Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:26 pm Post subject: Robben at SOhO
Just got back from Robben's opening of the West Coast Tour at SOho, Santa Barbara. Whew.
First, the technical sort of stuff everyone seems to want to know: The set list: Chevrolet; Help the Poor; Indianola; Keep on Running; You're Gonna' be Sorry; Over My Head; Can't Do My Homework; Up the Line; Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood; Cannonball Shuffle; It Don't Make Sense; Lovin' Cup; (encore) Badge. The gear: The Black Baker; the Tele; the Dumble head; etc.
Now for what really mattered:
This is one great band. Hilary is about as rock-solid, groove-solid, and downright muscular as a drummer can get. Definitely the engine. DeWayne's bass is like the old adage that you know when an umpire is really, really good when you go through the whole game without knowing he's there. Not that you don't know that DeWayne's there, but he is so tight and perfect that you almost take him for granted. As a rhythm section, you don't get much better than DeWayne and Hilary. Bob is a revelation. He takes the tenor sax into the upper register in a way that defies belief. Robben has backed away from a lot of his standard solo riffs to let Bob play them, but from time to time they did unison lines that were unworldly.
Robben's got a bit of a dilemma on his hands, though. He's really developed a voice. Not just a singing voice, but a VOICE. When he sang the little-known Willie Dixon tune he's recorded, "It Don't Make Sense," it was not only riveting, but downright beautiful, and came straight out with a message from his heart. (Another Ford for President?) He could have handed his guitar over to one of the bartenders, and I still would have been entranced throughout. There are going to be times when the fretboard wizardry is going to pale next to his vocals.
You learn something every time you hear Robben. Before tonight, I hadn't known that the Animals weren't the original performers of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." Robben spoke to an earlier recording by, of all people, Nina Simone.
And kudos to Dave. In mid-tune early in the night the Dumble decided to take a hike. Bob took over the solo while Dave batted some sense back into the head, and Robben was back up and running with a grin and giggle as though nothing had happened.
Great crowd, great music, great evening. Hope many of you get a chance to catch Robben as he moves up and down the West Coast over the next few weeks. _________________ - BlueRunner
Yes, indeed, it was a great concert in a small (180 capacity) venue. I looked around and saw every guitar player I know in Santa Barbara there. Best version of "You're gonna be Sorry" ever with a very long extended solo that had you hanging onto the edge of your seat. Excellent. Even a couple of songs I don't really listen to on the new album were killer - Homework, and Badge for an encore. Sax player Bob was a great addition although I kinda missed the sound of keyboards. Hilary and Dewayne were perfveft. There is such a respect and friendliess between all the players on stage - fun to watch from the front row.
Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 27 Location: Trieste, Italy
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 8:08 am Post subject: Grazie!
Thanks for the concert review, hope to read some more of them!! I caught Robben in Venice last November, I posted a review then with pics. I'd love to see some pictures from the U.S. in the near future! Robben is unique and Hilary is my rock'n'roll idol!
Thanks to each and every one of you for taking part in this forum!
Baci,
Suzie
Trieste, Italy
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 4:29 pm Post subject:
A little Google-in' follow-up about "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." Nina Simone apparently sang it shortly after it was written, on an album on the Phillips label. The recording was reissued in 1989 on a Verve Simone album named for the song (it's now out in CD). The tune was written in 1964 by a team of three, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus, and, of all people, "Funk Brother" Bennie Benjamin! (If you haven't yet watched "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" and revelled in the living Funk Brothers' stories about Benjamin, you've been missing a real treat.) Just one more thing about Robben ... incredible musical literacy. _________________ - BlueRunner
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Just got back from Robben's opening of the West Coast Tour at SOho, Santa Barbara. Whew.
