After a
three-minute long speech by Jimi Hendrix's sister, Janie, it was on to the Jimi
Hendrix musical tribute at 9:15pm.
The
personnel line-up for the first two songs were Eric Gales on lead guitar &
lead vocals, Billy Cox on bass, Andy Aledort on 2nd guitar, and Chris Layton on
drums. The songs performed were "Foxey Lady" and "May This Be
Love?" Let me say that Eric Gales was totally ELECTRIFYING on
high-powered, pyrotechnic, deafening guitar wailingóJimi was definitely looking
down from heaven and smiling from ear-to-ear, on "Foxey Lady"!!! Not
to mention that Eric has some great lead vocal chops!
The
line-up changed a little, so Mato Nanji can play lead guitar and Tommy Shannon
can play bass on the songs "Little Wing" and "Hear My Train
A-Comin'". Personally, the guitar and bass sounded okay, but it wasn't
anything to scream about and Mato's lead vocals were just lacking. By the way,
the drumming throughout the drums was pretty uninspired.
For
the next line-up, Mato left and Doyle Bramhall II took over the lead guitar
& lead vocal spot. Another session of relatively weak vocals ensued, but
the saving grace was having the soulful Corey Glover (from Living Colour fame)
on backing vocals for "You Got Me Floatin'" and the interlude of
"1983 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)"! Corey gave up a TRULY STIRRING
VOCAL AD-LIB PERFORMANCE on "1983"!!!! "Sweet Angel"
actually sounded very good with some nice, super-fast guitar riffing before the
last chorus. "Rock Me Baby" was done to the music of "Here He
Comes (The Loverman)".
For
the next line-up, Billy Cox returned on bass and Andy Aledort was the lead
guitarist. "Up From the Skies" was a nice, sweet piece of mid-tempo
psychedelic wah-wah guitarisms. The lead vocal performance of Andy and Billy
was actually very good. Things got a little funkier with the song "Dolly
Dagger", again with Billy & Andy on lead vocals. "Red House"
featured lead vocals by Billy, a sizzling lead guitar solo by 15- year-old
Patrick, additional guitar riffs by Bobby Krieger, and the drumming of
legendary Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell. NOW, HERE IS THE RUDICILIOUS
PARTÖWHAT IS UP WITH HAVING CHRIS PLAY DRUMS WHILE MITCH IS PLAYING?
Truthfully, Mitch seemed to have no magic whatsoever on the drums.
For
the next two songs, Corey Glover (YESÖCOREY GLOVER!!!) was the lead vocalist!!!
Corey blew major life into the Hendrix gems "Spanish Castle Magic"
and "Manic Depression"Ö.did I say before that Corey IS A HELLIFIED
SOULFUL SINGERÖNOT TO BE MESSED WITH??!! "Manic Depression" featured
a standout lead guitar solo by Andy!
For
the next three songs, there was a unknown lead vocalist along with Kenny Wayne
Shepherd on lead guitar. The vocals of "I Don't Live Today",
"Voodoo Chile" (the slow version) and "Let the Good Times
Roll" were pretty good.
The
show shifted into super-heavy mode with the performance of Buddy Guy and his
musicians. Buddy blew the fans away with the longest, loudest, most volatile,
smokin' lead guitar wails ever heard...I mean that the foundation of the Trump
Taj Mahal began to violently shake! He performed a couple of blues songs,
bringing out legendary blues artist Hubert Sumlin to join in on blues guitar.
Being a great frontman, Buddy is very emotive (not just with his voice, but
also with his body), which I found was very enjoyable! Buddy introduced Robert
Randolph, the phenomenal lap steel guitarist from Maplewood, NJ.
Robert
Randolph performed lead guitar duties on the last 2 Hendrix songs, "Purple
Haze" and "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)", setting the building
afire with explosive lap steel guitar wailing! Personally, I thought it was
terrible that Eric Gales wasn't out here playing with Robert (instead, Kenny
Wayne Shepherd was playing with himÖHMMM!) Robert sand lead vocals on
"Purple Haze", while the unknown lead vocalist sang lead on
"Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)".
Submit suggestions or comments to david.brooks@brookenstein.com