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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Christopher Kouzes" <Christopher.Kouzes@btol.com> |
| Subject | Re: NRBQ DVD |
| Date | Mon, 8 May 2006 10:52:35 -0400 |
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The DVD from `89 is very strange. It is their entire set, but was taken
from their opening slot on R.E.M.'s tour that year, which explains why
it's so short. So you see them performing in front of a big curtain to a
1/2 packed arena (as most openers do). Not the most ideal way to
showcase "America's best bar band." That also explains why Peter
Holsapple guests on one song.
Several bit torrent sites (Dimeadozen especially) are flooded with NRBQ
live CDs and DVDs. Over the years, they've actually had several TV
appearance. Most of the DVD shows I have blow away the 2 retail
releases.
For my money, NRBQ may be the best American band in the past 30 years. I
can't think of a single band that can play so many varied styles of
music and play them so well. In any given show, you'll hear rock, pop,
jazz, blues, rockabilly, off the wall covers (15-20 minute versions of
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald have been played), and some music
from outer space (they're fond of Sun Ra covers). A&E has shown an
excellent documentary on the band with people like Keith Richards,
Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, and Paul McCartney all singing the Q's
praises.
"If I Don't Have You, "Be Here Now," "I Want You Bad," Ridin' in My
Car, "A Little Bit of Bad, "Little Floater," and "Rain at the Drive-in"
are among my favorite songs of all-time.
Having seen them a good 15-20 times, I've never seen a bad show from
them. My favorite was a 4th of July show at Fitzgerald's several years
ago. Their first guitarist, Steve Ferguson, had played earlier in the
afternoon in a tent with his current band. I loved seeing him out there
especially as he broke out "Flat Foot Flewzy" which has an insane guitar
lick to open the song. He played a slower, more funkier version than the
original. But never having seen it played live, I was happy. The only
thing that topped it was that Steve jumped on stage with NRBQ for their
encores (they said it was the first time he played with them in about 25
years). First song out was a note-for-note version of "Flat Foot Flewzy"
that rocked and rocked hard.
The band has been relatively inactive recently, but with some members
starting to play out (Steve and Terry, Joey and Tommy), hopefully we'll
see the Q back out on the road soon.
-----Original Message-----
From: audities-owner@smoe.org [mailto:audities-owner@smoe.org] On Behalf
Of mkropp@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 3:44 PM
To: audities@smoe.org
Subject: NRBQ DVD
I just looked up the DVD on the Q website and Big Al is on the cover -
perhaps it is not from 1999 but from the late-80's when he was still in
the band?
http://www.nrbq.com/store/dvd_million.html
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