Tegan And Sara - In-Store Performance at Twist And Shout, Thursday 8/22/2013

Todd Rundgren Ramps Up The Energy @ The Boulder Theater

Todd Rundgren made his Official State Visit to Boulder on July 3, 2013. He had last been to the Boulder Theater as the frontman for The New Cars, standing in for Ric Ocasek, who had opted out from that band's plans to hit the road.  Todd did a couple of his songs during each appearance, but mostly stuck to the Cars' catalog of songs, despite the clamor for more of his songs from those who went primarily because of Todd's presence.

Ironically, that may have been one of the few opportunities, however brief, to see Todd do a fine rendition of a couple of songs his fans have held near and dear for many years.

When Todd checked in at the Boulder Theater for a solo concert in 2004, he brought along a piano and sat at that for most of the show.  He initially regaled the audience with a story about getting into Denver and some time spent at DIA.  However, when he started doing some songs, he often just tossed them off too casually or didn't even finish them, certainly not giving them the respect they merited.  He also used some electronics and recorded loops at the concert. At one point his voice was at least triple-tracked, and you couldn't make out his real voice from the "Memorex" voices.  The concert may have been something of a letdown for those who came out thinking that they were going to get some intimate performances of songs from Todd's classic "Something/Anything" album (originally a double-vinyl LP set), plus great songs from other Todd discs, possibly along with some experimentation from Todd, who's been a wizard in the studio, a producer, a gadget geek and a true star.  The audience got small bites of the songs they wanted to hear, along with dabblings in electronic simulations and brief interludes of songs tinkled on the 88s without ever settling into them.

Now, let's roll ahead to 2013 and this recent appearance.  No piano on stage this time; high tech gadgetry and the appropriate software is much easier to bring along and use, and probably a lot less expensive too But Todd did have some real instruments with him as well.  He strapped on an electric guitar and treated the audience to some blistering solos that he placed on top of the recorded beats.  He also had real live human musicians on stage too, a bass player and a time-keeper, both of whom for the most part seemed just as much on auto-play as the manufactured sound.  They lent nothing to making a connection with the crowd, and seemed almost invisible, hidden in the strobing streams of colored lights and in the darkness when just a white spot would illuminate the area around the Wizard. Todd himself had a certain separation from the aidence as well. He didn't really address the audience or seem to notice the crowd much; there were no stories to be told; and he wore goggles or his trademark sunglasses throughout the show, so no eye contact for that warm and fuzzy feeling that he was actually looking at You.

If Todd's 2004 concert at the Boulder Theater gave short shrift to some of his best loved songs from quite a lot of albums, then the 2013 return seemed to pretty much ignore them entirely. Todd's let his love for studio wizardry overtake his talents as a conventional songwriter.  Sure, it was great that Todd made a visit to the mainland, and a land-locked state at that, from his home in Hawaii, but other than for just seeing the Star up close and personal, this was a show that could best be enjoyed if you like to go out for an evening of techno, to dance to some pulsating beats and never mind who's DJ'ing for the night.  Todd did stir up a lot of energy, though, in himself as well as the audience, particularly those who were standing down in front.  He had plenty of room to move and to jump around, as his boom mic was suspended over him, where he could move up to it to sing, rather than have a mic stand taking up space in front of him and impeding his movement on stage.  One of the highlights of the show was when he did a couple of recognizable songs, including "Future," from his 2004 album "Liars."  Maybe there were other songs too, just perhaps less discernible in the barrage of the high tech heats.

After a short breather at the end of the concert, Todd came back for the requisite encore.  Included in the extended electronic experience was (finally) a medley of a few hits from his past catalog, including "Hello It's Me," and "We Gotta Get You A Woman."  Trouble is, these sounded like toss-offs, done more to relent to the desires of old-school fans than to please himself or to take any real joy in doing them. In fact, these versions were almost unrecognizable, as they were drowned in the electronic synthesis of sound and not given the melodic arrangements of the originals.

If you're a Todd fan who was brought up on the Nazz, and the Runt, and the True Star as well as the Wizard, and want to bang on the drum all day, hopefully you've evolved along with Todd into the No World Order, or else you'll be left pining for a past that's not likely to come around again.  For myself, I had as much of a workout on the floor dancing and moving to the energy and the man on stage - well, alright, he did more of the heavy lifting - but I worked up a sweat, let loose of all the bottled up physical energy I had and the need to get out of my own skin for a while - and still was glad I was there this time around.

Todd's rides are like a roller coaster, and, if in the end you didn't get what were your initial expectations, you definitely had a wild ride from an artist who with his feet planted in the present, and his head in the future. It's up to you to come along for the trip.

words and photos by Barry King

Summit Choice Poor For Foxfield Four

Great local band, Foxfield Four, lead by pop singer/songwriter/vocalist/funman David James, has an upcoming appearance scheduled for the Summit soon in downtown Denver.  Denvertainment has published some photos and a review from the FF's last appearance at that music bar.  The problem is that James and his band deserve to play at venues with much better sound.  James writes great songs, and you should be able to hear the lyrics.  Unfortunately, the Summit has low ceilings, and the sound compresses, rather than spreads out, and it is pretty much impossible to sort out the vocals and lyrics from the dense mix and compressed soound.  While it's great to see David James' Foxfield Four anywhere, I would hope he soon goes back to the Soiled Dove, where his songs could really be appreciated.  The Walnut Room is another venue where the Foxfield Four has been successfully heard.  The Summit is okay for bands where their music and not their lyrics are the thing, or where you've got a couple guys "trying out" who you don't really care if you listen to them as you glug down your beer and gab with your friends.

However - if you have not yet seen David James and the Foxfield Four, you may not want to pass up this opportunity.  But after going to the Summit, keep tabs on them for when they appear at a more listenable venue again.  They're well worth it, and worth more than the Summit.  The Summit is okay, it's just not the best venue for this band.

Fans Flock To Foxfield Four (and more) at The Summit Music Hall - Friday November 9, 2012

they'll pop your socks off
- Photos by Barry King



David James: leader, pop-styled singer-songwriter of the Foxfield Four

  


  













David James bangs on the drum all night



David James is on top of the world
(or at least his piano)

All one had to do to gauge the popularity of each of the four different artists on the roster of The Summit Music Hall on Friday night, November 9, was to check to see how many people left their bar stools or standing spots further back against the walls and crowded into the small space in front of the stage to watch the highly appealing, playful and fun David James, leader of the Foxfield Four. 

James has a poppy style along with being a gifted songwriter, and it was clear that he has a loyal following and fan base who showed up for him last night for a great time.  People closer to the stage were jumping or dancing pogo-stick style up-and-down, arms flailing up over their heads and down again, in unison, keeping time with the energy in the music and in David James.  Others were dancing together, arms around each other, but swaying and moving rapidly as well.  Then more people were standing a bit further back in the crowded space, watching James perform, but no one could keep still, least of all James himself.  He doesn't just sit in front of the piano all night.  The piano can't harness him.  He often bounces up naturally while playing and singing, engaging the other members of the Foxfield Four and his audience as well.  He also will jump up on top of his piano's top at times, and can even play the keyboard backwarrds, as his lanky frame allows him to move to the other side of the piano, and reach over and somehow play the keyboard from that position, with his back to the audience.  How does he do that!  He has so much pent-up energy ready to let loose during a performance that he'll even find time to grab a couple of drum sticks, stand up and bang out that rhythm on a drum along with the drummer, and the rest of his bandmates adding to the percussive combustion that is exploding on stage.



Three of the Foxfield Four

 The appreciation for the Foxfield Four was given up for them by their boisterous fans, who cheered and applauded wildly at the end of numerous numbers.  And why not!  How often do you go out to hear some live music, and what you get is what you've heard so many times before, the standard-issue band, or duo or trio, who, even when they're good, don't really connect with the audience or put smiles on their face, or let them feel the blood increasing circulation in their bodies, where you go home feeling great after one helluva satisfying night?  David James has the flair, wit, intelligence and musical skills to accomplish this, and does.  The Foxfield Four's fans are growing.  Go see them whenever you have the chance.  Lead by David James, they should be a household name and get national attention.  They're that good! - Barry King

 More From The Floor... of The Summit Music Hall ... click on Read More... Jump!

My Old School - A Tribute To Steely Dan - The Walnut Room - Saturday November 3 2012



My Old School at the Soiled Dove Underground - Photo by Monique Jenkins

 



My Old School at The Walnut Room - Photo by Barry King

My Old School - A Tribute To Steely Dan was at The Walnut Room on Saturday night, and they cover a great number of Steely Dan songs that Fagen, Becker and company did in concert last time I saw them, which was during the Think Fast tour in 2008, at Red Rocks.  But the Dan fans My Old School does the original band one better. Make that two better.  Three.  Okay, more.  The reason is that when I saw Steely Dan at the Rocks, there were still so many songs that I wished they had played that they just didn't do.  Fagen seemed to content to concentrate on more of the mellower, jazzy tunes.  That's fine, but there's a lot of great Steely Dan rock numbers too.  My Old School does these songs!  And does them very well!  They rocked out and did the kind of show I wanted to see and hear when I saw Steely Dan.  I finally got my wish fulfilled, thanks to My Old School.  No static at all.

They do very tasty cuts from Pretzel Logic album, like Rikki Don't Lose That Number and the title track, among others.  In their previous Denver appearance at The Soiled Dove Underground, they also did Night By Night too, from that album, and some great selections from The Royal Scam, including Green Earrings, The Caves of Altimira and Kid Charlemagne.  My Old School cover great songs like Dr. Wu, Bad Sneakers and Chain Lightning from the Katie Lied album (all of which were ignored by SD in 2008); and they cover their early work, including Dirty Work and Reelin' In The Years. Plus later SD songs such as Hey Nineteen ("nice!"), Time Out Of Mind and Babylon Sisters.  They also cover songs from the Aja album, including the incredibly difficult title track, with so many changes.  And they do it to a "T".

My Old School's front man is a dead ringer for Steely Dan's front man, and he also sounds like him, which makes the My Old School/Steely Dan experience so much more authentic.  I would like to see My Old School's "Fagen" appear alongside Mr. Fagen himself.  I think it would be great, possibly hilarious, along the memorabe time of when Joe Cocker and John Belushi (as Cocker) appeared side by side, choreographed to perfection, on Saturday Night Live. 

A tip of the hat to everyone else in the band as well: great sax, confident and knows the lines in the songs; the bass player never misses a note, he's the glue that keeps everything together; the drummer plays tight and powerful, and was a joy to watch, especially during that drum part on Aja; also, the keyboard player tinkles the ivories, keeping it together and occasionally throwing in some additional improvisation that works well within the song; great guitar too, both of them play with the fluidity the songs demand (though I will wait for them to tackle something like King Of The World); and we even heard a cool trombone.  Plus, the band has two terrific ladies who do the back-up singing, and even get to take the lead vocals on a couple of songs.  They're great to watch dance too, and they keep things interesting on stage.

I'm hoping they will add some Donald Fagen solo numbers too to their repertoire, like something off The Nightfly, and also Fagen's new one, called Sunken Condos, which was just recently released and is getting great reviews and doing very well on the charts.

Steely Dan sold gazillions of albums back in the day, and Red Rocks was packed when I saw them in 2008.  If you're a Dan fan, do yourself a favor, get out of the house (it'll do you good and you should do it more often!) and see this band!  And I will be going back, to My Old School.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - The Fillmore Auditorium - Friday October.26 2012



Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Fillmore Auditorium, Denver - Photo by Monique Jenkins

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals did an AMAZING concert at The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on the last Friday night in October, 2012.  I cannot stress enough how FANTASTIC this show was that night.  They rocked out with long, rockin' jams; long, spacey jams; pure rock; gritty blues; country rock; country blues; angelic, spare songs; you name it.  And they soared! Incredible musicianship. 



Grace Potter - Photo by Monique Jenkins



And Grace is a wild woman! She's got the medicine that everybody wants!  At one point, I thought they were coming back for an encore.  That so-called "encore" morphed from one song into another, with a few surprises too, for about a half hour non-stop.  Then they came back and did more songs for an encore!  They more than gave everyone their money's worth, and it was an aural delight that exceeded my expectations.  Wow!  This had to be one of the best concerts of 2012.  It was that good.  I'll see them again next time around, and you should too! - Barry King







Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Photo by Monique Jenkins

 

Locals Excited By A 'Foreigner,' Labor Day Weekend 2012



Photo by Barry King



by Contributing Writer/Reviewer Monique Jenkins

I went to A Taste of Colorado on Friday August 31, 2012 to see Lou Gramm, the lead singer of the hot 70’s group Foreigner.  He was really awesome.  Despite that this is my first time seeing him live, since I didn’t grow up listening to his music, I recently became a fan of Foreigner about six months ago, and caught onto their music really fast. 

Gramm has a really good voice with a range that fits well with rock, pop and a little soul.  Whenever I listen to Foreigner and their songs, they always put me in a good mood.  Lou sang a lot of the group's hits, like Double Vision; Cold As Ice; and Jukebox Hero, plus I Want To Know What Love Is; That Was Yesterday; Hot Blooded; Blue Moon, Blue Monday; Feels Like The First Time; Dirty White Boy; and Urgent.  He sang these songs at this concert in the park, and also did a new song, Made To Be Broken, from an album Lou's new group made a couple of years ago, which was really good too.  He did miss singing a few hit songs I wanted to hear, including Waiting For A Girl Like You; Head Games; Say You Will; Long Way From Home; Break It Up; and Starrider. Though these songs are among my favorites too, Lou still chose a really good selection for this Labor Day Weekend concert.

Lou had the crowd hyped for the entire show.  I liked the new band lineup too.  They played the songs as well as Foreigner, complete with some really cool guitar solos. It was nice that Lou introduced his brother, who was on drums, and who did a great drum solo as well.

Going to see Lou Gramm perform was my reason for attending A Taste of Colorado.  I loved hearing his voice so much during this show.  He still sounds very good at 62, even though he has had a long history of health problems.  He was full of energy and amazing to watch.  Hopefully I will get to see him in concert again someday with either the original members of Foreigner or with the new band line headlining their own tour. I’m sure the tickets would sell out. 

Lou Gramm rocks!