C R E A M

When my wife and I got ticket for Cream at MSG, we were psyched, to say the least. After arriving by train and dinning in the bowels of the Garden, we went up to the arena. Seeing the merchandise I elected to get $ of the commemorative posters that were limited edition (I still have three). Then we took our seats for what was to be one of the best shows we had seen in the last 6 years. Ginger Baker has not lost a bit of skill, in fact, he was in tip top shape and even still took a solo on "Toad" that was over 7 minutes and did not even break a sweat. Jack Bruce was the "MAN" on the bass, even though he had to sit on a stool on occasion. And lastly, What else needs to be said of "Slow Hand". Not being confined to his solo work, Eric Clapton was sheer fluidity on the guitar.

How I met Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge (http://www.vanillafudge.com/) played at my local venue and I got to meet them. This is how it happened. They came out to the lobby after their set to sign autographs. I of course had my guitar there to get signed, but since I was working the show as an usher, I had to wait my time. Well, as they were signing, the headliner decided they wanted to go on early, and the lights were turned out in the lobby, in the middle of the Fudge signing. Thinking quickly, I held my flashlight up over Tim Bogart's head to shine on what ever he was signing, and then their Road Manager saw was I was doing, and he grabbed another usher's flashlight and did the same thing over Carmine Appice's shoulder. They all got to finish their fans requests for autographs, and as a result of my actions, the road manager hooked me up with backstage rights to another show 3 weeks later, where my wife and I hung out all night backstage with Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly and others. But that is for another BLOG.

Concert Review

One of the best shows I have seen in the last 6 years, (it is actually 2 shows), has to be Brian Wilson and his band. At a local venue in the Philadelphia area, he performed the album that took over 35 years to finish - SMILE.
Although there are more then 5 members in the current band like there was in the original Beach Boys, one can only marvel at the genius that is Brian Wilson.
The harmonies and intricate threading of melodies in the songs from this album are truly a wonder to hear. It is no wonder that the Beatles felt threatened by Brian. Had this album been finished in the 60's, even Sgt Pepper would not have beat it.
Then a year later he and the band returned to perform the complete Pet Sounds album at the same venue. Again it is plain to see how this album inspired the Beatles to do more, bigger and better recordings.These two shows are on my top 10 list of over 400 shows I have seen in the last 6 years and I will remember them always

Meeting Iron Butterfly

As seen in a previous BLOG, I met Vanilla Fudge and was invited to another show they were doing a few weeks later. At that show it was Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, and Nazz. Well, my wife and I could not have been happier. We entered the venue, and asked for Tommy (the road manager). We were sent back stage, and there we met all the members of Iron Butterfly (http://www.ironbutterfly.com/), Mitch Ryder, Lou Christie, and Nazz, along with revisiting all the guys from Vanilla Fudge. I have to say that the only real way to see Iron Butterfly is from the side of the stage, backstage, and only then can you really appreciate the talent of the DRUMMER, who at over 60 yrs of age, did not miss a beat on the extended version of IN-A-GADDA-DE-VIDA. If anything he sounds better today and live then on the original record. What a show. And of course, we got everyone's autograph.