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Review: CARL PALMER BAND @ Reggies ( with "MIGHT CLOUD" & "DISTRICT 97" bands )
Back in the 1970’s, there were a number of so-called “SUPER GROUPS” in the world of rock music. Band members at times gravitated from one group to another. For example, KEITH EMERSON was the keyboardist with “THE NICE”, & he at one point in 1969 played at the 9th Jazz & Blues Pop Festival with bassist – vocalist GREG LAKE of “KING CRIMSON”…
… By 1970, drummer CARL PALMER (who’d played in a psychedelic rock band called “THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN”) was playing with “ATOMIC ROOSTER”. In 1970, he joined with Keith & Greg to create a super group called “EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER” (E-L-P), which released an album named for the group containing the hit song “Lucky Man”…
… The next year, they released an album called “Pictures At An Exhibition” which interpreted composer Mussorgsky’s classic composition of that name. In 1971-72, they released albums called “Tarkus” & “Trilogy”. E-L-P played together (& released various other albums) into 1979, & then again during 1991-1998, & various members toured in 2010…
… After E-L-P, Carl Palmer went on to play with groups named “ASIA” & “QANGO”. In time, he formed his OWN band (appropriately called the CARL PALMER BAND). In 2006, Carl’s band (with Englishman PAUL BIELATOWICZ on guitar) toured the United States…
… In 2010, Carl joined with Paul & bass guitarist SIMON FITZPATRICK for a new tour of Canada, the U.S. & South America, with the tour name “Carl Palmer & His Band – Celebrates The Music of Emerson Lake & Palmer”. On Wednesday, October 27th, it played in CHICAGO, & I attended that concert at REGGIES.
… REGGIES consists of various entities: at 2105 S. State Street, there is a bar-grill with live music under the name “MUSIC JOINT”. On the 2nd floor at that location, there is an old-time RECORD STORE called Record Breakers, with loads of old VINYL ALBUMS + some CD’s in various genres…
… They even have a small section featuring LASERDISCS -- a home video format released in 1978 (2 years after the introduction of the VHS VCR). The format came out four years before CD’s (which were based on the L-D technology), & the last U.S. L-D (LaserVision) release was in 2000. Nowadays, we have a sort of “improved” version of the analog video L-D format called DVD’s (a digital video format first appearing in the US in March of 1997). So, seeing a section of L-D movies was like a HISTORY trip back in time!...
… REGGIES has a main concert venue called the ROCK CLUB (REGGIESLIVE.com) at 2109 S. State (with a small record shop in between the 2 main locations). That club has a somewhat sloped floor leading to the good-sized stage at the east side, with a balcony lounge (with tables) holding like 80 people, plus 2 small “look-down” balconies above the south & north ends of the stage itself. There is some concrete ledge seating at the south end of the room, & a bar at the west side (facing the stage). The overall venue could thus hold around 250-300 people…
… Before the Palmer Band came on, there were 2 opening acts: First was a group called “MIGHT CLOUD”, consisting of 4 men playing instrumentals on what I would describe as electric acoustic guitars. As I later remarked to one of the guitarists, AARON I. GELLER, I was quite IMPRESSED by the expansive melodic interplay between the instruments in their rock / jazz numbers. The audience gave them hearty applause. Aaron told me that they’ve been playing together for 6 years, and very much enjoy their performing.
… Next on the bill was “DISTRICT 97”, an unusual “progressive” rock group consisting of: bass guitarist PATRICK MULCAHY, drummer JONATHAN SCHANG, ROB CLEARFIELD on keyboards, & a guitarist I seem to recall being introduced as JIM TASHJIAN who helped out on some vocals. The group’s web-site ( www.district97.net ) also lists another guitarist, SAM KRAHN, but I don’t recall seeing him in this performance from where I sat…
… In 2007, one of the Top 10 Female Finalists on “AMERICAN IDOL” was a young lady named LESLIE HUNT. After her performances on that TV show, she JOINED this group as their main vocalist. I found her to be a powerful and pretty singer who reminded me a bit of a young Joan Jett-- tho the band’s web-site compares her to “a young Ann Wilson from Heart”…
… Adding a very unusual flavor and sound to the group was an electric CELLO played by a woman named KATINKA KLEIJN, who I later learned has been a member of the CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & who joined this band after being impressed by one of their shows…
… At REGGIES, their numbers (including “I Can’t Take You With Me” & seemingly “Quartet For The End Of Time -- Movement VI”) were intriguing and forceful, and the audience also gave them very appreciative rounds of applause during their half hour or so onstage…
... They will be having a CD Release show on Friday, November 19th at the MARTYRS’ club at 3855 N. Lincoln in Chicago…
On the poster for the evening’s show, it said the CARL PALMER BAND would have “The World’s Greatest Drummer Performing An All Emerson, Lake & Palmer Set”… By the time the band went on around 8:30 PM, I would guesstimate that there were around 250 or so people in the club listening with rapt attention to the band, & they gave the band members enthusiastic ovations after each number…
… During the show at REGGIES, on a screen behind the 3 band members, there were intriguing VIDEO presentations appearing. During the band’s playing the E-L-P hit “HOEDOWN” (featuring very animated Paul on guitar), the screen showed various John Wayne cowboy-movie happenings...
... During the excellent “PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION”, we saw scenes from Eisenstein’s classic 1925 Russian silent film “The Battleship Potemkin””, which added to the effectiveness of the piece…
… At one point, PAUL (around half the age of Carl, tho looking like he’s in his early 20’s) playfully strummed bits of “SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW”, & soon went into a jaw-droppingly exceptional rendition of “FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE” (which someone on the internet -- where a video of an old version of the number can be seen -- described as utilizing an “8 finger sweep tapping lick”, & another person said seems to require using “2 brains” to accomplish)…
… As promised, the band played loads of numbers from the E-L-P songbook. In between numbers, Carl gave some introductions and information about the songs...
... He commented on how their album “LOVE BEACH” (-- which I’d chanced to bring with me to have him autograph --) was not one of their more “creative” efforts (partly due to its being recorded live in the relaxing Bahamas); but, it did contain a fine number (not written by the group) which his band then played for us -- Rodrigo’s composition “CANARIO”…
… One of the more impressive numbers played was Copland’s “FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN”… Each band member was given various chances to SOLO, & the audience (without even being asked) started SINGING along with some of the surprisingly-melodic diversity exhibited on the bass by SIMON FITZPATRICK…
… On his own solo, the ever-energetic CARL also boggled the minds of the appreciative audience: he was a whirling dervish of vigor, getting a massive amount of sound from just playing the foot-pedal drums & also the cymbals by “themselves”...
... Many people were open-mouthed as he bent over the drums & cymbals & was able to make the drumsticks “REVOLVE” on the drum set without his even holding them at one point… There was thunderous applause for that, & a similar response to virtually everything the group played…
… As I told Carl after the set (which lasted around 1 hour 45 minutes), I found his band to be truly “EXCEPTIONAL”, which he appreciated hearing… (I was later told by a man who’d been in the audience that the two other band members also came out later & talked to & signed items for the crowd)…
… By the way: I heartily recommend the BLOGS about the tour that PAUL posts on his personal web-site-- they’re informative, interesting, include PHOTOS of various band & crew members & “sights” seen, plus they exhibit an enjoyable cheerful humor (with a whimsical “eye” towards the foibles of life on the road)…
… During my time at REGGIES (which had very good sight-lines & finely CLEAR sound), I shot a number of non-flash STILL PHOTOS of the band during their performance...
... My RATING of the above: 9.00 of 10 stars...
… After Chicago, the band was set to take their van to Milwaukee, & then to St. Charles, IL & Iowa City, IA. Here’s some of their FUTURE scheduled dates:
Tues., 11/02/10 Denver, CO Soiled Dove Underground
Sat., 11/06/10 Petaluma, CA McNears Mystic Theatre
Tues., 11/09/10 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
Back in the 1970’s, there were a number of so-called “SUPER GROUPS” in the world of rock music. Band members at times gravitated from one group to another. For example, KEITH EMERSON was the keyboardist with “THE NICE”, & he at one point in 1969 played at the 9th Jazz & Blues Pop Festival with bassist – vocalist GREG LAKE of “KING CRIMSON”…
… By 1970, drummer CARL PALMER (who’d played in a psychedelic rock band called “THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN”) was playing with “ATOMIC ROOSTER”. In 1970, he joined with Keith & Greg to create a super group called “EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER” (E-L-P), which released an album named for the group containing the hit song “Lucky Man”…
… The next year, they released an album called “Pictures At An Exhibition” which interpreted composer Mussorgsky’s classic composition of that name. In 1971-72, they released albums called “Tarkus” & “Trilogy”. E-L-P played together (& released various other albums) into 1979, & then again during 1991-1998, & various members toured in 2010…
… After E-L-P, Carl Palmer went on to play with groups named “ASIA” & “QANGO”. In time, he formed his OWN band (appropriately called the CARL PALMER BAND). In 2006, Carl’s band (with Englishman PAUL BIELATOWICZ on guitar) toured the United States…
… In 2010, Carl joined with Paul & bass guitarist SIMON FITZPATRICK for a new tour of Canada, the U.S. & South America, with the tour name “Carl Palmer & His Band – Celebrates The Music of Emerson Lake & Palmer”. On Wednesday, October 27th, it played in CHICAGO, & I attended that concert at REGGIES.
… REGGIES consists of various entities: at 2105 S. State Street, there is a bar-grill with live music under the name “MUSIC JOINT”. On the 2nd floor at that location, there is an old-time RECORD STORE called Record Breakers, with loads of old VINYL ALBUMS + some CD’s in various genres…
… They even have a small section featuring LASERDISCS -- a home video format released in 1978 (2 years after the introduction of the VHS VCR). The format came out four years before CD’s (which were based on the L-D technology), & the last U.S. L-D (LaserVision) release was in 2000. Nowadays, we have a sort of “improved” version of the analog video L-D format called DVD’s (a digital video format first appearing in the US in March of 1997). So, seeing a section of L-D movies was like a HISTORY trip back in time!...
… REGGIES has a main concert venue called the ROCK CLUB (REGGIESLIVE.com) at 2109 S. State (with a small record shop in between the 2 main locations). That club has a somewhat sloped floor leading to the good-sized stage at the east side, with a balcony lounge (with tables) holding like 80 people, plus 2 small “look-down” balconies above the south & north ends of the stage itself. There is some concrete ledge seating at the south end of the room, & a bar at the west side (facing the stage). The overall venue could thus hold around 250-300 people…
… Before the Palmer Band came on, there were 2 opening acts: First was a group called “MIGHT CLOUD”, consisting of 4 men playing instrumentals on what I would describe as electric acoustic guitars. As I later remarked to one of the guitarists, AARON I. GELLER, I was quite IMPRESSED by the expansive melodic interplay between the instruments in their rock / jazz numbers. The audience gave them hearty applause. Aaron told me that they’ve been playing together for 6 years, and very much enjoy their performing.
… Next on the bill was “DISTRICT 97”, an unusual “progressive” rock group consisting of: bass guitarist PATRICK MULCAHY, drummer JONATHAN SCHANG, ROB CLEARFIELD on keyboards, & a guitarist I seem to recall being introduced as JIM TASHJIAN who helped out on some vocals. The group’s web-site ( www.district97.net ) also lists another guitarist, SAM KRAHN, but I don’t recall seeing him in this performance from where I sat…
… In 2007, one of the Top 10 Female Finalists on “AMERICAN IDOL” was a young lady named LESLIE HUNT. After her performances on that TV show, she JOINED this group as their main vocalist. I found her to be a powerful and pretty singer who reminded me a bit of a young Joan Jett-- tho the band’s web-site compares her to “a young Ann Wilson from Heart”…
… Adding a very unusual flavor and sound to the group was an electric CELLO played by a woman named KATINKA KLEIJN, who I later learned has been a member of the CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & who joined this band after being impressed by one of their shows…
… At REGGIES, their numbers (including “I Can’t Take You With Me” & seemingly “Quartet For The End Of Time -- Movement VI”) were intriguing and forceful, and the audience also gave them very appreciative rounds of applause during their half hour or so onstage…
... They will be having a CD Release show on Friday, November 19th at the MARTYRS’ club at 3855 N. Lincoln in Chicago…
= = = = = = = = =
On the poster for the evening’s show, it said the CARL PALMER BAND would have “The World’s Greatest Drummer Performing An All Emerson, Lake & Palmer Set”… By the time the band went on around 8:30 PM, I would guesstimate that there were around 250 or so people in the club listening with rapt attention to the band, & they gave the band members enthusiastic ovations after each number…
… Carl Palmer (born in 1950) used a special drum set which his web-site ( www.carlpalmer.com ) describes as a “special edition Ludwig 100th anniversary stainless steel kit created especially for Carl's return to the Ludwig brand.”…
... On guitarist PAUL BIELATOWICZ’s enjoyably breezy personal web-site ( www.paulbielatowicz.com ), he says his guitar has a “switch that toggles between electric and acoustic (and a mix of both)”…
… Carl’s web-site points out that he purposely set-out to NOT try to duplicate the singing of Greg Lake or organ-playing of Keith Emerson. Since the E-L-P group had done many instrumental pieces, he chose to form his own band via “replacing the keyboards with electric guitar. I felt that was the only honest way to approach the music of ELP...”
… During the show at REGGIES, on a screen behind the 3 band members, there were intriguing VIDEO presentations appearing. During the band’s playing the E-L-P hit “HOEDOWN” (featuring very animated Paul on guitar), the screen showed various John Wayne cowboy-movie happenings...
... During the excellent “PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION”, we saw scenes from Eisenstein’s classic 1925 Russian silent film “The Battleship Potemkin””, which added to the effectiveness of the piece…
… At one point, PAUL (around half the age of Carl, tho looking like he’s in his early 20’s) playfully strummed bits of “SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW”, & soon went into a jaw-droppingly exceptional rendition of “FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE” (which someone on the internet -- where a video of an old version of the number can be seen -- described as utilizing an “8 finger sweep tapping lick”, & another person said seems to require using “2 brains” to accomplish)…
… As promised, the band played loads of numbers from the E-L-P songbook. In between numbers, Carl gave some introductions and information about the songs...
... He commented on how their album “LOVE BEACH” (-- which I’d chanced to bring with me to have him autograph --) was not one of their more “creative” efforts (partly due to its being recorded live in the relaxing Bahamas); but, it did contain a fine number (not written by the group) which his band then played for us -- Rodrigo’s composition “CANARIO”…
… One of the more impressive numbers played was Copland’s “FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN”… Each band member was given various chances to SOLO, & the audience (without even being asked) started SINGING along with some of the surprisingly-melodic diversity exhibited on the bass by SIMON FITZPATRICK…
… On his own solo, the ever-energetic CARL also boggled the minds of the appreciative audience: he was a whirling dervish of vigor, getting a massive amount of sound from just playing the foot-pedal drums & also the cymbals by “themselves”...
... Many people were open-mouthed as he bent over the drums & cymbals & was able to make the drumsticks “REVOLVE” on the drum set without his even holding them at one point… There was thunderous applause for that, & a similar response to virtually everything the group played…
… As I told Carl after the set (which lasted around 1 hour 45 minutes), I found his band to be truly “EXCEPTIONAL”, which he appreciated hearing… (I was later told by a man who’d been in the audience that the two other band members also came out later & talked to & signed items for the crowd)…
… By the way: I heartily recommend the BLOGS about the tour that PAUL posts on his personal web-site-- they’re informative, interesting, include PHOTOS of various band & crew members & “sights” seen, plus they exhibit an enjoyable cheerful humor (with a whimsical “eye” towards the foibles of life on the road)…
… During my time at REGGIES (which had very good sight-lines & finely CLEAR sound), I shot a number of non-flash STILL PHOTOS of the band during their performance...
... My RATING of the above: 9.00 of 10 stars...
… After Chicago, the band was set to take their van to Milwaukee, & then to St. Charles, IL & Iowa City, IA. Here’s some of their FUTURE scheduled dates:
Tues., 11/02/10 Denver, CO Soiled Dove Underground
Sat., 11/06/10 Petaluma, CA McNears Mystic Theatre
Tues., 11/09/10 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
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