Concert Review: America At The Colonial Theater

America The Beautiful!

Legendary Band Entertains Capacity Crowd At The Colonial

Pittsfield, Mass.

May 28, 2015

Two men together for 45 years recording and on the road is quite an accomplishment considering many folks that tried to do it that long have been gone for years. That does not happen anymore right? It sounds incredible but it’s true. Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley have been doing it for that long as America. I tip my hat to them for their consistency and output of incredibly good music all these years. 

The current touring lineup of America is Gerry Beckley (founding member, guitar, keys, and vocals), Dewey Bunnell (founding member, guitar, and vocals), Rich Campbell (bass guitar, keys, and vocals), Bill Worrell (guitar, keys, and vocals) and Ryland Steen (drums).

On a beautiful Berkshire night in Pittsfield at the Colonial Theater the two men and their crackerjack band showed us why it has worked for so long. I went expecting soft rock and a lot of acoustic guitars, which there was, but what came as an unexpected surprise was how many songs they did that rocked the house! That’s right…America is more than just soft rock folks. They have a group of men that know how to compliment all of their hits with pinpoint precision on guitar, bass, keys and drums. In fact a young and versatile musician named Bill Worrell (the sound man’s son) added a lot to the mix. He sang, played keys, acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, and all very well I might add. He really cut loose on the electric six-string several times during the course of the set much to the delight of the audience. 

There was no warm up band, they started right on time and played past 9pm nonstop-no intermission for these gents or the audience. I sure didn’t hear anyone complaining.

Gerry started off a little shaky in the vocal department on the first few numbers however he smoothed it all out in short order. When you are in your sixties it’s a bit harder to hit those higher notes than when you are in your thirties. Coupled with the fact he has a very unique vocal style makes it even more difficult to reproduce what he did in the past.

I must say the musicianship was outstanding and Dewey Bunnell sounds spot on and has not lost much with his vocal range. Music is more than a job for these men it’s a passion that drives them daily and like Gerry said “We will keep playing if you keep coming to listen,” and that got a big applause from the crowd. It was nice to see that happen and for this listener it was the first time I ever saw them perform. It’s hard to believe they released their first album in 1972!

All the hits came pouring out along with a screen for a backdrop showing images of the duo when they were younger along with some psychedelic colors and textures to fit the more rock oriented numbers. The images were like a multi-colored lava lamped that smashed on the floor, if you can picture that. Some songs from the new album Lost and Found were introduced along with some surprising covers from a previous recording called Back Pages. “California Dreaming” was especially good. That is still one of the best songs ever recorded in my opinion. There was a lot to like and when they played “Ventura Highway” they hit their stride and there was no turning back.

The one thing all the artists that play there say is the venue is beautiful, which makes me proud to be part of the entire experience, and I have the privilege of enjoying these great shows on a regular basis.

Some of my favorites were “Tin Man,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Sandman,” the list goes on and on. This band had so many hits. It takes sitting in a theater and watching a band such as America to realize their lifelong achievements. If you were fortunate enough to live in the time when all their music was on the radio then it can be a very special experience to relive your life in a few hours. Music has that kind of magic and America still has what it takes to make all that happen. There has always been a bond or kinship with the people that make the music and those that listen and come out to hear it live. This was yet another night that validated that truth.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder of Write A Music Review, Prog Rock Music Talk, New Age Music Reviews, Rate The Tracks and MuzikMan.net

May 31, 2015

AMERICA WEBSITE

Concert Review: BoDeans

BoDeans Visit Pittsfield and Entertain At The Colonial Theater

April 16, 2015

http://bodeans.com

Roots rockers BoDeans arrived in the Berkshires last night and played a non-stop rousing set of numbers for the pleased audience at the Colonial Theater.  

Band members are Stockbridge native Kenny Aronoff (drums), Sam Hawksley (backing vocals/acoustic and electric guitar), Eric Holden (bass), who is another Berkshires native, Stefano Intelisano (keyboard/accordion), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle, lap steel, mandolin, acoustic guitar) and Kurt Neumann (lead vocals/electric guitar).

The band is well-known for their performances since the 80s when they first formed and we found out why. The combination of Rock, Americana, Blues and Roots makes for what I would call a tasteful plate of appetizing rock music. They can flat out rock and then pull it back and bring forward instruments into the mix such as violin, mandolin, and the accordion.

This is the kind of band that is appreciated by folks that sincerely appreciate good musicianship and a wide variety of genres all mixed together. It is eclectic and wonderful to hear and the BoDeans  know exactly how to present it all in one nice package.

With Aronoff’s  return as their drummer his family was in the audience, including his dead ringer twin brother, who we first thought was the musician sibling walking around shaking everyone’s hand. I knew Aronoff was one of the greatest drummers in the world and I could not stop watching him perform. He is a perpetual motion machine and does amazing things with an average size drum kit, which is a credit to his expertise and all around talent.

Previous to the concert I purchased a  BoDeans two CD live release from 2008 titled Homebrewed: Live From The Pabst. I would highly recommend grabbing a copy of this release as it served as the perfect introduction to their shows and set a high level of anticipation for me. I must add I was not disappointed in fact I was quite impressed how much talent at every position this band has.  

The only drawback I could recognize all evening was that the organ was buried in the mix, very seldom could you hear it come to the front. I am not sure why this was but it certainly did not hurt their presentation that is for sure. For all I know it was the way they intended to present their music.

What I found most impressive was their energy, they never stopped to take a short break then resume like most sets do. There was no opening act, which was fine with me. At times they would segue from one song to another but it gave us a moment to applaud in appreciation of the previous number. The audience was most appreciative for every song they performed and sang along to a few. Kurt Neumann is a fine front man that is relaxed and in control. His vocal style fits the music with perfection.

Highlights of the night were “Get Much,”  “Fadeaway,” “Amercian,” and “Good Work.” Each of these performances showed a tight band enjoying what they were doing and that translated in each song to the audience with an impact.

The set list was full and broad based and any music fan could appreciate how this band can jam. Their professionalism and abilities are on a very high level and I would see them again in a minute. This band called BoDeans is an American treasure and if you have not discovered their music yet I suggest you do, only then will you realize the enjoyment you have been missing, just as I did last night.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder Write A Music Reviews 

Set List:

Paradise

Dreams

Texas Ride Song

Idaho

Flyaway

Angels

I Can’t Stop

Get Much

Still

All The World/Slave

American

Fadeaway

Good Things

Shake/Roll

Good Work

Closer To Free

Stay On

Encore:

Beaujolais

Stay

I’m On Fire

Tied Down Chained

Only Love

Concert Review: George Thorogood and the Destroyers At The Colonial Theater

Badder Than Ever!

                                    www.georgethorogood.com

March 3, 2015-The inclement weather did not stop anyone from packing the house at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield Massachusetts. Once everyone got inside that theater the heat was on! And did it ever start cooking once the legendary guitarist/vocalist George Thorogood took the stage.

Massachusetts’ own Barrence Whitfield served as the warm up to get us all in the mood. He is to say least, one of the liveliest entertainers I have seen in some time. He bounces across the stage and even rolled around on it before he left after his last number. Whitfield has quite a vocal range however he adds a lot of unnecessary screaming to an otherwise good song. Other than that it was a good warm up act.

Thorogood goes back a few years and he has long history of successful recordings and live performances. This is the Badder Than Ever Tour and at a very young 65 this cat still has plenty left in his tank.

It was a great show and there is no other way to describe it. Thorogood’s band consists of Jeff Simon (drums), Bill Blough (bass), Jim Suhler (guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone). This group of gents provided solid support for George. 

So after over four decades of rockin’ the world George made his way from up north at his last stop to our humble Berkshire County. What we witnessed was a performer that has not lost a step since the passing of time. His voice is strong as ever and his guitar playing superb. There was an interesting way to kick things off on this night though. Derek Gentile, long time columnist for the Berkshire Eagle was there with pen and pad taking his notes and providing some of us own coverage when suddenly George pointed to him to come forward to the stage. He promptly asked him for his note pad and Derek obliged then the star of the night took it and flung it across the stage and said “That’s not the way you are supposed to do it” or something to that effect. I had never seen anything like that before. Needless to say Mr. Thorogood doesn’t pull any punches and tells it like it is just as he does in all his songs. I know he is straightforward from personal experience as I had the opportunity to interview him in 2003.

Thorogood knows how to rock the crowd and not just with music, he is a true showman. He seems to adore the adulation he receives from the audience and it’s definitely a two way street. When he lets go on some smokin’ hot slide riffs the crowd just loves it. His combination of rock and blues keeps those fires burning from within one song to the next.

He played all the favorites, “Who Do You Love,” “Bad To The Bone,” which I was surprised was not the encore, “Madison Blues” was. And then to  get all the partiers rolling he kicked in with “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” and of course “I Drink Alone.” The one song that I had forgotten was “Get A Haircut.” What a great song full of humor and trademark Thorogood innuendos too. The one thing that is a guarantee you will get with a song from George, a good dose of humor and irony or just everyday life things included with a large helping of blow off the roof off rockin’ blues.

I loved the way the show ended with the encore and everyone on their feet clapping, a man in the front row sat down and George promptly looked down and said “WTF you doing sitting down?” He jumped right up on command as King George had spoken. That was one of many laughs for the night along with fantastic music.

I thought perhaps because of the weather the crowd would not be as large as it could be, I was dead wrong to even have that cross my mind. There is a reason George Thorogood has been around for so long. The man respects his craft and gives the audience everything he has every night. I saw it for myself and it’s a beautiful thing to see someone on stage in their element making everyone happy with their music. If George and the boys roll into your town make sure you mark it on your calendar to catch their show.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

March 5, 2015

Concert Review: Justin Hayward In Concert At The Colonial Theater In Pittsfield, Mass.

                                                    http://www.justinhayward.com

Another legend of music graced our paths last night at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Justin Hayward, the voice of the Moody Blues, took the stage and entertained us with his catalog of Moody Blues hits and solo material from the 2013 Spirits of the Western Skyrelease.

Prior to that happening Hayward walked out on stage to introduce Mike Dawes, a young emerging artist that specializes in finger picking the acoustic guitar. Dawes was a one man band with all of his techniques and various sounds and effects. He made his way through 4 songs before coming back to the stage to be part of Hayward’s band. Julie Ragins also joined them on keyboards and backing vocals. The young lady added a nice layer of sound with the keys and her smooth vocals.

Hayward is a spry 68 and he sounds amazing. He is every bit the proper English gentleman on stage and he delighted the capacity crowd with his melodic acoustic guitar playing and surprisingly strong and poignant vocals. When you go to a concert to see someone that got their start in the 60s there is some trepidation as to be expected but as usual when I attend these events I am very pleased with what I hear.

Hayward kicked off the evening with one of the Moody Blues hits “Tuesday Afternoon” and that got the crowd in the right mood. For the first time I witnessed an audience that got to their feet to applaud an artist after every number. It was quite a tribute to Hayward. He has a strong following to this day. He asked the audience if they were at a certain event recently and a large portion of them raised their hands in recognition, followed by hoots and hollers of course. It was a nice thing to see that kind of acknowledgment and well deserved I might add.

I must tip my hat to Mr. Dawes for playing some excellent backing guitar on acoustic and electric and Ms. Ragins for her marvelous keyboard fills, lovely vocals and visually pleasing expressions as each song played.

As Hayward traversed his way through the Moodies hits and solo material his voice got stronger. His in between song conversation with the audience was interesting and informative and it added to the overall intimate ambiance that the Colonial offers at any live concert. Towards the end of the evening as the show continued to gather momentum, Hayward launched into a gorgeous rendering of “Forever Autumn” followed by “Question.” For the encore the night reached its pinnacle with the mega hit “Nights In White Satin” followed by the most excellent “I Know Your Out There Somewhere.”

Justin Hayward is a real showman and he still has the magic touch with his guitar and voice. The songs soothe your soul and make your heart smile. Thank you Mr. Hayward for a special night out and one I shall remember forever.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder Write A Music Review, Prog Rock Music Talk & New Age Music Reviews

May 14, 2014

Set List:

Tuesday Afternoon

It’s Up To You/Lovely

In Your Blue Eyes

The Western Sky

New Horizons?

In The Beginning

One Day, Some Day

The Eastern Sky

What You Resist Persists

Wildest Dreams

Forever Autumn

Question

Encore: Nights in White Satin

I Know Your Out There Somewhere