Yeah I know, seeing these guys in 2018 is akin to yer grandpappy going to see the remnants of the Glenn Miller Orchestra back 1971 way. A rare nite out for the old fogies who were trying to cop some long gone funtime memories of a time that was much more preferable to the great kultural mess that was happening thanks to the narcissistic generation that would go on to greater and more destructive things. Only the crowd gathered to see 'em at the Kent Stage were way older 'n your grandfather was back during the BIG FORTIES NOSTALGIA PUTSCH OF THE EARLY SEVENTIES which I must admit was a movement I sure went for big time!
Hey, I know that I was the odd suburban slob out while in school but while the others were cumming buckets over Bobby Sherman I was wasting my time reading old comic strips while listening to old music and pleasuring myself with other outmoded forms of entertainment which were much better'n the bell bottom and "relevance" gunk I hadda endure on a daily basis. And a good forty-five years later what with early-seventies derived social consciousness and overbearing success shaming having been METASTASIZED into our very being who says that I was WRONG trying to resist that emotion-based prattle that was hitting me from all sides! William F. Buckley might have wanted to stand atop the turd heap of history yelling "stop" but even he eventually yawned and let it pass. I sure as shooting do not want to make the same mistake even though against all odds I'll be plowed over like some of those bodies you used to see in death camp films. (This paragraph is dedicated to J. D. King and Jeff Roth, who I think are the only people on this EARTH who will understand.)
But I'll leave my opinions regarding the million moron gun banners and that bald dyke who seems to be all over the place for another column (you can TELL that recent events are irritating me!) and concentrate on the Zombies. Boy were they a hot act even though only Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent remain from the originals and the former's voice sure ain't as smooth as it used to be. Well, it was good enough for me as were Argent's jazzy keyboard trills along with the rest of the rent-a-group new members who were so up on what they were doing that they didn't even hit any clunkers. Of course the hits were there (even Argent's "Hold Your Head Up" which, as we were told, was not sung "Wo-ah" but "Woman") and Blunstone was a good enough front man presence even though he looked like he was about to keel over a few times. But everyone involved did a stupendous job from the ODYSSEY AND ORACLE portion to the new stuff that nobody would be familiar with, and as you woulda guessed by now they really worked us all up with the extended butts off the seats ravers that, even if done up for a pack of retirees, were done up for some SMART ENOUGH ones who could appreciate their rock 'n roll without the past five decades of mummery thrown in. (In fact one of the many highlights of the evening was listening to this conversation the folk behind me were having regarding recent Roky Erickson and Flamin' Groovies appearances with a few Tom Verlaine/Television reminiscences tossed in which, for me, proves that the Akron/Kent/Cle under-the-covers rock experience lives on even a good fortysome years after the fact!
Opener Don DiLego came out and warmed the audience up with some originals that weren't bad even if they were too solo-artist emote for my tastes. But he did a good enough job to get that gold star on the forehead. Overall DiLego reminded me of those solo acts I used to catch on various CB's 313 Gallery cybercasts back in the early oh-ohs, fun if amateur-hourish creativity that wasn't offensive to your own musical parameters even if they were far far from 'em.
Big heaping thanks to cyst-er who not only paid for the tickets but bought me a burger beforehand. I even got to stay up way past my bedtime just like I usedta do when I was a young turd even, and although the magic of that went out around the time I was working steady midnight it sure brought back a few good memories I'll tell ya...
Your initial remark reminds me of the time about 20 yrs. ago when I got the short stick & had to take my parents to see The Stars of the Lawtence Welk Show. I pretended that I was going to see the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, was there any mention @ that Zombies concert about the recent passing of Jim Rodford who was the bassist for Argent & then the Kinks, who was also Rod Argent's cousin (he was actually offered a position w/The Zombies when they first formed, but refused)?
WFB got worn down. I love the mach one WFB, the fellow who ran for mayor of NYC. He'd fit in at AmRen and V DARE. Alas, time took its toll...
ReplyDeleteDiskojoe-Yes, Rodford was mentioned and the closing song was dedicated to him. And anon., Buckley was just trying to be nice and make friends which failed him miserably, a lesson I learned back in the nineties to equally detrimental effect.
ReplyDeleteI wish you wouldn't give up on friendship. I bet that your chattering fellow audience members would have been happy to conversate with you about old rock stars. Maybe you could have become good concert buddies and even dance together
ReplyDeleteBoy do I got some coo-coo readers!
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