ELVIS TRIBUTE SPECTACULAR - Rock Log 082111



Tonight the undisputed King of Rock and Roll took the stage at The Den, albeit in tribute form.  Shawn Klush, dubbed "the closest thing to the king", was chosen by Graceland as the winner of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ first ever Ultimate Tribute Artist Contest, so I knew I was seeing the best.

I arrived five minutes before showtime and the house was absolutely jammed.  I had not seen a crowd that large in quite some time.  The composition ran the gamut with no discernible age prevalent.  The show began with a song from the two original members of The Sweet Inspirations, Elvis' back-up singers.  The song was pedestrian, but since there lives intersected with the King, I paid them there just rewards.  Then Klush was announced.

I never saw Elvis live, but I have seen and heard enough of him to know that Gladys would not know the difference between her Baby E and Shawn Klush.  This guy was lights-out, slam-dunk, 100% Elvis.  It was borderline scary.  The movements, the voice the banter....Klush was amazing.  Though he can impersonate "early Elvis" or "peanut butter and banana sammich Elvis", Klush opted to replicate Elvis in Vegas.  Beginning with CC Rider and ending with An American Trilogy, this show was great.  For me, the highlights were A Little Less Conversation and Suspicious Minds, the latter was the longest song of the night and included several "arm whips", "head shakes" and "pelvic pumps". 

The sentimental highlight of the night was when 80 year old D.J. Fontana, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Elvis' original drummer, joined the band for three songs.  Fontana later returned to tell a few stories of the King.  Cool, but whatever.

Overall, if you like Elvis, then this was the show to see.  Klush nailed Presley to the point where at times it seemed as if the Sweet Inspirations thought the former was the latter.  I also realized this...the foremost aphrodisiac for a menopausal is not a healthy 401k as I previously thought, it is Elvis impersonation.  There were no less than ten stunning, and I do mean stunning, mid-fifties, grabbing at the King, holding his hand, rubbing is leg and fighting for his scarves.  If divorce ever befalls me, then my first post-marriage purchases will be a high quality Elvis suit, Jovan Musk and a tank full of gas for the trip to Naples, FL.

To Shawn Klush, I say thank you...thank you very much.

Vick

MULLETT - Rock Log 081511

You know how you have to look at a car accident when you drive by – no matter how gnarly?  You know how you have to look at the 250 lb woman in the two piece bathing suit at the beach – particularly when she is coming out of the water?  You know how you have to look at the mangled animals on the side of the road – especially after rigor mortis sets in?  You know how you have to look when two girls kiss – no matter what they look like? 

Enter Mullett to the Wolf’s Den stage. 

Homework & I had to go and watch.  Fortunately for us, this train wreck never happened.  Mullett, the 80’s hair band cover group, entertained a small but lively crowd on Monday with a plethora of that generation’s instantly recognizable hits.  The talented band members include Ron Jovi on vocals and guitar, Dan Halen on lead guitar, Teddy Lee on bass and Jef Leppard banding away on the drums in a very Tommy Lee – like fashion.

Imagine waking up each day to Ron Jovi’s dilemma.  Try to sing a song like David Lee Roth, then follow it up like Kevin Cronin.  Try to sing a song like Axl  Rose, then follow it up like Mike Reno.  Try to sing a song like Dee Snider, then follow it up like Rick Springfield.  Try to sing a song like Steve Perry, then follow it up like Kevin DuBrow.  It’s a daunting task we all should be thankful we don’t have to figure out.

Ron Jovi has it figured out and the boys of Mullett, sporting their 80’s hair band attire, were pleasantly accurate in their renditions of many of the 80’s super groups hit songs.   So much so that by the time they were finishing their set they had a dozen ladies (and Troy D) jumping around and one table of rockin’ grannies clapping to their version of Journey’s “Any Way You Want It”.

The evening’s downer had to be that inflammation of a woman to Homework’s right.  This woman had an Adam’s Apple bigger than Lyman Orchard’s best Cortland.   And despite our efforts to ease away – she stoically stood by her man.  I’ve had hemorrhoids that were easier to get rid of.

If that was the downer, then the highlight came mid-show when three women arrived and plunked down at center stage – One was a curvatious, stunning blonde that came to rock.  Mesmerizing! Homework & I longed for just one Whackin’ Hut (which unfortunately remain on backorder).  We, instead, were relegated to looking uncomfortably at the holes in our Krispy Kreme Originals with an air of uneasiness as we exited the Den.

I proudly award the show 4 of 5 stars.

Randall

HOTEL CALIFORNIA - Rock Log 081411

Based on all my many nights at the Wolf’s Den, I can say without reservation that there is a definite difference between a Cover Band and a Tribute Band.   Cover Bands play a wide variety of music from many groups while the Tribute Band focuses solely on one particular group.  While Cover Bands are usually tight musically, very often the difficulty with them is hitting the vast ranges from the various lead singers’ voices.  We’ve seen several good Cover Bands, but the fact is the Tribute Band has hit a home run every time. 

Last night was no exception.  In 1998 the Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame...I guess that makes them Tribute Band worthy.  Noel, Homework Squared and myself occupied our familiar post at the Den for a Sunday night with “Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles”.   The concert had the feel of Rock, R&B & Country – strange for a show to transcend so many music boundaries – none of which overpowered the others.

For the most part, the Eagles are a sit-in-your-chair-and-listen group.  Their tunes typically have a melodic, easy listening feel.  With the exception of the hand clapping “Heartache Tonight” and the stand up encore “All She Wants to do is Dance”, the crowd listened intently and applauded appreciatively to very well-played music.  And there was a good crowd in attendance (of note, a Great Viz sighting, girl-girl action, and an animated blonde trifecta off to our right).

The Eagles were a bit unique in that they had so many lead singers singing their countless timeless classics.  The challenge for Hotel California was to hit the sounds of Don Henley, Glen Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B Schmit.  The group was lead by a guy who looked like a cross between Jim Varney & Geddy Lee and he did a pretty good job fronting the Glen Frey stuff, but surely the key was the guitar player who picked up many of Don Henley’s songs and nailed it.  Of less consequence were the two songs sung by Joe Walsh and Timothy B Schmit – of which the strong musical accompaniment and harmonies downplayed the need to hit their voices.

Hotel California went through the whole gamut of Eagles hits, from Witchy Woman, Take It Easy, Life in the Fast Lane and a strong Desperato down to their namesake Hotel California for an entertaining 90 minute set. 

For this Tribute Band...I salute you.

Randall

GARY PUCKETT - Rock Log 081111

Gary Puckett invaded the Wolf Den tonight.  Despite numerous requests to join me, I was unable to find a willing accomplice to join me in my rockin’ trip down 60s pop lane.  The room was loaded with gray and this was the first time in all my Den shows where I felt I did not belong.  Tonight the Den was a converted into a convalescent home with a hundred or so Asian visitors, Wheel of Fortune slot machines and Gary Puckett.

Puckett and his group The Union Gap had a string of hits in the late sixties, including six top-twenty singles.  The concern with this is that the theme for three of those singles was older man “loving” young girl.  I cite lyrics which firmly cement Puckett as the godfather of what I am calling Pop-ophilia:

• Young Girl (March 1968) – Beneath your perfume and make-up, your just a baby in disguise.  And though you know that it’s wrong to be alone with me, that come on look is in your eyes.
• Lady Willpower (June 1968) – Did no one ever tell you the facts of life?  Well there’s so much you have to learn.  And I would gladly teach you if I could only reach you and get your lovin’ in return.
• This Girl is a Woman Now (August 1969) – This girl tasted love, as tender as the gentle dawn.  She cried a tear, a teardrop that was sweet and warm.  Our hearts told us we were right, and on that sweet velvet night.  A child had died, a woman had been born.

Now the show.  Puckett, at seventy-one years of age, still has an amazing voice.  Despite recovering from a bout of strep throat, his voice was quite good, rife with runs and vibrato.  That is pretty much where it ended. The band was comprised of three mates (drums, bass and keys), all of whom had the appearance that they were mailing it in until there was an opening in another nostalgia-based band (“Honey, guess what…Davey Jones called while you were at the doctor”).  Guitar was limited to four songs in which Puckett himself grabbed the axe and I think he played it, but cannot confirm.

Generally I like to discuss highlights and lowlights of a show, but there simply were not any.  There were no-lights.  It was an eventless show from a guy who had hits, all of which he sung.  None memorable, none forgettable, he just sung his songs for ninety minutes and left.  The audience appreciated it despite having been several hours past bed time.  I wish I could write more, but there is nothing to write.  It was a vanilla show by a man who once dominated the airwaves.  I went to pay my respect to him, as is my duty.  I left not knowing what I just saw, if I liked it or not. 

In addition to the music, Puckett mixed in six jokes, three of which were politically charged, two of which were cute and one of included his five year old nephew standing naked in the shower.  Therein lays the undertone with Puckett that I just cannot shake.  The man appears to be a decent and genuine person, having closed the show with thanks to God.  However, three songs of young girl love and a naked boy joke left a sour taste in my mouth.  The kind of taste that only two Krispy Kremes can erase.

In sum, Gary Puckett, seen him once, will not do so a second time. 

Vick

BACK IN BLACK (AC/DC Tribute) - Rock Log 080811

Monday’s suck....except for special events like Monday Night Football and when “Back in Black – the AC/DC tribute band” comes to the Den for a true Rock & Roll party.  It’s been years since this dinky little state of ours has seen the real AC/DC here...so when the opportunity arises to see the next best thing – you grab it like a young gir.., eh...... well, you just grab it.

When a tribute band starts a show with a 3-4 minute hi-animation cartoon skit of a Runaway Train – loaded with images of the band members and gratuitous T&A shots and sexual innuendo – you know this ain’t no ordinary cover band.  These boys, from Springfield Massachusetts, come to play to honor the band they love and they do it with amazing precision.  As with any tribute band, two members must be spot on in order to be good - the lead singer and the lead guitar player – and these guys nailed them.  Boz & Brian are incredibly unique singers with their signature raspy voices – but if you closed your eyes you’d have a hard time telling it wasn’t them belting out the tunes. 

The highlight of the group is what appears to be a 12 yr old kid who’s out past his curfew.  Spencer, deck out in his schoolboy outfit, had all of Angus’ moves down and ripped out the countless familiar AC/DC riffs with relative ease.  Aside from his diminutive stature, this kid had it going on. 

The setlist was full of everything you’d expect – songs that were done particularly well were TNT, Thunderstruck & Hell’s Bells...and the encore shout out to our uniformed countrymen with For Those About to Rock, We Salute You.  One noteworthy omission was Money Talks which happens to be my favorite AC/DC song.  It may be nitpicking but even though there is no accepted industry maximum length of a bagpipe solo, we are sure that this band certainly pushed the envelope.

The stage was decorated with a big cannon on one side and a huge bell on the other – unfortunately just props, but cool looking nonetheless.  An endless supply of stage smoke kept spewing from the drum kit.  And speaking of spewing, watching the blond jumping bean at stage right for 90 minutes prompted the immediate ordering of 4 Whackin' Huts.  Delivery is scheduled just in time for Sheena Easton.

Don’t miss these guys if get the chance.

Randall

SCRAP METAL - Rock Log 080511

A collection of 80’s hair band lead singers and some talented, bounced around musicians all coming together and playing nothing but their individual hit songs is the creation of a band named Scrap Metal.  For some reason this group, originally formed several years ago by the Mark Slaughter (Slaughter), Gunnar & Matthew Nelson (Nelson), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger) & Eric Martin (Mr. Big), does not make many tour stops, yet has now played at our prestigious Wolf’s Den for five years running.

The lineup changes at each show and other past performers have  included the talents (and not-so-talents) of Kip Winger (Winger), Steve Plunkett (Autograph), John Payne (Asia), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), CJ Snare (Firehouse), Jani Lane (Warrant) and Jeff Scott Soto (Journey).

Although we weren’t jacked with the lineup this year, Vick, Homework, Chazbo and myself donned our mullets and jean shorts and made the familiar trip down Route 2 on Friday night.  Accompanying the Nelson boys for this summer’s bill were returning headliners Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple, Rainbow) and Janet Gardner (Vixen) and Scrap Metal newcomer John Corabi (Motley Crue, The Scream).  Strangely absent was Mark Slaughter who was present for all other gigs in Uncasville.

Here’s what you need to do before you read on.....Cleanse your Rock & Roll pallet from any bad taste you had in your mouth about the Nelson twins....Erase the memories of their long blonde, he/she looking videos...Unclench your fists and purge the urge to punch them in their pastel-wearing nuts...

Now, let the review begin....

First the good news, Gunnar & Matthew have transformed themselves from those Barbie-doll looking tools to regular looking Rock & Roll celebs who have a pile of talent – plus they appear draw a vast female audience.   This band has offered them the opportunity to rock out to many of our favorite hits and escape their embarrassing past – albeit their ticket to fame.  Each year Gunnar shows he is a capable guitar player (even changing two broken strings on stage while the set continues around him) and Matthew plays a solid base.  Most impressive is they know their place with this group – that is, they are there to have fun and jam for 100 minutes rather upstage anyone else with their music.  Their harmonies are still spot on for the diverse set list yesterday.  Now the bad news, everyone still needed to endure three Nelson songs in the set list.

Bad news continued....Back in the MTV days Vixen was the all-girl band whose videos you loved to watch with the volume off.  While the years have yet to take a major toll on Janet’s looks, her songs provided nothing other than a chance to over-criticize her on stage moves as a nearly 50 yr old woman trying to hold on to her 25 yr old babe image.   While her voice still is very good, Janet seemed misplaced on a Scrap “Metal” show. 

It must have been difficult combing the globe to find this year’s talent if Janet had to return and the talented but little-known John Corabi were the best available 80s rockers.  It was our first time seeing John and the consensus is this guy can sing and he looked the part of a rock lead singer with his unkempt white-man dread locks.  His best tune by far was Motley Crue’s Live Wire – however, his other Crue song selections of Home Sweet Home and Smoking in the Boys Room resembled a cover band performance.  Motley Crue belongs in arenas not in Dens.  John actually shined to open the show with Thin Lizzy’s The Boys are Back in Town.

Surely the highlight of the night was when 60 year old rock legend Joe Lynn Turner appeared to play two classic  Rainbow songs “Stone Cold” and “Street of Dreams” then rockin renditions of Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water and Highway Star.   Joe Lynn, who keeps Hair Color for Men in business with his jet black mop, still has that familiar powerful voice and range that is unwavering.  Always a bit disturbing to me about this Rock & Roller is what I call his microphone gloves – an unnecessary wardrobe accompaniment that should have died w/ Michael Jackson a few years back.  Apparently Microphone Blisters are a job hazard that I was completely unaware of.

The band mixed in some other classic rock hit including Led Zeppelin and had the Den rockin’ towards the end.  Overall, while this show was not Scrap Metal’s best - it still outperformed my expectation and the trip down memory lane was rock-worthy.

Randall