Foreigner + Special Guest Gary Hoey live review

Foreigner + Special Guest Gary Hoey live review

 Freedom Hill Amphitheatre, Sterling Heights, MI - Thursday 3rd July, 2013

 

 

 

 

Foreigner live on stage at Sterling Heights, Freedom Hill Amphitheatre.

Photo: Alun Williams

 

Every year when Foreigner has come to the Detroit area, I have always tried to catch the show, although last year we missed an appearance here, due to sole original member Mick Jones, undergoing some medical treatment that had followed his heart bypass surgery in February 2012.

Sadly we had also missed the previous year’s performance, with Journey and Night Ranger when my mother was taken ill and Rhonda and I had to make an unscheduled trip back to the UK to be at her bedside.
In fact, on that tour which was the precursor to Mick’s surgery, he missed a lot of shows and Night Ranger’s Joel Hoekstra actually stepped in for Mick on many dates.
 So another year on, what does this tour bring us?
 

Well, tonight’s show has the extremely talented – So I understood before the gig, but had never seen for myself until tonight … – Gary Hoey and his band opening for Foreigner.
He opens with an old classic blues rocker, ‘Goin’ Down,’ which gets my attention right away, nicely done!

 

Gary Hoey live at Freedom Hill, Sterling Heights - Photo: Alun Williams 

Then I’m stunned as he starts jamming ‘Lunatic Fringe,’ yes the old Red Rider / Tom Cochrane track, it misses keys but the fact that he goes out and gives it a go has my respect!

Then it’s to some of his originals in the shape of new tune and title track of his forthcoming album, ‘Deja Blues,’ which is a laid back style instrumental followed by another original in ‘Peace Pipe.’
For a three piece outfit, they make a great combined sound I must say.
 

He tells a story about losing his wallet that contained a sum total of sixteen dollars and how he couldn’t believe he’d done it, with his driver’s license and credit card in, but then someone return returned it and he gave them the sixteen bucks as a reward and his story about bad luck leads into his version of ‘Born Under a Bad Sign.’
I loved Pat Travers version of this tune and Gary’s is certainly enjoyable too.
 

More originals come in the shape of ‘Reaction,’ ‘Stranger’ and ‘You Turn Me On,’ the latter track starting out not unlike AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck!’

Some really nice lead work from the guy continues to impress.

With another cover in the form of ‘Lowrider,’ Gary Hoey introduces his band, with Brad Russell a Detroit native on bass and Matt Scurfield on drums.

 

The Gary Hoey Band live in Detroit, well, Sterling Heights actually!
Photo: Alun Williams

 

Wow! He’s certainly working the covers angle with the crowd, with ‘Hocus Pocus,’ by Focus next and to wrap things up, we get a little tribute to the troops ahead of the 4th July with the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ done (Jimi) Hendrix style closely followed by Hendrix classic ‘Foxy Lady,’ to close rather good set by Gary Hoey and band.

 

So to Foreigner ...

 

I’ve really missed seeing Foreigner live even if there is only one original member left in Mick Jones and when he doesn’t come out on stage at the start, I’m thinking this isn’t good, what now?

Bruce Watson – From UK rockers Big Country - enters the stage instead and immediately as confused as I am, I get a text from a friend here tonight saying, ‘No Mick Jones? Did you know? The guy behind me said he’s had a heart attack?!’

I fear the worst and wondering how the hell the rest of the band could continue if this is the case, I text back saying I have no idea. I look online, for news through my phone, I contact my wife at home who couldn’t make it tonight and we find nothing …
Now the night seemed soured with the not knowing ….
 Sure ‘Double Vision’ sounded good, but where’s Mick and is he alright?

 

Bruce Watson onstage in place of Mick Jones ... - Photo: Alun Williams

 

‘Head Games’ follows and I can’t knock the band, but my mind is kind of elsewhere at this point … I wish I knew what was going on ...?!
 

Kelly Hansen jokes about swallowing two bugs already tonight, sorry Kelly, but what is going on, that’s what I’m thinking about right now.

 



Kelly Hansen, Detroit bug eater! - Photo: Alun Williams

 

 

‘Cold As Ice’ next is a great jam, with some fantastic keyboard work from Michael Bluestein.

They then slow things down with Kelly saying ‘grab someone’s hand or hold someone, as we’re slowing thing down here for ya.’ Cue ‘Waiting For A Girl Like You.’

 

I get a text from my wife saying she still can’t find anything current about Mick Jones ...

Kelly rips on the crowd for ‘sitting on your asses …’
You have just played a ballad dude, come on?!

 

‘Blue Morning, Blue Day,’ next certainly gets most people on their feet and Kelly is taking advantage of everyone in the front row reaching out to him to touch their hand …
Again, the band is faultless in their presentation, it still seems wrong without Mick, but that’s me …
 

Kelly Hansen uses pretty much the same line he uses all the time next when he messes with the crowd talking about, ‘Are there any crazy, sexy women in the crowd tonight?’ Huge screams of response and he replies with, ‘Well that’s good ‘cos we’ve got some ‘Dirty White Boys’ up on stage here!’ Cue song …. It does indeed rock!

Then Kelly – Clearly interacting pretty well with the crowd. – says ‘the next song is one that was originally all electric, but our man Mr. Jeff Pilson here took it and rearranged it like this!’Bring on an all-acoustic version of ‘Say You Will.’

 

 

 

Acoustic time above, with Foreigner playing 'Say You Will.' - Photo's: Alun Williams

 

 

 

It’s time for introductions next as Kelly introduces Chris Frazier (Ex-Whitesnake) on drums, on keyboards Michael Bluestein, ‘on bass guitar and yes, he was in the movie ‘Rock Star’ alongside Mark Wahlberg, and yes he was in Dokken as an original member and he was in Dio .. Mr. Jeff Pilson!’

‘Next up the man who can play every instrument, with his hands or lips and has been a part of Foreigner for the past twenty years, give it up for Tom Gimbel!’
 Then Bruce Watson is introduced and I’m wondering if Kelly will at least have the decency to acknowledge Mick Jones, which of course he indeed does ...

‘… Finally, would you please give it up for the man who’s not been well lately and is only able to play part-time for Foreigner right now, but he’s the man who started it all, so please give it up for MICK JONES!!!!’
Massive response! Huge!

 

Mick Jones, the original Foreigner! Welcome back to Detroit!
Photo: Alun Williams



This jumps into ‘Feels Like The First Time’ next and sorry, but it’s sounding and feeling way better for me already!

Next Kelly, Tom, Jeff and Bruce all leave the stage leaving just Mick, Chris (Drums) and Mike (Keys) to provide the lead in to what becomes ‘Urgent.’Back comes the band with Tom Gimbel playing some very impressive saxophone and Mick remains with us – a good thing! – and a keyboard solo from Michael Bluestein, which is pretty impressive.

 

 

 

Mick Jones and Bruce Watson (Top) and Tom Gimbel and Mick (Bottom) making it 'Urgent!'

Photo's: Alun Williams

 

It’s drum solo time next from Chris Frazier and he stops for a drink which he proceeds in pouring it out on his drums and then lets rip by hitting the skins significantly, which splashes up very effectively in the white spotlights around the drums. Sweet!

Chris Frazier gets a solo spot! - Photo: Alun Williams
 

 

Back comes the full band for ‘Juke Box Hero,’ with Mick cranking some seriously heavy guitar riffs indeed!
It’s a track that has always rocked out and it does so, very well indeed especially Mick’s riffs / solo at the end of the song. Excellent and tis closes the set.

 

The band comes out once more and Mick steps up to the microphone to add some very moving comments.
‘Thank you! It’s great to be back in Detroit! I was thinking I would never get to play here again, you’re great, thank you all!’You have no idea Mick, how many people you probably moved right there!

Mick Jones and Kelly Hansen, the Foreigner frontmen. - Photo: Alun Williams


 

‘Long, Long way from Home’ kicks in next, one of the first songs to break through for the band and yes, it’s indeed still every inch a winner!

 

Kelly invites everyone in the crowd to come on down to the front of the stage to join them ‘to sing along with this next song,’ then the band bring out a local choir from Livonia, on the west side of Detroit to sing, ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ and I have to say, it is monster!!!


 

Foreigner with a local kids choir from Livonia. Detroit folks, see someone you know?

 Photo: Alun Williams

 

 

They close the evening with the stage drenched in red lights for ‘Hot Blooded!’

Kelly is slapping hand after hand at the front of the stage and for this number; Jeff Pilson has taken over Mike Bluestein’s keys while Mike takes over the role of bass player on the final song of the night.

 

What a great finale to a night that started with many folks very concerned as to the whereabouts of Mick Jones, but who were then very pleased indeed to see the man come out onstage even if it was towards the end of the set.

I know Mick is no spring chicken, but I hope we see him around again next year, praying for it Mick!

 

 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Very entertaining night!

 

 

Weblinks:
www.foreigneronline.com/
http://garyhoey.com/

 

 



Judas Priest – ‘Epitaph’ live DVD review

 

 

 

 

Judas Priest – ‘Epitaph’ live DVD review

Released through: Legacy / Sony. Release date: Available now.

 

 



So when Judas Priest wrapped up their lengthy ‘Epitaph’ world tour in May 2012, they chose to do so at London’s (England) Hammersmith Odeon, sorry, Apollo as it switched to a number of years back now sadly, although those of us that remember going to the old ‘Hammy Odeon’ mostly through the 80’s will always consider it as such!

With Richie Faulkner now in the lineup in place of JP legend KK Downing, joining Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill and Scott Travis, they’ve done well by the masses that came out to see them in 2011 / 2012.
 

The opening intro for the show, is ‘Battle Hymn’ from Priest’s ‘Painkiller’ album, which then roars into ‘Rapid Fire,’ which is a killer opener for JP in anyone’s book!
Phenomenal lighting and ‘new’ boy Richie Faulkner shows his ‘metal’ – cough, cough … sorry!  – with some great lead work alongside Glenn Tipton.
Rob fronts it all so well, what a vocal range!

 

Flames burst from the stage and the ‘British Steel’ album cover appears on the screen behind the band introduces ‘Metal Gods,’ which just sounds so full.

You know, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness ‘The Priest’ twice live in the past four years, once on the anniversary tour for ‘British Steel’ back in 2009 with KK Downing and then in 2011 on the ‘Epitaph’ tour, both here in the Detroit area and live they are still such a great live act.
 

Rob then introduces the next song with ‘Is everybody ready for some Judas Priest Heavy Metal?’ Cue ‘Heading Out To The Highway’ which brings on a huge Hammersmith roar from this London crowd, who also do an excellent job echoing Rob on each chorus, great!
Really love the band when the harmony lead break kicks in, albeit too brief.
I will add at this point that there definitely appears to be a much better rapport / interaction between the old band members and Richie Faulkner, than how it seemed back in November 2011.



Good to see, although they are saying this was their final, full scale world tour as Priest. Hmmm, I wonder just what that really means, if anything?

 

 

‘Judas Rising’ from ‘Angel of Retribution’ is next and it’s funny as the band had all appeared to have left the stage at the end of the last song, then they all come back out as the actual intro tape for ‘Judas Rising’ acts as a lead in for the band. Just seems a little odd as this DVD is taken from a one night show at Hammy Odeon, sorry … Apollo.

 

‘Starbreaker’ next is introduced by Rob as, ‘This one is from ‘Sin after Sin.’The crowd is more than happy to sing the ‘Starbreaker’ chorus line. Glenn encourages them by cupping his hand behind his ear.

The harmony guitars again come into play on this song briefly and it’s all great, I love it!
Glenn Tipton seems to smile from ear to ear throughout, much happier looking ‘chappie’ than he looked when they played here in Detroit last time out.


Richie and Glenn take the front of stage position to lead the band into ‘Victim of Changes,’ which as all Priest fans know, has a fine harmony intro indeed!
Faulkner is sporting a ‘Flying V’ guitar - Favoured of course by former Priest legend KK Downing - after having started out the show with a black Gibson Les Paul, totally looks more than fitting in Priest.
Glenn Tipton takes a bit of a solo moment here with all but drummer Scott Travis having left the stage for a minute or so and then Richie Faulkner impresses with some truly stunning lead work, to which the crowd praise him up for.
Scott Travis and Ian Hill remain solid to a fault, as the backbone and rhythm section for the band throughout.


Rob then introduces ‘Never Satisfied’ as, “a song from ‘Rocka Rolla’ with some brilliant riffs!”It’s certainly one of those oldies but goodies style tune.


What was great about the ‘Epitaph’ tour was Rob’s little history lesson given before pretty much every song in the set and next tune, the Joan Baez classic, ‘Diamonds and Rust,’ made even more so by Priest is no exception, as he tells the crowd that “this is our latest interpretation of her beautiful song, ‘Diamonds and Rust,” that is a tune that’s starts out gently and then really rocks out, as anyone would expect of a Priest tune, right?!
That said, it does seem rushed in Rob's vocal delivery, once they do start rocking it out.
As the song really gets into its groove, flames appear all over the back video screen to add to the massive finale of the song.


The band all leave the stage once more, as backing tapes start rolling – Unless there’s a keyboards guy behind the curtain? – and then impressive lighting brings the band back out for ‘Prophecy’ with Rob cloaked in a golden hooded cape and clutching a Neptune like trident.

One of the things that has always got me about Rob, is that he never seems to make any real eye contact with the crowd, with his head always looking down at the stage or side to side of the stage, as he ‘stalks’ around the stage area. I’ve never really understood that and I’ve never heard it discussed in any interview with him either?
Kind of weird …
Of course he’s doing exactly this throughout the song ‘Prophecy.’It’s also very obvious the prominent keyboards evident throughout the song.
I guess the album did feature Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy, Deep Purple) on keyboards, so how did they cover the keyboards here .., pre-recorded backing tracks ...?
 

‘Night Crawler’ next is an absolute epic like track and it gets very intense and actually brings Iron Maiden to mind in places, although we all know Priest have been around longer than Maiden, although ‘Night Crawler’ was not released until 1990 ...
Anyway, monster track nonetheless.


Another old favourite these days is ‘Turbo Lover,’ which I can remember back in the day, Priest fans questioning the bands use of synths at the time. That seems to be a minor detail today, as this track goes down a storm with the London crowd, with the ‘Hammersmith choir’ taking over singing the chorus.


So all the band except Rob Halford take another walk from the stage, who remains to talk some about the ‘Stained Glass’ album and what “a huge ballad ‘Beyond the Realms of Death’ is” next.
It’s always been such a monster, monster track in my mind and once more Richie Faulkner as the new guy deserves much praise for some great guitar work, but for me the icing on the cake is Glenn’s killer solo.


Glenn and Richie walk out first again and tease the crowd – as they are roaring … - that they can’t hear them!
This leads to their joint introduction to ‘The Sentinel’ and then the band all return and how Rob sustains his voice as long as he does always astounds me still.
Love the guitar duel between both Richie and Glenn, brilliant!


You know the more Priest you take in, the more you hear where Iron Maiden got a hell of a lot of their influence from …
‘Blood Red Skies’ is a killer song up next and again, those keyboards are very, very obvious and it’s yet another crowd pleaser!


Rob does a little more crowd chat, saying that “as the stage has turned green, that can only mean one thing, it’s the ‘Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown’” and the band proceed to rip through their version of the Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac classic.


Then its sing-a-long time for the crowd as Rob leads the crowd into, “’Breaking the what?’ BREAKING THE WHAT?!’ ‘Breaking the Law’” and he lets the crowd sing the entire lead vocal for the massive hit song. Brilliant!

Scott Travis gets a brief drum solo spot, which then leads into ‘Painkiller.’ It's monster double bass drum time here and another monster solo from Glenn and likewise, Richie's solo in the song isn't too shabby either!

Once again the band all depart the stage, only to return soon after for the double barrelled assault of 'The Hellion / Electric Eye.' Killer stuff!
The band departs at the end of the song, but only until we hear the rev's from Rob's Harley, that he then rides out onstage, leather whip in mouth to signal 'Hell Bent For Leather.'
Amazing that Rob can sing the track while sitting astride the monster bike, but he does and the crowd helps once again with each chorus of the song.

The clearing the stage after each or every other song continues and when Rob comes back next he asks the crowd to make as much noise as possible for the Judas Priest crew that is behind the band to put on show. Of course the audience duly obliges!

Rob then does a little playing vocally with the crowd, in a similar fashion to what Freddie Mercury always did with Queen audiences, pacing up and down and gets a good sing-a-long, back and forth activity with his crowd and then the band joins him for '(You've got) Another Thing Comin'.'
Rob works the crowd some more having them sing every second line of the first verse and it's great stuff.

'Living After Midnight' is the evening closer, to wrap up an impressive set once again for Judas Priest in front of final audience of the 'Epitaph' tour.

It's a very good DVD concert, although surprised there are no bonus features here.
You'd think if they're saying it's the final full scale world tour, that they'd be some interview footage or something from behind the scenes, but alas no.

Still, I enjoyed it, Priest fans will no doubt love it too!


Rating: 4 out of 5

Weblink:
http://judaspriest.com/


To purchase this DVD or on Blu-ray:

DVD - http://www.amazon.com/Judas-Priest-Epitaph/dp/B00C4XYEBW/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1373428015&sr=1-1&keywords=Judas+Priest

Blu-Ray -
http://www.amazon.com/Judas-Priest-Epitaph-BluRay-Blu-ray/dp/B00C391Y3I
 

  



The Poodles – ‘Tour De Force’ album review

The Poodles – ‘Tour De Force’ album review

Released through: Frontiers Records. Release date: Available now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, let get this clear from the get go, The Poodles ARE a band to take seriously, even if that name may misguide you as it did me initially for a couple of years, that maybe you could not do so ... Take them seriously, but you really should!



I’d almost like to say to them, ‘Guys, please change the name,’ but …, they have their reasons.

 

 

 

I’d heard of them in 2009, but did not pick up on them until 2010’s live ‘No Quarter’ release – Review link here: http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2011/02/poodles-no-quarter-live-album-review.html - which I found great to listen to, even if it did sit with me for a little while as I found it difficult to think about a hard rock / heavy metal band called The Poodles.

I also got a copy of the related ‘In The Flesh’ DVD release at the time, which just convinced me completely that these guys were for real.

Track it down if you can, it shows the funny side to these guys as well as great performances!

 

 

 

In 2011, the album ‘Performocracy’ – Yes, strange title … - was released and I really enjoyed that one too - http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2011/05/poodles-performocracy-album-review.html - and now here we are two years on and we have a new one from the ‘unruly dogs’ of Sweden, in ‘Tour De Force.’



Yes they are a Swedish band who generally really has their own sound, although at times, they do remind me of German rockers The Scorpions. Am I getting your interest yet folks?

 

 

The lineup of Jakob Samuel (Vocals), Pontus Egberg (Bass), Christian Lundqvist (Drums) and Henrik Bergqvist on guitars, really packs quite a punch I can tell you!

 

Hard to believe there are no keyboards – Ahem …, are all the backing effects all guitar, really? – as to me, elements throughout truly sound like keyboards or even orchestra, yet there’s no credit in the press release?

This is what I hate about digital copies of new albums, no info?!

There are clearly keyboards and strings present on ‘Leaving the Past to Pass.’

 

Well, there’s plenty of good stuff about this album, there really is and in my book, it’s another winner.
There is though, an incredibly gentle starting power ballad that many rockers may just go, ‘That intro is way too soft,’ likewise another track starts with a very poppy, well more catchy AOR like actually but then the rock kicks in, so really I say, get over it folks!

 

 

 

So, to the opener and ‘Misery Loves Company,’ is an in your face out and out rocker, with great hook lines and had me sold right away. It’s certainly a very hard hitting song to kick off the album to get a message across to the doubters out there and a massive pre-chorus and strong / catchy chorus.

 

 

‘Shut Up!’ certainly gives a little nod in it’s opening and verses to some of David Lee Roth’s solo material – Think Steve Vai era – or even Van Halen to me and yet then just kills with a very hard edged AOR like style chorus. With these two opening songs alone, it’s an impressive new release.

 

 

Next track ‘Happily Ever After’ is yet another winner, great twisting verses and nice big choruses, killer guitar work from Henrik Bergqvist here – As elsewhere of course! – and pummeling double bass drum in the choruses, wonderful bass lines too.

You just have to hear it to grasp where I’m coming from.

 

Really love ‘Viva Democracy’ too, a constant edgy groove throughout, yet the song as all Poodles songs, maintains its melody and the song’s light moment mid-way through. Another winner!

 

 

Heavy and hard rocking is the best description for the opening on ‘Going Down,’ then it eases back into a wonderfully melodic verse and then the pre-chorus gets a little meaner and then the chorus is a monster hook. The little melodic bridge, is great if too brief as well. Jakob Samuel’s vocals throughout are unique, they truly are and his style and phrasing so often just blows me away with his overall range.

 

 

So to the big old power ballad that is ‘Leaving the Past to Pass.’
It’s seriously as good as anything else you’ll ever hear and it really emphasises once again about how classy hard rock bands are about writing brilliant power ballads …

The balance is superb, it really is and if mainstream radio was like it used to be where big stations won’t play current melodic rock bands new rock released singles, but they will gravitate to the power ballads, this could be monster!

 

I say that, thinking back to the early 80’s days in the UK, where US AOR bands (Journey, Styx, Toto, etc) would only be made known to the British public through the bands ballads. Sad but true …

Radio One or any other local radio station would never have played ‘Blue Collar Man’ or ‘Renegade’ by Styx, but they’d play ‘Babe’ or ‘Boat on a River’ to death!

Same with Journey, all we’d hear is ‘Open Arms’ or ‘Who’s Crying Now,’ back then – Ironic they’ve played ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ to death now over there, but never would have done when it first came out. – you’d never have heard ‘Escape’ or ‘Separate Ways.’

No way and the exact same with Toto, we got ‘Africa,’ ‘I Won’t Hold You Back’ and ‘Roseanna’ nothing like ‘Only The Children.’
That said, they (Toto) did get lucky with ‘Hold The Line’ getting some play and breaking in the charts, but then that was ’78 …

 

Sorry, got of track with that rant there, so let’s get back to it!

 

 

Next song ’40 Days and 40 Nights’ was recently released as a single and rightly so, as it’s hugely commercial with plenty of hooks about it and right from the almost poppy like keyboard intro right through the massive chorus, it’s begging for radio play.
Very strong contender for a hit song …

In the right market / territory perhaps it will be big. Here’s hoping for these guys …

 

 

To the very Aerosmith like ‘Kings and Fools’ next and it just has a certain groove about it that actually has elements of possibly Beatles – Think ‘Revolution’ – and even a bit of Robert Plant like phrasing in the verses, so clearly these guys are very influenced by some classic players.

 

 

Cowbell anyone? It’s what we get as ‘Miracle’ kicks off and then gets into its steady, yet edgy verse groove that actually took me a while to get into this track. Perhaps a little less instant, yet then with the chorus it does grow on you and then the bridge takes the song down another path. It’s a song that has really grown on me a lot more with each subsequent play.

 

 

I’m still wondering who does the keyboards on here, as they are what provides the intro and background throughout ‘Godspeed’ next.
It’s a solid enough track but for me, perhaps the least outstanding track here in my opinion. 

‘Now is the Time’ is next and picks up the tempo quite a bit from ‘Godspeed’ and it’s pretty good at getting back on track here.

 

 

There’s a distinct metal edge to the riff throughout the verses in ‘Only Just Begun,’ certainly at the beginning and the way Jakob presents the song and then the chorus brings it back again. 

It’s feeling like to be honest that towards the end of the album, it lost a little of it’s infectious vibe.

 

With the final bonus track ‘En För Alla För En,’ sorry, but as it starts, I can’t help but think of the Eurythmics ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This),’ obviously with significantly more edginess to it, oh and it’s sung in Swedish!

It was jointly written by the band with Treat’s guitarist Anders Wikström and songwriter Fredrik Thomander, for the Swedish national Ice Hockey team.
It’s musically very catchy and if I only knew Swedish, I could probably sing along no problem, but right now it’s just an enjoyable listen to wrap the album up.

 

So a good album yet again from these guys, that I really recommend and I know I’m a little biased as I’ve really got to enjoy their music since discovering the band just a few years back, but this album for the most part is great!

 

 


Perhaps the tail end of the album has a couple of tracks that I’m still not 100% sold on, as the rest of the album, but they are still good tunes.

 

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

 

Weblinks:

http://www.poodles.se/
https://www.facebook.com/thepoodles
https://www.Frontiers.it


Jeff Healey – ‘As The Years Go Passing By’ 3 CD set review

 

 

 

 

Jeff Healey – ‘As The Years Go Passing By’ 3 CD set review

Released on: Inakustik Release date: Available now

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was indeed a sad day in March of 2008 when the world mourned the loss of the Canadian blind and incredibly talented blues guitarist, Jeff Healey.

You know in complete honesty, I’m not 100% sure when it was that I first heard this legend play and yes, I do call him a legend and although perhaps he was never as well-known as he deserved, in blues, rock and even some jazz circles, the guy was greatly admired and by many. A lot of guitarists have also claimed to have taken inspiration from this talented individual.

I think it was quite possibly the 1989 movie ‘Road House’ that also starred the late actor, Patrick Swayze that was where I first saw and heard him.
Since then I couldn’t help myself, but to track down 1988’s ‘See The Light’ album from the Jeff Healey Band that featured some absolute gems in both original Healey compositions and covers from the likes of John Hiatt, Freddie King / Sonny Thompson and ZZ Top to name just three.

His band then managed to release a further four great releases in ‘Hell To Pay’ – Killer! – ‘Feel This,’ the covers release ‘Cover To Cover’ and his last from the band in 2000, the excellent ‘Get Me Some.’

Subsequent releases followed under his name only, as a solo artist until his passing in 2008 captured four albums, a fifth ‘Mess of Blues’ was being worked on for a while before Jeff’s passing and released shortly after his death.

 

So there’s quite a bit of history behind the guy’s twenty year recording history.
This release 'As The Years Go Passing By,' comes from ‘The Estate of Jeff Healey,’ so it has his family’s blessing.

It’s a nice kind of collection too, as it features three concerts recorded in Germany, where he was always welcomed, with the first dating back to 1989, at the Ohne Filter Extra event, when Healey was just twenty three with his trio comprising of Joe Rockman (Bass/Vocals) and Tom Stephen (Drums) alongside himself.

The second from 1995, was the ‘Extraspät in Concert’ with the same guys and the addition of second guitarist Pat Rush.

The third and final concert disc is again from the Ohne Filter Extra event in 2000, still with Rockman and Stephen on Bass and Drums respectively.

 

 

So, the first disc starts with the Sonny Thompson gem, ‘I’m Torn Down,’ and this is a prime example of why I like Jeff Healey’s material, as for me his style is often similar to what grabbed me from Pat Travers back in the late 70’s.

Wonderful jamming, rockin’ blues!
Then it’s a Healey original in ‘My Little Girl’ next which is an edgy grooving jam. Love it!

With a great interpretation of John Hiatt’s ‘Confidence Man’ next, which became a staple in Healey’s set over the years that followed and the man and his band play like seasoned players and it’s such a pleasure to listen to.

 

Another original next follows appreciative applause, in the shape of the almost (Eric) Clapton like ‘I Need To Be Loved’ and really, if you’re reading this and have never heard Healey’s playing before, I think this three disc live set is a great introduction for anyone!

 

 

Healey picks the Bob Dylan tune ‘When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky’ next and I’m sorry if there are any Dylan fans reading this, but in my mind, anyone that has covered one of his songs has made it better and this version is certainly nice and lively!
I’m pretty certain I hear keys here for sure from time to time, but there’s no one credited with playing keys, so who knows who joins them?

 

‘River of No Return’ next is very catchy and again I swear there’s keys here ... Nonetheless, it’s another great song, performed solidly here.

Another Hiatt song in ‘Angel Eyes’ is next and another regular track in the Healey set list it seems and it’s a more laid back tune, still good stuff!

 

The two songs that wrap up this first disc is first off Jeff’s cover of The Doors classic ‘Roadhouse Blues,’ which has always come across kind of strange to me without keys, which was of course paramount to The Doors but Healey makes this his own and then his own song in ‘See The Light.’

The title track of the man’s first album is a great set closer here, after some messing around before it starts proper it gets into its groove and some serious riffing from Jeff.

The track clocks in at just over nine minutes and in the mid-section solo, Jeff’s is playing his heart out with the band and then just jams by himself, wildly and I mean that as very well indeed and more so than anywhere else on this first disc. Brilliant!

 

 

Disc two opens with one of my favourite Jeff Healey covers in his interpretation of Spirit’s ‘Got A Line On You.’ This totally rocks!
Its classic blues with the Robert Johnson classic ‘Stop Breaking Down’ next and they don’t come much more trad than this one!

A tune made popular by Albert King next and the title of this complete package in ‘As The Years Go Passing By,’ is more classic blues for you folks!
Then it’s over to the second appearance of ‘Confidence Man’ which Jeff and band have really made this their own tune.

It was pleasing to see the Steeler’s Wheel cover, ‘Stuck In The Middle’ written by the late Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan.
I think as with Healey, that Gerry Rafferty was hugely overlooked / underrated.
Jeff, I wish I could say this to you today, but if Gerry was here and you, I believe he’d tell you, ‘Thanks Jeff, that’s sounds great!’ RIP guys! :(

This whole disc was of course recorded during the ‘Cover to Cover’ tour by Jeff and his band, so there really is more emphasis on cover tunes here.

 

I’ve always loved the (Jimi) Hendrix tune ‘Angel,’ which I first heard in the 70’s by Rod Stewart, then I heard the Hendrix version and enjoyed that one as well, so it‘s great to hear Jeff’s live version here. Wonderful tune with Jeff’s twist on it too!

Next here we get Jeff’s take on Lennon / McCartney blues jam, ‘Yer Blues’ which gets a real down and dirty groove and he also rips out a killer solo!

A tune made popular by Lonnie Johnson, ‘Me and My Crazy Self,’ gets the Healey solo acoustic treatment next, including some serious acoustic riffing in the second half of the tune, which just goes to show that the man had no inhibitions on how he jammed either just him and an acoustic or fully electric with his always class backing band. Good stuff indeed!

 

To another staple in his live set, the John Hiatt tune and always beautifully presented ballad ‘Angel Eyes’ next and it’s a nice little diversion from the blues set to show the lighter side to Healey’s playing and then it’s back to the rockin’ with a nine plus minute version of The Doors ‘Roadhouse Blues.’

A bit of laid back acoustic intro with some fooling about brings on his own song ‘See The Light’ which becomes an almost fifteen minute monster!

Can’t say enough about how much Jeff and the band put into the song and then to close this disc, a truly wonderful version of George Harrison’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps.’
Some serious guitar work from Jeff here that almost feels in moments like the soloing on  Lynyrd Skynyrd’s live version of say ‘Freebird,’ although clearly not as lengthy!

 

 

The last disc here is from Jeff's last tour with the Jeff Healey Band, in support of the band’s last album, ‘Get Me Some’ released in 2000 and reissued again in 2011, through Eagle Rock.
It was and still is in my books a great album that featured songs co-written by some real greats from the AOR world, like Dianne Warren, Arnold Lanni, Marti Frederiksen, Stevie Salas amongst others, but that said, this recording only features three songs from that release as well as seven other classic gems.

 

 

Opening with his own composition ‘My Little Girl’ from first album ‘See The Light’ you’d think Jeff had been doing this for not twenty but more like thirty years!
It’s got a great groove not unlike Santana at times.
Next it’s ‘Which One’ from the ‘Get Me Some’ album and the chorus will really grab you, as it did me, great jam!

 

 

Another from that album next is ‘Love Is The Answer’ which is a little more laid back and as close perhaps as his blues rock got to a kind of power ballad. Really nice song …
Then it’s back to the real blues of ‘How Blue Can You Get,’ made famous by B.B. King, which Jeff really makes the most of in this eight plus minute jam!

You really could play Jeff, you are missed …

 

Possibly Jeff’s favourite in his live set, ‘Confidence Man’ is next, which I’ve quite possibly said enough about already, as it also featured on the first two CD’s here too!

 

 

I really do love what Jeff does with ‘Put The Shoe On The Other Foot’ next, with some gentle picking and playing at the start and some truly soulful singing and even a scream before the song really gets into its groove and then when Jeff gets soloing, boy does he rock out!
This is another monster jam, that rocks some but then takes things down real low a little after the midway point and then comes back with venom with some absolutely kick ass rockin’, jamming!

 

 

‘Feel Better’ again from ‘Get Me Some’ up next has it’s up and downs in soulfulness and then dark yet rocking edginess, almost Hendrix like to a point and I begin to wonder if Jeff Healey influenced Joe Bonamassa any, as this isn’t far away from something you’d hear from Joe.

 

So to another favourite in a Jeff Healey set with John Hiatt’s ‘Angel Eyes’ next which is as I’ve said before, a truly beautiful song, which is followed by another of his live favourites in another cover, ‘Roadhouse Blues.’ ‘Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel …’

Indeed Jeff, you rock it here!

 

Then to close the collection ‘See The Light’ does the trick nicely!

 

 

This is a great live collection to have, a really great memoir of another truly great talent that the world and of course Jeff’s family lost way too soon.

If you’ve never heard Jeff Healey, then do yourself a favour and go get yourself some,' to take a line from the man!

This is the three CD set, but there's also a deluxe set of two DVD's and these three discs too.

It’s a real pleasure to get to listen to this and better still, to have the honour of reviewing the man’s great work.

Thank you Jeff Healey and band, for some great music you left us to remember you by, RIP Jeff.

 

 

Rating: 4.75 out of 5

 

 

Official website – With links to purchase the album too!

 

http://jeffhealey.com/