Monday 11 June 2012
LIVE ROCK CRITIC: LIVE ROCK CRITIC 32 QUEE...
LIVE ROCK CRITIC: LIVE ROCK CRITIC 32 QUEE...: LIVE ROCK CRITIC 32 QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE CONCERT ...
LIVE ROCK CRITIC 32 QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE CONCERT
Tom Jones rolled out onto the stage smiling. I was not really a fan, highly electric in my youth. What a voice he has. I do not care much for "Delilah"
That tune seemed to be better, more dynamic more alive. Sound may be better now for once than it used to be, making the great range mobility and precision of Jones' voice audible. The multiplicity of tones, the overtone, maybe what makes a great voice great.
Paul McCartney performed “The Magical Mystery Tour” better than the original. The entire McCartney band is tight and together, with none of the contrived togetherness of other ensembles. The was an electric presence. The electric instruments were distinct. There were no blurry musical walls of synthetic sound. McCartney's costume, like many other performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert had a unique British retro rock look.
The musical finale “Live and Let Die” was performed magnificently by Paul McCartney and his band. The music soared and crashed, it twisted and turned and changed and blared rising to a crescendo of sound and light and smoke and fireworks. That was one of the greatest performances I have ever seen and heard.
The opening number with Military Band and Robbie Williams was supported by an enthusiastic audience. It was still daylight when Will-i-am, in a nice Sergeant Pepper outfit repeated tonight is going to be a good night and Jessie Jay joined joined him, she was terrible. It is off key, not hitting the special notes right on or perhaps the Pop Pablum.
Cliff Richard started a bit flat but picked it up in thirty seconds. I think it was Cliff Richard, Bryan Ferry and the Zombies who started my attention to music. By the third Cliff Richard number I heard the sound I was first attracted to. Every song is different and has its own character. Cliff Richard, who must be very old, six decades of hits, was resplendent in his salmon cloured suit and he moved danced and sang with energy, rhythm and style.
good night and Jessie Jay joined him, she was terrible. Is it off key, not hitting the special notes right on or perhaps the Pop Pablum.
Cliff Richard started a bit flat but picked it up in thirty seconds. I think it was Cliff Richard, Bryan Ferry and the Zombies who started my attention to music. By the third Cliff Richard number I heard the sound I was first attracted to. Every song is different and has its own character. Cliff Richard, who must be very old, six decades of hits, was resplendent in his salmon cloured suit and he moved danced and sang with energy, rhythm and style.
Annie Lennox was not Eurhythmic, a bit flat all the time, the overly low “Whoaa” voice. She does not hit steady notes warbling around the right pitch, the schmaltz syndrome, Annie was schmaltzing with one of the most uninspired usages of a Les Paul. Annie smashed her microphone.
Terrible Soprano Renee Fleming. Horrible schmaltz for a rock concert.
That tune seemed to be better, more dynamic more alive. Sound may be better now for once than it used to be, making the great range mobility and precision of Jones' voice audible. The multiplicity of tones, the overtone, maybe what makes a great voice great.
Robbie Williams sang “Mac The Knife” on key but I was not pleased, I do not like the vocal style Robbie Williams affects.
Kyliee Minogue I did not rate very highly, really shallow pop.
Great piano player Sir Elton John rocked his old but still entertaining tunes, different from one another. Elton John’s voice is on key, on metre, and strong really strong. It could be that a distinct characteristic sound and ambiance is what makes a great performance great. What was funny was the really short flashes of Elton’s lead guitarist Davie Johnstone, never more than two seconds of Davie enthusiastically and properly playing his Les Paul.
Stevie Wonder played next. Nightfall brought more and more light show. Buckingham Palace became a light show screen. London is looking like a magical mystery city; the buildings in the back-ground and the giant ferris wheel psychedelically lit.
Stevie still has what so many lack. I have heard it one hundred times but his music moves along with nice changes.
“Madness” were the novelty act of the night, up on the roof of Buckingham Palace, and the Palace was turned into a light show of working class England. “Our House”, the madness hit was followed by a second distinct and different song with its own character and hooks. It was repetitious but with varying music that somehow negated the repetition.
I fast forwarded through the commentators, comedians and commercials. No comment.
The musical finale “Live and Let Die” was performed magnificently by Paul McCartney and his band. The music soared and crashed, it twisted and turned and changed and blared rising to a crescendo of sound and light and smoke and fireworks. That was one of the greatest performances I have ever seen and heard. Friday 8 June 2012
LIVE ROCK CRITIC 31 May 31 2012 The “Good” Guys
Kid Rock performed November 28th 2011 “Live At The Artist’s Den”. Kid Rock provided incredible vocals and performed energetically and dynamically. The two guitar players were “Wow”. Kid Rock and the group which he had assembled worked together to provide excellent entertainment.
Who was “Good” at the Billboard Awards Performance? The Red Hot Chilli Peppers were clear clean tight and energetic. I thoroughly enjoyed their performance even though I was not Red Hot Chilli Peppers fan in the past.
Z Z Top performed some old blues songs, and Derek Trucks helped them out in their mediocrity and boringness. Then Joe Bonamassa stepped up with his beautiful Gibson 335 and delivered a new dynamic blues solo which was absolutely fantastic and made the rest of them look absolutely unfantastic.
Donavan was very good playing and singing his classic tunes, John Melencamp accompanied him, not so good. Donavan had a large and elaborate orchestra which played well together.
Ordinarily a band such as Rooney would not merit a review. Among the failing bands this band was adequate. The vocals demonstrate a talent missing from many other bands. The cooperation the bass, drums and guitar and the keyboard works to create distinct compositions and performances which will hold the audience’s attention . There were excellent leads on keyboard and Les Paul. This is a young band, perhaps they will get to be very good.
LIVE ROCK CRITIC 30 May 30 2012 THE TRASH BIN
I have been viewing a number of performances with mostly disappointing results. The list of mediocre and unsatisfying performances grew longer and longer on my clipboard. I have forgotten, or lost the notes on many of these performances. The most surprising thing is the number of award winning bands which I simply do not rate as any better than “good” some performances are poor.
Adele is touted for her “wonderful” voice. I found Adele monotonsly the same and not even on key. The Black Keys, I forget which award they won, seemed to me to be inadequate in each of several performances I viewed. Toxic Airbourne Event were muddy, tinny and not distinct. I thought Bjork was simply weird. James Blunt and Gotaye, I wonder as I listen who could possibly like this pap, and then the crowd cheers. Am I expecting too much? When I hear a vocal which is not right on key, right on metre and consistent with the verbal and musical content, I become irritated, I am unsatisfied, all I notice is the flawed performance; perhaps there are many people who would enjoy any performance and be captivated by the lights, the action and the video screens.
Death Cab For Cutie was monotonously the same. Yes there are mild variations but when I am bored after one and a half songs and stay bored…
Foster The People, I am astounded, they received Billboard’s top rock song of the year. I had watched their performance of Beach Boys tunes during the Beach Boys induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Foster was horrible.
Occasionally I will enquire as to “what is your favourite band"? Who will provide an excellent performance for me to review? ACDC were recommended as giants. I found ACDC’s music lacking. To me it seemed like the same song over and over again, with the variation being how Angus Young ran around the stage. We have to realise that this running around is not a substitute of dynamic musicianship. I could list their names and what they played, but for what.
Perhaps I am sucked in as careers are being pushed along. Perhaps I should assign no importance whatsoever to Jack White and his noise and jumping around. Jack White, elaborately accompanied by different musicians each time, appeared on Stephen Colbert and on Saturday Night Live, and I wonder how he rates the exposure, exhibiting short flashes of what are suppose to be talented guitar playing and plunging around the stage.
I viewed the Bill Board Music Awards. Carrie Underwood was over- produced and slightly off key. The choices for male vocalist were trumped up hype around lame male vocalists: The choices, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Drake, Bruno Mars and Little Wayne who won as top male vocalist.
Linkin Park played “ Burn It Down”, I found the performance noisy and uneven. I didn’t enjoy it I was unimpressed.
I have viewed and listened to Celo Green in a number of performances including at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame award ceremony. I think Celo was what I liked least about Gnarls Barkley. I viewed Chicago, thought they were horrible. I didn’t like Mr. Big and really didn’t like Bon Jovi.
Perhaps I pay too much attention to the hype which precedes televised performances. I thought Sublime with Rome was going to be entertaining. To me every song seemed the same
I would characterise my last couple of months of searching for outstanding performances nearly a dead loss. In my next Live Rock Critic I will note a view “good” or “very good” performances.
Post Script: I have been viewing the Diamond Jubilee Concert, I am only part way through and I have seen and listened to performances by the ancient Cliff Richard, who started the Drifters in the 1950's and Tom Jones.The vocal performances are on key and on metre and those guys can sing. I feel justified in trashing all those twenty and thirty year old rock super stars who can't sing.
I will write a review on the Diamond Jubilee Concert, Paul McCartney will headline the performance.
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