Beck and Clapton: A Review

Two legendary guitarists, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, played Madison Square Garden this past Thursday and Friday evenings. Getting ready to attend double billing reminded me of growing up in Copiague, late 1960’s, when many of us would congregate on a Friday afternoon at the Copiague station. There we awaited the arrival of trains from New York City so we could “hawk” the weekly train tickets from the commuter who would not need it any longer. That train ticket would be good until 3:30 in the wee hours of the morning. Good for our "free" round trips. So off to “the city” we would go, more often than not to various music venues like Fillmore East, Second Avenue and Sixth Street. That is where I first experienced the guitar mastery of Jeff Beck, live with The Jeff Beck Group which featured a singer who performed mostly with his back to the audience, Rod Stewart.
Forty one years have passed since that Independence Day show. While awaiting the train out of Copiague this past Friday I felt like the same kid of years ago, wildly anticipating Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. However, this time I paid for my train ticket and wasn’t wearing bell bottoms. Seated in the nose bleed seats of the cavernous Garden, I knew the sound system in The Garden has improved over the years and the huge video displays would help my eyesight which has not improved over the years
The house lights dimmed, the roar of the crowd, I was seventeen again. Well maybe not. Having doubled stepped the last two floors on the escalator to my seats I was a bit winded. Jeff Beck , now 65 years old, with his band, hit the stage opening with ETERNITY’S BREATH, as I was catching mine.
For the uninitiated, Jeff Beck is a master technician of the guitar. And this show was no exception. Having dropped vocalists in his bands years ago, he concentrates on a jazzier, experimental approach to the guitar. This tour includes a 12 piece orchestra on a few new songs including a beautifully executed version of Puccini’s aria NESSUM DORMA (None Shall Sleep) from Turandot which he closed his set with.
After a short intermission, Eric Clapton took the stage. Seated with guitar, “Slowhand” did four acoustic numbers before strapping on his Stratocaster. A few early solo and some Derek and The Dominoes numbers prevailed, before ending this portion of the set with COCAINE, a tune which was “retired” years ago. Jeff Beck joined the ensemble for the next 25 minutes (eight songs) which included a wonderfully strange rendition of Moon River, Outside Woman Blues, (I Want to) Take You Higher, and Crossroads as the encore.
Now back down the steps to Penn Station which has the best pizza (in any train station) money can buy, a cold beverage, a newspaper maybe, and the long, local train ride back to Copiague. No longer were there any safety gates, ringing bells and flashing lights at each and every station. There and then I wondered where has the time gone. Yet,for a few brief moments that night I was able to magically “time warp” back courtesy of the music. Yeah, some things do change while others remain the same.


Jazzbus@gmail.com

Back to the old 45's, digitally.

Another day of snow. Over a foot but could be worse for upstate got that amount plus a few more. Nothing to do except check out the music sites on the web and Bingo, I found this quote today and agree, totally.

"Don't get me wrong - I still love a great album. But, I'm starting to think, with the way things are going, the music industry is headed back to a place where the individual songs matter most".

Beck/Clapton at MSG Feb 19, 2010

Whew, most of the NY press was not too kind in their vailed praise of the musical abilities and performances of Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton who performed alone with their bands and then together at Madison Square Garden this past week. While I was just looking for a good show, musically, they, the press, wanted a guitar duel to the death. Sort of like that movie, or even better yet the Charlie Daniels tune about the fiddler and the devil.Just let the guys play and have fun while making a few bucks.
Beck was fantastic I might add.Check out the last song he does. Research it. Too cool.

Band Lineup
JEFF BECK & HIS BAND
Jeff Beck - guitar
Jason Rebello - keyboards
Rhonda Smith - bass
Narada Michael Walden - drums

ERIC CLAPTON & HIS BAND
Eric Clapton - guitar / vocals
Chris Stainton - keyboards
Walt Richmond - keyboards
Willie Weeks - bass
Steve Gadd - drums
Michelle John - backing vocals
Sharon White - backing vocals

Special Guest(s)
During Jeff Beck's set
30 Piece Orchestra *

Set List
Jeff Beck
01. Eternity's Breath
02. Stratus
03. Led Boots
04. Corpus Christi Carol *
05. Bass solo featuring Rhonda Smith
06. Hammerhead *
07. Mna Na Heireann *
08. Brush With The Blues
09. Big Block
10. A Day In The Life *
11. Nessun Dorma *

Eric Clapton
01. Driftin' - acoustic
02. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out - acoustic
03. Running On Faith - acoustic
04. I've Got A Rock 'N Roll Heart - acoustic
05. Tell The Truth
06. Key To The Highway
07. I Shot The Sheriff
09. Little Queen Of Spades
10. Cocaine

Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton
01. Shake Your Moneymaker
02. Moon River
03. You Need Love
04. Outside Woman Blues
05. Little Brown Bird
06. Wee Wee Baby
07. (I Want To Take You) Higher
08. Crossroads - encore

Clapton/ Beck

Going to the Beck/Clapton show at THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ARENA, Madison Square Garden this Friday night. While I'll be sitting in the nose bleed seats, or what we NY Ranger fans called THE BLUE SEATS before the color was changed, I am looking forward to seeing/hearing Jeff Beck again. Playing with Clapton is an additional treat. I have some ideas about what I would like to hear them play together, I am really hoping for a few Yardbird treats thrown in. Any thoughts?

Finished the book

Finished the I SLEPT WITH JOEY RAMONE book the other day. Not much to it, except as one brother writing about his dyfunctional, older brother who surpassed him in his dream of becoming "a rock star". The whole band, which for the first four albums I adored, was pretty messed up from the get-go and The whole book was disjointed and as messed up as the band with the authors slipping back or forward a few months in time , and repeating insignificant tidbits of information every few pages. After awhile I didn't know who was speaking to whom in the band and in the family. So, I finished the book as quickly as I could. Anyway, I knew how it ended .

Pleasant Dreams with The Ramones

While reading I SLEPT WITH JOEY RAMONE by Mickey Leigh (Joey's brother) and the infamous Legs McNeil,I came across an interesting tidbit. Graham Goulding who produced The Ramones sixth album, PLEASANT DREAMS, while being a former member of The Mindbenders, and later 10cc, wrote "I'm A Man" and "Heart Full Of Soul" for the Yardbirds; The Hollies " Bus Stop" and "Look Through Any Window"; and Herman's Hermits "No Milk Today" and "Listen People".I probably never checked the original singles way back when but now I went, "Hmmmm".

Snow ,The Ramones,and John Coltrane

Blizzard watch is the current forecast so with "nuttin to do", I continue reading I SLEPT WITH JOEY RAMONE written by his brother and Legs McNeil while listening to COLTRANE LIVE AT BIRDLAND,sweet. Sunday being Valentine's Day is the perfect day for a live rendition of Coltrane's A LOVE SUPREME, check out the online version of the Village Voice for details.

Post Super Bowl and the forgetable WHO

It has been almost 2 full days since the Saints won the big game. Being a New York Football Giants fan, and one who actually cheered for the Jets to win two weeks ago, I know the feeling of watching the underdog take down the big dog. Fun to watch, yes.Great job Saints and good luck. The ads were a disappointment but, hey, years ago we never cared or gave it another thought. It was time to get a beer or use the bathroom.Halftime, The WHO, well, as stated previously,The Who was one of my all time favs, having seen them numerous times since 1969, but this was, well, I miss The WHO, this was Roger and Pete doing The Who. But one onside kick made me forget halftime and theWho in a heart beat. Thanks Sean Payton.

The Who and The Super Bowl

Imagine. The Who, or more accurately, (What Is Left Of) THe Who,featuring a few other musicians called appropriately, Who Dat, will be performing tomorrow during halftime of The Super Bowl. WOW,The Who will be performing at halftime of Super Bowl XLIV this Sunday.Somehow, even being a huge fan of the band since it's early days, I still find it difficult to comprehend. My question to myself is "Why?"; why would Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, with some other people,be performing at halftime of the Super Bowl. Who made that call to whom? I guess it all comes down to $$$$$, yes, Money,and the fact that 3 numbers they will be doing are theme songs for 3 shows on the Super Bowl network CBS, aha, there it is , a new ad for their network shows. CSI. How about just a marching band again? The Super Bowl halftime in its debut way back in 1967 featured the University of Arizona and Grambling marching bands. But The Who?, Come on.-Let's see if Roger can hit the high note, I sadly bet the under on that, and on Pete's windmill I bet the over which is 5 1/2 at this time.But I will be seating on the end of my seat, awaiting each and every note. This Who is better than No Who.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On The Turntable: January

ON THE TURNTABLE:January

Junior Brown, new John Mayall, Rory Gallagher

Books in 2010

Still reading the Vince Flynn series, First week in January completed MEMORIAL DAY, then read THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown, which was a trip. Currently working on SHERLOCK HOLMES Vol I, while sneaking about with I SLEPT WITH JOEY RAMONE by his brother Mickey Leigh with the legendary Legs McNeil.