Review: Cream at Royal Albert Hall

CD: Cream Royal Albert Hall, May 2-3-5-6 05 Reprise Label
DVD: Cream Royal Albert Hall, May 2-3-5-6 05 Rhino Label

This is one concert I truly would have liked to have gone to. I chatted with someone who went to the concert. She said that the people there who were mostly those who where around when Cream played Royal Albert Hall in 1968. On the audience shots, I saw plenty of younger people, so it looks as if Cream does indeed transcend generations. I myself know a few younger people who are into Cream.

If you aren't familiar Cream you should go out, get this CD and DVD and see what all the fuss was about then, and why the fuss is starting out again. Cream was the first supergroup and years after they dissolved and went onto to different things, their music still stood out on the airwaves. Who hasn’t heard White Room, Badge, Sunshine of Your Love or Crossroads? Let me assure you that Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton are still in fine form. Heck, Ginger Baker is better than ever!

I have both the CD and the DVD. Let me tell you: if you’ve been waiting for an excuse to buy a home theater system, this is it. The DVD is absolutely fantastic. I just have a small 14 inch (I’m not an extremely materialistic person) but even on that the concert was just fantastic. It’s also got me thinking about buying a big screen TV and a home theater system. That’s going to have to wait, I think!

I’m going to concentrate mainly on the DVD, mostly because it’s a complete experience. It was filmed in HD, stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound, so you can just imagine how sweet the experience is. One great thing for you vinyl fans: it was released on high performance vinyl as well.

And now for the music. I decided to do a song by song commentary. No particular reason.

I’m so glad What a great start. It really gets you hyped up and ready for the rest of the concert. Drums and vocals are just fantastic.

Spoonful Originally performed by Willie Dixon around 1960. This song has the unusual quality of being both raw and polished at the same time. The solos are just long enough, but still there is a small, intimate club feel when listening to this song. It's like you are sitting in a small smoky club late at night nursing your Maker’s Mark while you kicked off your shoes and are leaning back in your chair, eyes closed, just groovin’ with the band. Great blues.


Outside woman blues What can say, other than that I listened to it three times in a row.

Pressed Rat and Warthog Oh how I love Ginger Baker’s voice. Ginger usually adds some outrageous facial expressions but this rendition was rather straightforward. It's still great. And I do hope Pressed Rat and Warthog reopens soon.

Sleepy Time Time I love this song. The bonus cut, I think is even better. It’s slow, rockin’ blues at it’s best.

N.S.U. This just rocks. That’s all there is to say.

Badge Everything comes together in this song. This is one of those songs that gets my car radio turned up full blast and annoys all the drivers in a five block radius.

Politician What a song. It’s like Jack Bruce seduces the audience.

Sweet wine Hypnotic, and really hits home near the end when the lyrics pick up.

Rollin’ and Tumblin’ I absolutely love that harmonica and drum combo. Vocals are great. Now this is blues tune to dance to!

Stormy Monday God, this is good. It done by T-Bone Walker originally, and I think he’d be very happy to hear what Cream has done with his song.

Deserted cities of the heart This song just makes me melt.

Born under a bad sign Originally by Booker T. Jones. Fantastic. That’s all there is to say. This is one song that got my stereo cranked up to the max.

We’re going wrong Jack is wonderful here. Listening to his voice and having Eric’s guitar so hot at the same time is just magic. Throughout it, you can hear Ginger’s drumming - just heaven. I replayed this at this at least five times, the last one with a great glass of cabernet. It’s a song to just put the earphones on, sit back in your favorite chair and get lost in the music.

Crossroads Classic, classic, classic. What more can I say? First done by Robert Johnson; if you don’t know who is, you should because he is probably the greatest American Bluesman EVER and he definitely has left his mark in both blues and rock. Of course that’s my personal opinion. Someone should make a movie of his all too short life. (Hey,Chet Helm's Family Dog Productions at the Fillmore.

I do have some minor complaints. I would have liked expanded liner notes myself. And I had to get a magnifying glass to read the insert, butI guess that’s more part of aging than anything else. You know, on the CD cover (less on the DVD) they were very creative with the colors. If you take a magnifying glass, and tilt the cover slightly, under the right light it looks three dimensional. Look for the blue and yellows to pop out the most. Groovy, man.

So, will Cream attract a new group of followers and will they tour again? There is concert in New York at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 25, and 26. If you can, go! You will have a great experience. It would be great if young music lovers “discover” Cream. It would be nice if they did some new material, but reunion concerts are fine too. It will be interesting to see what they decide to do after New York.

I know some people who think Cream was just a short term experiment for the three before they went on to their "real" careers. I think they are totally wrong. Even if Cream only lasted two short years their influence on rock was undeniable, and even today Cream's music stands on its own.

Stones' VA Concerted Interrupted - Jeesh...

Va. Rolling Stones Concert Interrupted

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Oct 7, 2005 — The Rolling Stones' concert at the University of Virginia was interrupted Thursday night while several police officers and three bomb-sniffing dogs searched the stage.

And you just know this about some freak who's pissed off about My Sweet Neocom!


(Ohhhh...one of my favorite songs just came on The Rock, 105.9: Don't Fear the Reaper! Now all they need to do is play Sympathy and Bohemian Rhapsody and I'll be in heaven!)

ZZ Top Tour Dates for October, November

OCTOBER

TUE 4 - ALPINE, CA - Viejas Concerts in the Park

WED 5 - FRESNO, CA - Big Fresno Fair

SAT 8 - GOLDENDALE, WA - Maryhill Winery

SUN 9 - JACKPOT, NV - Cactus Pete’s Resort and Casino

TUE 11 - OREM, UT - Valley State College

WED 12 - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - World Arena

FRI 14 - KANSAS CITY, MO - Ameristar Casino and Hotel

TUE 18 - HOLLYWOOD, FL - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

THU 20 - CLEARWATER, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall

FRI 21 - FT. MYERS, FL - Centennial Park

SAT 22 - DAYTONA, FL - Biketoberfest

FRI 28/29 - CHARENTON, LA - Cypress Bayou Pavilion

NOVEMBER

THU 3 - TUCSON, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre

FRI 4 - PHOENIX, AZ - Arizona State Fair

MORE NOVEMBER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED - Click here for more info.

More New Release Gotta Haves

Coming out October 25th or thereabouts:

Mastercuts Presents Sly & The Family Stone Released by Mastercuts. Sly doesn't get enough airplay if you ask me.

Know, I know you might think "Johnny Rivers"? What's that chick on?" But I like like the guy and he puts on one heck of a concert. Check out And I Know You Wanna Dance/Whisky a Go-Go Revisited Kudos for Beat Goes On for releasing more of my favorite Secret Agent Man.

For you Marshall Crenshaw fans here's some great stuff: Field Day, Downtown, Mary Jean & 9 Others, courtesy of Wounded Bird.

Strawberry Alarm Clock? Really, I'm sane. But who can forget Incense and Peppermints? (I even remember that on the B-side was The Birdman of Alkatrash!) Courtesy of Collectors' Choice Music we have Wake Up...It's Tomorrow, Good Morning Starshine and World in a Seashell.

New Release Gotta Haves

OCTOBER 4th

Old School Cruzin' with Earth, Wind & Fire. Yeah, I know some people don't put them with classic rock, but I love Earth, Wind & Fire, so I'm listing it! Same with Gimme Some Lovin' and Other Hits by the Blues Brothers. (Oh, Elwoood...)

Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon has been getting mixed reviews; I'll give my two cents after I listen to it.

Classic Interviews, Kiss. Do you think Terry Grossis on it?

DVD and CD sets of Cream's Royal Albert Hall: London May 2, 3, 5 & 6, 2005are being released by Rhino. (I am counting the minutes...) Just as cool, 1968 Cream's farewell concert is also being released.

Pink Floyd's The Wall 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Double DVD and Book Set is coming out at the same time as the Cream's reunion sets. That's gonna lighten a few wallets!

OCTOBER 11th

If you like the Grateful Dead, you'll love this: Ladder To The Stars: Garcia Plays Dylan. It includes cuts from the Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, and Legion Of Mary.

Madacy is putting an series called Rock Breakout Years. It's not all classic rock obviously, but talk about nostalgia! It begins in 1960 with Connie Frances and ends in 1989 with Michael Bolton. (I cannot believe I typed Michael Bolton. Damn - I did it again!)

1960 Connie Francis
1961 Roy Orbison
1962 Rick Nelson
1963 The Beach Boys
1967 The Grass Roots
1968 Gary Puckett & Union Gap
1969 Blood Sweat and Tears
1969 Tommy James and the Shondells
1971 Tod Stewart
1973 Steve Miller
1974 Bachman-Turner Overdrive's
1976 Bob Seger
1977 Boz Scaggs
1978 Eddie Money
1979 Cheap Trick
1980 Björn Fogelberg
1981 REO Speedwagon
1982 J. Geils Band
1982 Toto
1983 Culture Club
1983 Men at Work
1984 Cyndi Lauper
1985 Glenn Frey
1985 Loverboy
1987 Whitesnake
1988 Great White
1989 Michael Bolton


OCTOBER 24th

Concert for Bangladesh (can it really have been 34 years ago?) at Madison Square Garden will be released for on DVD on the 24th. The sound has been remasters and there's new footage so it should be really great. I really miss George Harrison.

Aerosmith's Rockin' The Joint! OK, technically they already did in Las Vegas in 2002, but the CD/DVD is now being released on the 24th. To promote the release, Aerosmith is touring with Lenny Kravitz starting October 30. To get all the tour dates check the Aerosmith site here, or the Lenny Kravitz site here.

Queen & Paul Rodgers Tour Dates

Oh, how I wish I could make it to the Meadowlands. I picked a bad time to move to Nashville. If you are in Japan, how I so envy you - six shows! I hope next year they tour again. I will move Heaven and Earth to get there.

If you go, please drop me line and let me know!

ARUBA
October 8 (Sat) – Aruba, 2005 Aruba Music Festival

UNITED STATES
October 16 (Sun) - East Rutherford, NJ, Continental Airlines Arena (The Meadowlands)

October 22 (Sat) - Hollywood, CA, Hollywood Bowl

JAPAN
October 26 (Wed) - Tokyo, Saitama Super Arena
October 27 (Thurs) - Tokyo, Saitama Super Arena

October 29 (Sat) - Yokohama,Yokohama Arena
October 30 (Sun) - Yokohama,Yokohama Arena

November 1 (Tues) - Nagoya, The Dome

November 3 (Thurs) - Fukuoka, The Dome

Ahoy, Mateys! It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Arrrr...git yer parrot and put on yer pirate hat! It's the second annual TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!

Are you a pirate? I am!


You Are A Pirate!


What Type Of Swashbuckler Are You?
brought to you by Maddog Varuka & Dawg Brown

Your pirate name is Captain Aetheflaed

What is YOUR pirate name?

Arrrr - pass the rum, matey!

Classic Rock Links

I'm compiling a list of links to classic rock stations. I've travelled around some and I know what it's like to try to hunt down a good station when you are on the interstate or a backroad in the middle of nowhere.

My list only includes stations in the US, but I'd like to add classic rock stations from around the world. Got a favorite? Send it to me and tell me a bit about yourself!

The list will be up probably tomorrow afternoon. I'm working out all the html bugs and checking links.

Classic Rock (and Activism!) all the time

I decided that CWL should be dedicated to classic as well as some activism. I came up this great realization after reading the article about Bono in yesterday's New York Times magazine.

I didn't realize I had as many links to classic rock sites, groups, etc. until I started to organize my links. What a mess!

Check "My Other Blogs" for links to my other blogs.

Toodles!

Lair of the Blue Cat

From now on I'm moving political rants to Lair of the Blue Cat. CWOL will concentrate on the unlikely mix of music and being an Episcopalian. However, the links and what entries I've made so fair will stay here.

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Dies

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, died Saturday at age of 81. He had suffered from lung cancer and heart disease. His career spanned 50 years. He was a singer and guitarist who played blues, country, jazz and Cajun music

Brown died at his brother's home in Orange, Texas, where he had go to escape hurricane Katrina. Brown's home in Slidell, La., was completely destroyed by the hurricane.

His first hits were "Okie Dokie Stomp" and "Ain't That Dandy," but Brown disliked being labeled a bluesman. In his later career he played a half-dozen instruments and performed jazz, country, Texas blues, zydeco and Cajun music.

Brown had more than 30 recordings and won a Grammy award in 1982 for Alright Again. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 1986 for Long Way Home.

To learn more about Gate, click here.

Tomorrow's a busy day

I have an Altar Guild meeting, my first, tomorrow. (If you haven't guessed I'm Episcopalian.) There's a long family history of us gals being members at least as far back as my 6th greatgrandmother Sally Tracy Hayden. It might go further back, maybe not.

Anyway the "Altar Fairies" as my Aunt Dorothy used to call them were the ones that came in on Saturdays, cleaned the church, set up the alter, made sure the linen were clean and pressed. That bit's a lot easier with todays materials.

I also want to lean how to do flower. I like altars with flowers, but my talents are, um, amateurish at best. Fortunately a kind soul has offered to teach me. I'm the big fluffy English cottage flower style person, not the Ikebana type. Although Ikebana has it's place. And I do like orchids as well.

I've always wondered why we can't put leis around each others neck during the Peace? Or toss rose petals at each other.

You'll have to forgive me...I watched Alice's Restaurant yesterday.

I have a new toy, and I'm taking a music break!

My old player gave up the ghost long ago. I think it was RCA and free. But today I treated myself to a JVC FSG5. I think I paid a fair price for it, It's not one of huge boom box systems, but instead sits nicely on the top of my oh so chic Sterilite 2 Drawer Cart. Don't laugh - you can see what's in them and when you move you just have to tape them shut.

Anyway it's got AM/FM, sound turbo (and it makes a difference when listening to the Doors!) It also hold 5 CDs and has a USB audio connection. It'll be a week or two until I play with that.

So far tonight, this is my playlist: The Doors Greatest Hits; Alanis Morrisette: Bitter Little Pill (the original); Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits; The Very Best of the Everly Brothers and The Very Best of Len Barry. Tomorrow I'm digging out all my blues, cajun, zydeco and making some coffee with chicory.

I don't have a gluten free recipe for beignets, or I'd make them. Hmm...I should check Bette Hagman's books. Maybe she'll have a recipe.

Playing right now is: Love Me Two Times.

I'm a Pure Nerd! (I knew it!)

Pure Nerd

91 % Nerd, 43% Geek, 30% Dork

For The Record:A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd. The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful. Congratulations!

Take the test here.

Today's Synthesis Study, Matthew 18:15-20

We had an interesting discussion during adult bible study, after the 8am Rite I service. I like Rite I better because it's easy to get into a meditative flow without the musical interruptions.

Anyway, Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

We easily agreed that we have a problem with someone, it's best to go to them first and try to work it out. Then if that doesn't succeed, have a mediator. But we all stopped short of banishment, probably because we are ever hopeful that a compromise can eventually be reached. And sometimes time itself can be a good healer because it gives us the chance to look at things from a fresh perspective once the initial slight occurs.

What we actually talked about the most the phrase I highlighted. What exactly does it mean? "Whatever you bin on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Especially since the word bind can have two different meanings. You can be negatively bound (say an addiction) or positively bound (a loving relationship). And when something is loosed, that can be negative (letting loose evil of any form) or positive (loosing the yoke of a bad habit, anger and the like).

We all in agreement on "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Well, goodnight everybody and have a blessed week! And please pray for all those affected by Katrina. We all have a long road ahead of us.

Sweet, sweet music!

I had to take a break from all the Katrina, SCOTUS and Iraq news do a mental tune up. This afternoons tune-up consisted of Moody Blues, Steven Halpern, Prairie Home Companion (J'adore Guy Noir!). And I had some catsup. I needed some of those natural mellowing agents!

Tomorrow I'm planning on a Queenfest, supplemented with some Buddy Guy, Blind Boys of Alabama, Garrison' Keillor's "Songs of the Cat" and Clifton Chenier! I'm going to take my mini-boom box over to the park with a sketchpad and just chill out. Maybe I'll take the camera too and post some pictures.

Love Will Find a Way!

Joe and Trenise were supposed to get married last Sunday, but Katrina interrupted their plans. Word got around the Coliseum, and everything from wedding clothes, cakes, food and drink were donated from nearby businesses. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Kirsh!

Weekend Edition - Sunday, September 4, 2005 · One ray of hope amid painful days on the Gulf Coast: Two evacuees from the hurricane, Joe Kirsh and Trenise Williams, were married while waiting with 1,000 others gathered at the Mississippi Coliseum. Their planned New Orleans wedding was interrupted by Katrina.

Photo by David Schaper, NPR
Click here to go to the NPR site to read more.

Finally, Hope has Arrived in Nola!

Evacuations are going full speed at last. Even Carnival Cruise Lines is pitching in, sending three of their ships to help. I think people have figured out that finger pointing wasn't helping the stranded people. Once everyone is safe, then it's time to figure out what went wrong.

President Bush has promised 17,000 more troops will be deployed over the next 72 hours.
I'm glad that he has acknowleged that the response to Hurricane Katrina's victims has been unacceptable. How we treat Katrina refugees is going to go a long way in showing people what we are really like as a nation.

Red Cross PREVENTED From Helping in New Orleans

Yes, you read that right! And it is unbelievable. A big thanks to SteveRose who posted this find at Daily Kos. Are we ready for another 9/11? Not if Hurricane Katrina is a test, because our government agencies have failed miserably.

Disaster FAQs

Hurricane
Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

Acess (sic) to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request---that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

Click here to see what the Red Cross has to say. While you're at it, write the media, your elected officials, and just generally raise hell. THIS IS WRONG. The Red Cross should given top priority considering people are DYING.

Does Homeland (In)Security really believe that if people were given a few bottles of water and MRSs, that they would want to stay in an area with water contaminated with chemicals, feces, decomposing corpses, and no food? At the very least, the Red Cross should be able to go in with the rescuers to administer basic first aid, and to give out water and a meal. Even if it's bag of chips.

We need some good clear, leadership on this issue, and it sure as hell doesn't seem to be coming from Bush.

Katrina

Being a weather junkie, I was glued to the television, radio, the Weather Channel, the NYT - anyplace I could get a fix.

Now it's Friday and I need to get some sleep. I cannot even begin to feel the pain of the people still trapped. This is a disaster of epic proportions, and the polititians (with except few) are twiddling their thumbs while people die. Who's the designated Rudy Guiliani for this event? It feels like no one is in charge.

In listening to Bush's televised address yesterday, it did not strike me as being his best moment. What did stick with me (maybe I was addled by lack of sleep) was that he mentioned oil and gas much more than he mentioned the human cost. If any of you out there were keeping count, let me know. I'll post them here. Or over at my weather blog.

In the mean time, I'm off to take and ativan (lots of anxiety) and a hydrocodone (f-ed up back) and sleep. I'll says some prayers first because I'm grateful I'm alive and well and warm, and so is all my family.

On an unusual note, those of you who know me know I have a brother names George who is a walking one man destruction crew. Last week he fell off a three story building, landed on a truck and

bruised his bum.

Lucky bastard, and he knows it!