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| From | Brian Kassan <brian@powerpop.org> |
| Subject | Re: Argent & Blunstone @ Abbey Pub |
| Date | Mon, 04 Aug 2003 10:10:10 -0700 |
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My wife and I saw them in New York in May of 2001. If their current show is
anything like what we saw, GET TICKETS! (Actually we have tickets to see
them later this month at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles.)
The show we saw-which was their first in the U.S. performance since the
1960's-consisted of mostly Zombies material including! CARE OF CELL 44, A
ROSE FOR EMILY, THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR, INDICATION, and most of the earlier
hits. I thought I was in heaven. There was plenty of solo material from
Colin-MISTY ROSES, CAROLINE GOODBYE and Argent-HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, LIAR, GOD
GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU. The only downside, and I hate to say this
because the Zombies are up there with the Beatles for me, was material from
the latest Blunstone/Argent cd which is really MOR "Adult" stuff which just
pales in comparison. It's not BAD, but it's just servicable. But they only
did a couple from that album and much like the recent McCartney show, they
did concentrate on their well-loved material. It was a pretty small room, so
it was very intimate.
Colin's voice was a little rough on the first couple songs (for some reason
they did A ROSE FOR EMILY early in the set), but once he warmed up, that
velvety vocal quality that we all love came through. Argent's keyboard
chops (and vocals) are still amazing and the sounds he used were not cheezy,
but warm and vintage sounding. I can't remember the name of the bassist,
but I know he has been the Kinks touring bassist for a while...Jim? Rodman?
There was also a session type guitarist who was fine except for a few wanky
solos. I think the drummer was one of the Zombies' offspring? It was a
magical night for us. I got a picture with Paul Atkinson, who was in the
audience along with the other members of the Zombies not performing. I'll
bet they are in even better form now that they are touring. DO NOT miss
them! I can't wait for this next show...
Bill and auditeers, hope this helps....
Also, I did see Myracle Brah at IPO this year...they were in fine form as
always, although the more straight ahead ROCK stuff loaded the front end and
was not as cool to me as the more melodic lennonesque stuff towards the end.
Brian
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