- Got back to SoCal last Weds. night, but I promised you
a review of the Cream show I saw at Madison Square Garden in NYC last Tuesday
(11/25; middle of three shows), though I apologize for its belated entry
and that my impressions are no longer "fresh":
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- First of all, I just will never get used to attending
a rock concert complete w/ psychedelic effects backdrop behind the stage,
the smell and taste of good herb, killer hard rock, and where the average
age is around 55 and I'm one of the young ones at 47. I know I'll just
have to get used to it, but there is some huge cosmic irony going on here.
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- As for the show: Best concert I've been to in years.
Really, really impressed.
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- I didn't go to the Albert Hall shows (like I can just
drop everything and just fly to London?), nor to the other two at MSG on
Mon. or Weds. But I spoke to one of those went-to 'em-all-fanatics afterwards
who said they were playing better at the Garden then they had in England,
and that the Tues. night show was the best so far. He noted that Bruce
sat for much of the London shows, whereas there wasn't even a chair for
him onstage now.
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- Anyway, it didn't start out that way, at least where
we were sitting, as the sound was muffled and the playing, at least on
the first couple of tunes ("I'm So Glad" and "Spoonful")
seemed somewhat lethargic and desultory. Picked up a bit on "Outside
Woman Blues," though still not full throttle. Ginger Baker was certainly
giving his all on "Pressed Rat" and the drums were sounding great,
but the guitar and the bass seemed a bit overwhelmed.
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- The three of them were communicating, however; a good
sign, I suppose. But maybe a third of the way into "Sleepy Time Time"
the mix got louder and clearer, and then Clapton seemed to kick it up a
good couple of notches. Just in time, too, 'cause w/ a bit of a nod to
each other they launched into "Tales of Brave Ulysses" and it
fucking smoked. You could feel the energy wind up the crowd right there,
and both the phenomenal quality of the music and the good vibe energy from
the audience continued from that point on.
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- I've included the set list, and one can get more info
and reviews at the Eric Clapton Fan Club website (though not any regarding
whether or not there will be anymore Cream concerts; I sure as hell hope
they do this some more...), among others, so I won't recount every song
or moment. Along w/ "Ulysses," my personal favorites included
"Politician," "Deserted Cities of the Heart" (one of
those sorta obscure Cream tunes that wasn't done justice in the studio,
I think, which -- along w/ "Ulysses" -- has refused to leave
my head all week), "Crossroads" (the overheard consensus was
that unlike in London, the solos -- two of 'em -- were complete and the
tune not just perfunctory), "We're Gong Wrong" and, of course,
the encore of "Sunshine of Your Love."
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- Some additional thoughts: I was truly impressed by Bruce's
extended harmonica on "Rollin and Tumblin": displaying a full
range of techniques, such as octave playing and tongue blocking (recognizable
to us harp players) w/ a variety of riffs, clarity, rhythm, and a hell
of a lot of energy, alternated w/ vocals on the same mike. Not quite so
good when he used the harp holder and played bass at the same time (admittedly
quite hard to do) on "Sitting on Top of the World": too many
high notes, not enough tremelo/vibrato.
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- But if one ever had doubt that Jack Bruce is a bonafide
Bluesman Supremo, they were certainly erased by his singing throughout
this show. His playing was also great, but at times the bass came through
rather muddy and murky and sublimated to the drums and lead guitar; I couldn't
hear everything he was doing. However, the man was clearly enjoying himself,
at times prancing around the stage, thanking the audience "from the
bottom of my heart, I really mean it."
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- Baker's solo on "Toad" was the best drum solo
I can remember seeing in many years (where the hell has this guy been since
1969? I know, there was the Baker/Gurvitz Army and other such projects,
but, c'mon). Indeed, the drums were what consistently sounded most consistent
and clear throughout the evening. As for Clapton, I've seen the guy five
times now over about thirty years and this was by far the best (at least
for me).
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- Rumor is that it's up to Eric whether or not there will
be more Cream.
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- One can only hope.
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- I'm So Glad
- Spoonful
- Outside Woman Blues
- Pressed Rat
- Sleepy Time Time
- Tales of Brave Ulysses
- NSU
- Badge
- Politician
- Sweet Wine
- Rollin' & Tumblin'
- Stormy Monday
- Deserted Cities
- Born Under A Bad Sign
- We're Going Wrong
- Crossroads
- Sitting On Top Of The World
- White Room
- Toad
- Sunshine Of Your Love
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- All the best,
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- Steve Hellerman
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- Review by Butch Moncla
- Contributor to Punmaster's Musicwire.
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- I would like to add my two bits to the Cream reviewers,
do with it as you please. I was fortunate enough to see one of the London
shows (Thursday) and the open and second nights at the Garden. Overall
the shows were the perfect distillation of their body of work, and were
a metaphor for the transformation of the group from psychedelic popsters/bluesmen
to the mayhem driven solo warriors of the live "Wheels of Fire".
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- The Albert Hall show was much more controlled, the group
cutting loose only three or four times. They played all their best and
famous licks; although they were not necessarily where you expected them.
The hall was perfect for those softer or more soulful renditions of songs
like " We're Going Wrong" where Jack performed some of his best
vocals. They delivered the goods the audience expected, except there were
constant calls for "Tales of Brave Ulysses".
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- At the Garden they were able to amp up and deliver the
real power of The Cream. Eric even paid homage with a mini-Marshal stack
on the top of his Fender amp. They were a lot looser and played more improvisations
and solos, but they also made a few mistakes. Eric lost his place and just
stopped playing in the outro to "Toad". But they seemed to enjoy
playing and seemed to have lots-o-fun. I was sitting in the seventh row
exactly dead center stage, and the sound was very good. When it was time
to blast off, for example after the false ending in "Badge" or
in "White Room", they had the power to knock your socks off,
and they did.
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- Perhaps the best thing about it all was the great number
of people who left saying " My god, I never knew Jack Bruce and Ginger
Baker were Cream". It was pretty obvious that Jack was the frontman.
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- Sure they did not play like the Cream of 1968, but they
played like 3 musicians with 35 years more wisdom and expertise. They did
a great job at stopping the scalpers, so even an average Joe like me could
get a great seat. It was great fun! And I loved each and every minute.
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