wasn't blogged or was blogged incorrectly in one of my posts on the Peach Festival.  So, clearing the air on this one.  Members of this band include Steve Gorman on drums, Joan Osborne on vocals, Tom Bukovac on guitar, Jackie Greene on guitar and Hammond B3.  Will have to do some digging to see who the other band members are.  Widespread Panic and Aquarium Rescue Unit guitarist Jimmy Herring also played in Trigger Hippy, briefly, right when they got started.  Here's the set list from their show at the Peach Music Festival.

1. Turpentine
2. Heartache On The Line
3. Cave Hill Cemetery
4. Snatchin' It Back (Albert Collins cover)
5. Soft Place To Land/Jam
6. Don't Let Me Down (The Beatles, cover)
7. Rise Up Singing
8. 99 lbs.; (Don Bryant/Ann Peebles cover)
9. Unlock The Door
10. When The Battle Is Over (Dr. John cover)
11. Pretend You're In Love
12. Tennessee Mud

Encore:

13. The Weight (The Band cover)

61 North and the inspiring story of their guitarist Chris "Gooch" Nelson

Talk about inspiration.  This new blues/rock band from New Jersey has quite a story behind it.  The bandleader Chris "Gooch" Nelson was injured in an accident that damaged his spinal cord.  But, after years of rehabilitation, he is able to play slide guitar with a custom hand blown glass slide on a Gibson Les Paul and have a completely original sound.  This inspired me since I deal with some minor physical limitations that I too have overcome to play the guitar, learning how to play rhythm, lead, and also play slide guitar both with a standard bottleneck standing up, and playing lap steel.  It just shows that someone can overcome adversity and live out their dream of being a rock and roller. 

61 North has opened for nationally recognized bands like Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, and Dumpstaphunk.  For more info on 61 North, check out their website:

http://www.61northband.com/

Stevie Ray Vaughan Live At Montreux, 1985

For SRV fans in the house, dig this performance from the Montreux Jazz Festival circa 1985.  This is when Stevie Ray Vaughan was at his peak as a performer with Double Trouble (renamed, Serious Trouble), with Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon, Reese Wynans, and guest guitarist for some numbers, Johnny "Clyde" Copeland.  Here's the concert set list.

1. Scuttle Buttin'
2. Say What!
3. Ain't Gone N' Give Up On Love
4. Pride and Joy
5. Mary Had A Little Lamb
6. Tin Pan Alley (a.k.a. Roughest Place In Town)
7. Look At Little Sister
8. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
9. Texas Flood
10. Life Without You
11. Gone Home
12. Couldn't Stand The Weather

concert revisited: Dukes of September @ Minnesota State Fair, September 6th, 2010

This was an interesting and unique concert that I remember.  Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagen (from Steely Dan), and Michael McDonald were featured along with the backing band being most of the players from Steely Dan that included:

Jon Herrington: lead guitar
Freddie Washington: bass
Jim Beard: organ
Michael White: drums
Walt Weiskopf: saxophone
Jay Collins: saxophone
Michael Leonhart: trumpet
Catherine Russell: backing vocals
Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery: backing vocals

The set list was quite eclectic including originals by the three core band members from their respective careers (especially Michael McDonald in the case of the Doobie Brothers and Donald Fagen in the case of Steely Dan), as well as some cover songs that were chosen to fit the set as it was planned.  Here's what the set list looked like with the song, the composer, and it's year of release.

1. Sookie Sookie                          Don Covay     1965
2. Heighty Hi                                 Lee Michaels  1969
3. Don't Mess Up A Good Thing   Fontella Bass & Bobby McGuire  1965
4. Shakedown Street                     Grateful Dead  1978
5. You Never Can Tell                   Chuck Berry    1964
6. I Got News For You                  Ray Charles     1961
7. Green Flower Street                  Donald Fagen   1982
8. Miss Sun                                   Boz Scaggs       1981
9. I Keep Forgettin'                       Michael McDonald  1982
10. Rock Steady                           Aretha Franklin        1971
11. King Harvest                           The Band                 1969
12. Rag Mama Rag                       The Band                 1969
13. The Shape I'm In                     The Band                 1970
14. Love TKO                              Teddy Pendergrass   1980
15. I Love The Life I Live              Muddy Waters         1957
16. Cadillac Walk                          Mink Deville             1977
17. What A Fool Believes              Doobie Brothers       1978
18. I.G.Y.                                      Donald Fagen           1982
19. Lowdown                                Boz Scaggs              1976
20. Takin' It To The Streets            Doobie Brothers       1976

Encore:

21. Reelin' In The Years                 Steely Dan                1973
22. Them Changes                         Buddy Miles             1970

An eclectic bunch of songs and a great performance to be sure even though the majority were cover tunes.  Three additional songs were dropped from the set list due to a short rain delay before the concert.  Those included:

Love Train                    The O'Jays       1972
Help Me Rhonda          Beach Boys      1965
Something In The Air    Thunderclap Newman     1969

I can't remember if this gig was given a good review in the paper's or not.  I think it was mostly misunderstood simply because of set list being 98% cover songs.  But, it was still an enjoyable show that brought back memories for the fans in attendance on that evening.

Freddie King "Going Down"

Check out this version of Don Nix' song "Going Down" by one of my favorite guitarists.  Freddie King.  He made this one a signature tune, but many other artists including Jeff Beck and Leslie West from Mountain, have covered it.  I also posted a version some time ago, done by Don Nix himself, with an all star backing band.  Here's the Freddie King version.  Enjoy this one.

Chick Corea Elektric Band "Got A Match", live

Great, very groovy version of "Got A Match" by Chick Corea and the Elektric Band, with an audience call and response with the keytar reminiscent of Return To Forever's versions of "Spain" from their 2011 tour for the song intro.  The call and response continues throughout the tune.  This particular version features the quintet lineup of the band with Chick Corea on keys (including the keytar and what appear to be a Yamaha KX88, possibly, and a Kurzweil synthesizer), in addition to band mates John Patitucci on bass, Dave Weckl on drums, Frank Gambale on guitar, and Eric Marienthal on alto saxophone.

 

Colony Records, Rest In Peace

An article from the New York Times on Colony Records in Times Square that will be closing it's doors.  Check this out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/nyregion/colony-records-a-longtime-midtown-music-shop-is-poised-to-close.html?_r=1&emc=eta1